Maple Baseball Bats – Stand the test of time and still going strong

It has been almost 9 years since Barry Bonds broke the record for home runs in a single season while using a maple baseball bat all season. That magical season in baseball was a showcase year for the Maple Bats. Although players like Joe Carter used Maple even in the late 1980s, Maple never really took off until the 2001 season when Bonds smashed 73 home runs to break the single-season home run record in baseball. From that point on, Maple jumped into more and more hands in baseball…and Maple hasn’t looked back since.

Many things in our society turn out to be fads and never survive the hard times. Maple baseball bats are beginning to silence critics who have been strong advocates of maple. There have been multiple cases where the maple has been the culprit in serious baseball injuries. A prime example was during the 2008 season when Pittsburgh Pirates hitting coach Don Long was hit in the face just below the eyes by a large chunk of Nate McLouth’s maple bat during the eighth inning of a game. at Dodger Stadium. Witnesses say that chunk appeared to be about half the bat. Just ten days later, another piece of maple bat flew out of the hands of Colorado Rockies’ Todd Helton, flew into the stands and broke a Dodgers fan’s jaw.

Many players concerned about the safety of their teammates, coaches, and fans have even switched from Maple to Ash or Birch. Including a few seasons ago, when Frank Thomas and Eric Chavez switched from Maple to Birch, and Jason Bay switched Ash from Birch.

A 2005 study commissioned by MLB found that there was no difference in how fast the ball leaves a maple or ash bat. But still, maple seems to give hitters a confidence that ash doesn’t. Although the exact number of players who swing maple in the MLB is unknown, the truth is that it is a majority; with some reports estimating the number at 60 to 70 percent.

To be sure, there is also a longer shelf life with Maple. Several studies have found that the average lifespan of a Maple Bat in the MLB is about a month, compared to an Ash’s one-week lifespan. So while MLB officials are concerned about the safety risks associated with maple baseball bats, Bat Manufactures is working hard with MLB officials to create a solution to the safety risks; as well as banning maple bats in baseball.

Throughout all the issues, controversies and concerns surrounding maple baseball bats, the demand is still there and the popularity is still growing. Maple bats may experience some tough times, but it looks like the new king of the wood bats is here to stay.