HighBeam Research
Title: Eight-Year Study Finds Ball Used in Major League Baseball Is Juiced.
Date: 8/24/2000; Publication: PR Newswire;
CLEVELAND, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -The ball used in Major League Baseball appears to have been intentionally altered several times in the last
two decades, increasing the liveliness and number of home runs, according to an eight-year imaging study
conducted by Universal Systems in Solon, Ohio.
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000824/CLTH005-a
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Universal, with assistance from Dr. Avrami S. Grader and Dr. P.M. Halleck from The Center for
Quantitative Imaging at Penn State University, studied hundreds of baseballs of various eras dating to the
1930s through the imaging process before concluding that the ball has been changed in order to increase the
ball's flight.
"It's astonishing to see the changes to the core over the decades," said Dr. Grader. "It is a completely
different ball today."
After using a CT Scanner specifically designed for core analysis to image baseballs, the team of researchers
showed that the cores have changed from cork to a composite material that resembles rubber, causing it to
be more lively.
"Surrounding the core is a band made of synthetic rubber that over the years has been altered in thickness
while the size of the core has increased which gives the ball additional 'pop' or liveliness," said David
Zavagno, president of Universal. "More importantly, this band is not part of Major League manufacturing
specifications."
A study conducted to compare the cork centered baseballs of the Maris and Ruth era prove the force
necessary to energize the old cushioned cork centers was approximately three times greater thereby limiting
its flight. The modern baseball can theoretically travel up to seventy feet further depending upon
conditions.
Rawlings, the manufacturer of the official ball, contends that the ball has not changed since 1930.
"The testing that is currently conducted consists of shooting balls at 58 mph indoors against a wall. This is
the equivalent to measuring an underhanded toss from the pitchers mound to a five year old swinging a bat.
It is apparent that only the liveliness of the outer sphere of the ball is measured."
A major league fastball approaches the plate at speeds between 85 to 100 mph, Zavagno says. The batter's
swing brings another 80 to 100 mph of impact when the bat strikes the ball, resulting in a collision of nearly
200 mph.
According to Robert Adair, a senior research scientist at Yale University's Physicist Department and author
of "The Physics of Baseball," this collision takes place in 1/1000 of a second and compresses the ball to
about 50% of its size. It is in this split second that the core of the ball is energized, and if proper contact is
made, propelled out of the ballpark for a home run.
The recent study at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell Baseball Research Center released by MLB
states that "two baseballs could meet MLB specifications for construction but one ball could be
theoretically hit 49.1 feet further." The study also reported a glaring 13% of the 2000 baseballs supplied by
the teams for testing were underweight.
In addition, the equipment used at U Mass-Lowell was reportedly paid for by Rawlings and MLB.
"Major League Baseball's independent study is all public relations," says Zavagno. "They are not going to
admit to a radical change in a game that is supposed to be timeless."
"One can only conclude the new underweight balls could easily have traveled 50 - 100 feet further than last
year's baseball. This fact alone helps to explain part of this year's home run explosion."
"There were so many inconsistencies and attempts to explain away all the manufacturing and quality
control problems identified in the study we are surprised no one else has taken the time to evaluate the
report. Initially, we were hoping the study would give us scientific answers to explain the current offensive
explosion."
Zavagno serves as president of Universal Systems, a global user, designer and supplier of advanced
innovative imaging systems and services with more than 15 years of computed tomography experience.
For more information, contact David Zavagno, president of Universal Systems, at 440.349.3210 or
[email protected].
Fact Sheet
Home Runs
* In 1996, more than 5,300 home runs were hit and, in 1999, home runs
reached a record 5,528. At the present rate, we can expect over 6,200
home runs in 2000.
* In the last ten years home runs have increased by 45% without counting
the four new expansion teams that entered baseball during that period.
Player Size and Strength
* The average height and weight of the ten top home run hitters of the
1930s was 6 feet, 191 pounds. By the 1990s, those figures had jumped
to 6-2, 225 pounds.
* As recent as the 1970s the average weight of the top home run hitters
was nearly 25 pounds lighter than today's sluggers. During the 1980s,
the size had increased by 17 pounds.
* The supplement Creatine is used by an estimated 60 percent of major
leaguers, enabling athletes to gain in size and strength.
* On average, by 2010, the top ten home run hitters will have put on 71
pounds and grown by four inches from 2000, making them 6-6, 296 pounds.
Strike Zone
* In 1988, when the strike zone was enlarged to help pitchers, home runs
in the American league dropped by 733 or 28 percent. The percentage was
the same for the National League, which does not use the designated
hitter.
* The strike zone was also expanded in 1995 below the knees, though in
what is considered a hitter's power zone. This current strike zone has
had a reverse effect, increasing the number of home runs by 1,447 or
close to 30%.
Financials
* Since 1991, the average ticket for a Major League game has risen 93%,
from $8.64 to $16.65.
* In 1990, the top ten home run hitters were paid $37,000 per home run; in
1999, they were paid close to $190,000 per home run.
* Fans paid $140.47 for each of the 3,317 home runs they saw hit in 1990,
and $210.84 for each of 5,528 in 1999.
* There was no discount for volume for the fan as home runs went up 60%
and ticket prices followed at 55%. If you project this absurdity out in
a similar manner for the next ten years home runs will reach 9,176
annually and the fan will pay $326.80 for each and players will receive
$978,500 per home run.
Universal Systems - Non Destructive Testing
* Computed Tomography or CT scanning is a method whereby x-rays are passed
through a sample material, producing cross section images, offering the
capability of rapid, nondestructive visualization and analysis of core
materials. CT scanning is currently utilized within the petroleum
industry to identify and evaluate internal structural characteristics
and discontinuities of core materials and fluid distribution within core
material systems.
* Universal Systems is the worldwide leader supplying both CT and NMR
systems for petrophysical characterization. By specifically tuning a CT
scanner to a baseball, they are correctly able to characterize the
changes to the baseball through time as well as identify material
replacement.
The Ball
* The modern baseball is supposed to be tightly regulated. It has a
rubber covered cork core that is then wound tightly with yarn and
covered with alum leather. It must be between 9 and 9 1/4
circumference, and 5 to 5 1/4 ounces in weight and have a coefficient of
restitution of no more than 0.578 and no less than 0.514.
This document provided by HighBeam Research at http://www.highbeam.com