This post was originally published on 12 October 1999 while I wrote for WISN (Worldwide Internet Sports Network). It was my third article for them and one of my favourites.
In the Playing Rules of Baseball from 1876,
Rule 1. The Materials of the Game. Section 1. The Ball.
The ball must weigh not less than five, nor more than five and one-quarter ounces, avoirdupois. It must measure not less than nine, nor more than nine and one-quarter inches in circumference. It must be composed of woolen yarn, and shall not contain more than one ounce of vulcanized rubber in mould form, and shall be covered with leather.
In 1955, the rule was changed as follows:
The ball shall be a sphere formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with two strips of white horsehide, tightly stitched together. It shall weigh not less than 5 nor more than 5 ¼ ounces avoirdupois and measure not less than 9 nor more than 9 ¼ inches in circumference.
In 1975, the following was added:
The ball can be covered with white cowhide as well as horsehide.
Aside from “doctoring” of the ball rules beginning in 1877 and continuing through 1920, this is the history of the baseball that is still in use today. So what is the big deal about catching one at a game? Why do people of all ages scramble around after fouls, home runs and players tossing a ball up into the stands after outs or at the end of an inning?
A couple weeks ago, right after my 30 and over baseball team got knocked out of the playoffs I attended a White Sox – Oakland Athletics game with my wife Debbie and our friends Kim and Jay Bradarich. Jay is our team’s third basemen and Kim is our “Team Mom”. She is also my closest friend. Our team in the Woodridge League is the Athletics and Kim went to the game wearing her A’s jersey with the number 26 and “Team Mom” on it.
During the game, we gradually moved down from our box seats along the first baseline to four seats two rows up from the visitor’s dugout. Kim had been trying to get one of the A’s players to toss her a ball for a couple innings, but had no luck. At one point Jay lifted her up on his shoulders to try and get a player’s attention, but nothing. I was concerned at this point that she would end up face-first on top of the A’s dugout and then on her way to the hospital! But her persistence finally paid off when Ben Grieve of the A’s tossed a ball up our way, which he had caught for the last out of the inning, it deflected off Jay’s hand and Kim grabbed it, making a fine catch!
I saw first hand the joy in her eyes and all over her face. She had a major league baseball and was very proud of it. I never was with anyone who had caught a baseball before and it was an experience. She let each of us touch it and carried it around with her the rest of the day as we went out to dinner and then made a couple stops before going back to their house. Once home, Kim then showed the ball to each of her 5 kids with the same pride as earlier. It was truly fun to watch her.
I began to wonder what made this experience so special to her. Kim grew up in Williamsport, PA, which is the home of the Little League World Series and where she played some when she was growing up. She attends all of her kid’s games and being our Team Mom made almost all of our games as well, but I wouldn’t say that she is a big fan of the game. She understands what is going on and definitely paid more attention at our games than any of the other wives, she questions and listens to my reasons for my love of the game, but I just didn’t see why she was so interested in having a ball from a game.
I finally asked her about this and she explained that it brought her closer to the game. It made her feel like she was a part of the action and could share in the experience in a fuller way. Like she suddenly had part of the history of the game, something she could take with her. It made her feel special and like a little kid. Kim said she was never close enough to the field before to get one and knew this was a chance of a lifetime.
My friend taught me something. A baseball is part of the history of the game and should be respected by the ballplayers and the fans. It shouldn’t be thrown back after a visiting player hits the home run as the fans at Wrigley Field do and encourage their children to do. It shouldn’t be sold to the highest bidder because it broke a record. It should be held and cherished as part of the happy memory of a game. Since I never caught one, (I did have a Graig Nettles batting practice foul line-drive bounce off my hand one time, and I had to sit through a Sunday Double Header with a swollen hand), I didn’t realize what it could mean. So after a tough loss on a baseball field in the morning and a White Sox victory in the afternoon, I was treated with a new perspective of the game I love. Hope you have been too!
~ Coach Mike
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Such a fun story🤗. It’s fun to watch people scrambling to catch a ball and awesome to watch a great catch🤩. Everyone gets so excited for that fan⚾️
Excellent article Mike! Here's tossing a ball to you: ⚾