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What's Inside
Every Major League Baseball? A Bit Of Costa
Rica.
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What's Inside
Every Major League Baseball? A Bit Of Costa
Rica.
With Major League Baseball's new season just
started, ever wonderied where baseballs come
from and how they're made? They're all made
at a plant in Costa Rica by 350 Costa Rican
workers.
For more than 25 years, Rawlings Sporting
Goods Co. has been stepping up to the plate
as the authorized supplier of baseballs to
the Major League Baseball (MLB), turning out
some 1.5 million balls for the majors each
year and another 100.000 for retail sales,
at a plant in Costa Rica.
If you're thinking the numbers sound high,
consider this: The average baseball lasts
just six pitches in a pro game. That's why
they prepare 10 dozen balls for every game.
And, don't forget about batting practice,
spring training, playoffs, etc.
Things have sure changed since 1886, when
umpires finally were no longer required to
wait five minutes in hopes that a ball hit
out of the park or otherwise lost could be
hunted down and returned to the field. Only
then would they be allowed to throw out an
expensive new ball. Now, as you know, almost
the slightest nick or scuff requires a new
ball be put into play.
The ball's innards also have changed over
the years. At the turn of the 20th century,
they usually had a round, rubber core, which
gave way to a livelier cork center in 1910
and an even peppier cushioned cork heart in
about 1930. About 1974, the traditional
horsehide was switched to cow leather
because of an equine shortage.
Otherwise, the ball's composition is not
terribly unlike what it was a century ago,
according to Rawlings provided. And, since
1872, it's been the same size: MLB rule 1.09
requires that balls must weigh between 5 and
51/4 ounces and be between 9 and 91/4 inches
in circumference.
If you'd take one apart, here's what you'd
find:
At the centre is what Rawlings calls "the
pill," a small globe of rubber and cork,
whose exact composition is a trade secret,
the video teases. This pill is then placed
on a machine that automatically winds a
layer of heavy gray yarn around it followed
by heavy white yarn followed by more heavy
gray yarn and, finally, a layer of thin
white thread.
All of this is covered by a precut piece of
tanned cowhide, which is sewn together with
exactly 108 stitches using 88 inches -- more
than 7 feet -- of that familiar red thread.
Then, they are stamped, boxed and shipped.
Finally, some parting numbers to remember
when you next enjoy your cheese and nachos
at Busch Stadium: To help Mr. Pujols crack a
home run every 14 or so at-bats, there are
350 workers in Costa Rica who each can
stitch a ball in 10 minutes as each stitcher
turns out about 30 each every day. |
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