Baseball (ball)

A baseball is a round object used in a very popular sport.

It is more than just a simple ball. The way it is built changes how it moves through the air. A regulation ball has a center made of rubber or cork. This center is wrapped in many layers of yarn. Finally, a cover of white leather is placed on top. This leather is often made from cowhide or horsehide.

The leather is shaped into two pieces. These pieces are stitched together with red thread. There are exactly 108 stitches on a regulation ball. These stitches are very important for the game. They create drag as the ball moves through the air. A pitcher can use this to control the ball's path. By changing the spin, they can throw a curveball or a fast ball.

Making a baseball is a careful process. Many steps are needed to get it just right. First, the core is prepared with cork or rubber. Then, workers wrap the core in layers of yarn. In 1920, they began using high-grade yarn from Australia. After the yarn is tight, a special rubber cement coating is added. Then, more layers of yarn are wrapped around the ball. The final step is adding the leather cover. Most professional balls are still made by hand. This is because machines have not been able to do it perfectly. This careful way of working ensures the ball is ready for play.

Baseball history shows how much the ball has changed. In the mid-1800s, balls were not all the same. Some were small, dark, and called "lemon peel" balls. These balls bounced very high and traveled very far. In the mid-1850s, teams in New York tried to make rules for the ball. They wanted the weight to be between 5 and 6 ounces. They also wanted the size to be between 8 and 11 inches. Later, in 1876, the National League was created. This helped set even more standard rules for the game. These changes helped make the sport more fair for everyone.

Many people have helped shape the modern baseball. Some say a shoemaker's son named Ellis Drake invented the figure-8 stitching. Others believe Colonel William A. Cutler invented it. In 1858, William Harwood began mass-producing these balls in Massachusetts. In 1910, the cork-core ball was introduced to replace rubber cores. In 1934, the National and American Leagues agreed on a single standard. This included a "cushion cork" center with layers of rubber. Today, the company Rawlings makes the official balls for Major League Baseball. They make these balls in Costa Rica using materials from the United States.

Today, the baseball is a key part of the game's excitement. In the past, one ball might last an entire game. Now, teams must have at least 156 balls ready for every game. This is because players replace balls as soon as they get dirty or scratched. Even small changes to the ball can change how many home runs are hit. In 2016, many more balls were hit far, which led to new studies. Some teams even use special boxes called humidors to store their balls. Whether it is used in a big stadium or a backyard, the baseball remains a wonderful tool for play.