Baseball Bats Going Back to Wood?

FOR THE PAST 30 YEARS OR SO, the pleasing sound of a baseball coming off of a wooden bat has been missing from sandlots around the country. With the exception of the upper major leagues and a couple of developmental leagues, everybody switched to aluminum back in the ’70’s.

The idea was to save money, lots of money, by using bats that wouldn’t break. But it increased the hazards of the game because the ball comes off the bat at a higher velocity and the larger “sweet spot” on the metal bat increases the hits.

Now there’s a movement in New York State to bring back the ol’ Louisville Slugger. High schools in New York City are mandated to go back to wood next year and the amateur leagues are anxious to join them.