University of Virginia Library

Is The Baseball Spiked?

SAN FRANCISCO - The
National League office offered
some statistics Monday to show
what pitchers already know - the
baseball is being hit more often and
farther.

But NL President Charles
Feeney reaffirmed that there has
been no change in manufacture of
the league ball.

After 174 games, figures show
428 homers have been hit this
season, 192 more than the 236
through 174 games last season.

In other categories, 185 more
runs have been scored, the number
of doubles has increased by 67, and
triples by 23.

Last weekend produced 63
home runs in the National League,
counting games of Friday, Saturday
and Sunday.

Feeney said some new baseballs
with his signature have been
introduced but that most of the
balls were left over from last season
and bear the signature of former
NL President Warren Giles.

Feeney's office released a
statement from Paul F. Collins,
president of the A.G. Spading Co.,
which manufactures baseballs for
both major leagues.

"No change in the
manufacturing of the baseballs has
been requested or made this year,
last year, or the past 45 years," it
said.

Some players, coaches and
managers say the extra slugging is
because players are going to lighter
bats.

Others, particularly pitching
coach Larry Jansen of the San
Francisco Giants, maintain the
manufacturer is putting a
rubberized glue just under the cover
of the new balls, making them
livelier.