The governing body for high school sports in the State of Massachusetts last week rejected a proposal to ban non-wood and composite bats from use in high school baseball, apparently guided more by an objective view of the scientific studies. For the third straight time since 2003, the group rejected a proposal to ban non-wood and composite bats in high school baseball, this time by a vote of 12-3.

Jim Darby, VP of promotions, Easton Sports, lauded the Massachusetts governing body, saying, “In Massachusetts, the people who looked at the issue realized that using metal bats is as safe as, if not safer than, using wood. That's not to say that using wood bats is unsafe, but there is no evidence showing metal to be more dangerous. When people make claims that aren't justified by research, those claims should not be used to create new laws.”

The debate over the use of baseball and softball bats made of advanced materials became a major issue after the New York City Council passed a ban in March that would take effect in September, ending the use of metal bats in high school baseball games within city limits. The ban would force over 9,600 players from more than 600 teams in the five boroughs to shelve all metal bats in favor of wood.

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg vetoed the bill, but was overridden by the Council. The override caused “Don’t Take My Bat Away,” a group representing coaches, parents, and youth, to file a lawsuit in the U.S. Southern District in Manhattan, seeking a preliminary and permanent injunction preventing enforcement of the ban, saying “there is no fair, just or reasonable connection between the Bat Ordinance and the health and welfare of New York City high school baseball players.”

Shortly after the filing, SGMA hosted a conference call with Chief Counsel David Ettinger in which he noted that “all scientific evidence shows that metal bats are safe. The actions take by the city council are not backed by science.” Ettinger went on to discuss the fact that maintaining a fleet of wooden bats will cost more for schools and athletes, because while a single metal bat can last a single, if not several seasons, wood bats tend to splinter and constantly need to be replaced. Ettinger said that under constitutional law, “you cannot unduly burden intrastate commerce,” hinting at a possible tactic in the case.

SEW talked with Jess Heald, executive director of Play Ball USA, who worried that a ban on metal bats could lead to decreased play in the future and wondered about the future of youth play if they were unable to use the lighter weight bats. “On behalf of PlayBall USA, we don’t like to see these actions that can make the game less attractive and affordable for kids to play. If kids are forced to use wood bats, smaller kids would be unable to play. Tee-ball became possible because of the aluminum bats. Kids used to not play baseball until they were nine- or ten-years old. The advent of metal bats made it possible for kids, even young girls, to play the game.

“I can remember playing as a kid with my dad in the backyard when I was about nine or ten. Our neighbor leaned over the fence and asked, ‘Is he big enough to swing a bat yet?’ That was a common question back then,” said Heald.


>>> Will it again become the question?

>>> Explain again how its better to have a baseball and a shattered bat flying at you instead of just a ball…