Q: Recent articles about the World Series have referred to the record number of home runs being attributed to a juiced baseball. The MLB commissioner says the specifications of the balls have not changed. How do they measure or calculate the specifications of each ball to ensure it meets the requirements?
—Frank Manfre, Grayson
A: The MLB has strict standards for its baseballs, which are manufactured by Rawlings. Prior to Game 3 in this year's World Series, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told USA Today he is "absolutely confident that the balls that we're using are within our established specifications."
According to MLB rules, balls must be formed by yarn wound around a small core of cork, rubber or similar material, covered with stitched white horsehide or cowhide, weighing 5-5.25 ounces and measuring 9-9.25 inches in circumference.
Earlier this year, Rawlings’ quality assurance director said the baseballs are tightly controlled and their specifications are more stringent than the MLB’s standards.
“Every year when home runs go up, people say the ball is juiced,” Rawlings’ Kathy Smith-Stephens told Chemical & Engineering News. “Well, it’s not.”
She added: “Our baseball specs today are detailed beyond any other product we have.”
World Series balls are tested and made with the same materials to the same standards as regular season balls, MLB Senior Vice President Peter Woodfork recently told Sports Illustrated.
Rawlings tests every batch of balls twice, measuring the ball’s coefficient of restitution, or COR, which indicates its “bounce.” MLB-bound balls must have a COR between .514 and .578. Juiced balls would have a higher COR, according to the Chemical and Engineering News article.
Fast Copy News Service wrote this column. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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