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Resolution text, part 1
The Department of Florida in convention assembled Orlando, Florida, July 9th,
2004, voted unanimously to "prohibit the use of bats of any substance except
wood as approved by the American and National Leagues of Major League Baseball".
During debate of the Florida Resolution, the 2003 death of an American Legion
Baseball Pitcher became a key concern of the Department of Florida. Although
injuries occur from batted balls regularly, the batted ball off of an aluminum
bat results in death by more than a 4-1 margin over other bats. The Department
of Florida acknowledged the pre-Major League skill and strength of American
Legion Baseball Players; many are drafted by the professional Leagues. The
following gives The American Legion in National Convention assembled in
Nashville, Tennessee August 31, September 1,2,2004 the opportunity to set the
national Legion standard, Major League Baseball Wood Bat Rule, for safe,
competitive baseball.
"WHEREAS, An American Legion Baseball Player was killed by a batted ball from an
Aluminum Bat during the 2003 Legion Baseball Season; and,"
Exhibit One (1), is the Report by the Helena, Montana, newspaper, Helenair,
www.helenair.com/articles/2003/07/27/breaking/a01072703_03.prt
This report gives the detail of the severity of the injury and the death of
American Legion Baseball Player, Brandon Patch. When this Helena Senator's
Baseball Pitcher was scheduled into the Baseball Lineup Card as pitcher, he
accepted his duty to pitch the baseball game. The batter that hit the baseball
with an aluminum bat that killed Brandon Patch also accepted his duty to hit the
baseball. These players and the Baseball Teams of the American Legion played
under a set of American Legion Baseball Rules.
The Department of Florida American Legion Baseball Association acknowledges in
Article I, Section 2, The purpose of the Association:
- To provide a baseball program through which all members of the Association may
participate under a common set of rules, to the mutual benefit of all, and
- To provide concrete and practical lessons of citizenship and sportsmanship by
playing the American game of baseball, and
- To provide for the safety of participants.
Is the death of an American Legion Baseball Player by a batted ball off an
aluminum bat a lesson in "citizenship and sportsmanship"?
The importance of providing "a common set of rules, to the mutual benefit of
all" for the "safety of participants" is paramount in American Legion Baseball.
It is the purpose of Legion Baseball. Voluntary use of the Wood Bat and
Aluminum Bat is not consistent with the common set of rules of American Legion
Baseball. Wood Baseball Bats behave differently than an Aluminum Bat. Wood
bats are forgiving, often breaking on pitch velocities above 70 MPH. Aluminum
bats do not break as a Wood Bat does. Additionally, Baseballs "comeback" to
defensive players off an aluminum bat at a greater speed known as "trampoline"
effect. The "trampoline" effect of Wood Bats is less. Each player is entitled
to know the risk of severe, permanent injury or death from the batted ball off
an Aluminum Bat. The liability to the Legion, Legion Coaches and Umpires is
real. It is our mission as The American Legion to "provide for the safety of
participants" by reducing the risk of injury or death by voting for exclusive
use of the Wood Bat for the pre-Major League level of play demonstrated by
American Legion Baseball Players.
"WHEREAS, 17 players were killed by batted baseballs from bats determined to be
aluminum or "unknown" substance according to a CBS News Report during a 10 year
period; and"
See Exhibit One or:
www.helenair.com/articles/2003/07/27/breaking/a01072703_03.prt
"WHEREAS, The Aluminum Bat costs up to 5 times as much as a Wood Bat; and"
Exhibit Three (3) is a photograph of two pages of a typical Baseball Mail Order
Catalogue. The "Wicked", a popular "-3" Aluminum Bat is $ 229.99. The "northern
white ash" Wood Bat is $ 39.99. Five Wood Bats, nearly six, can be purchased for
the price of one aluminum bat. Four of the best Wood Bats, the "Pro Maple" at $
56.99 each, would have to be misused and broken before the purchase of the
"Wicked" aluminum bat would be economical. The "Vexxum" aluminum bat at $
219.99, equals over six lightweight northern white ash Wood Bats, or nearly four
(3.8) Pro Maple Wood Bats. Proper "label up" use of the wood bat extends the
life of a wood bat. See "Cost" under "Additional Supporting Correspondence"
below for more information.
"WHEREAS, The Wood Bat is the traditional bat of the National Past Time of
Baseball; and"
Milton A. Gordon, a President of California State University and Chair of the
National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Research Panel formed to study
player safety and game integrity, said,
"In terms of both risk and integrity, the panel concluded that wood should be the
standard. Given the fact that baseball has been played with wooden bats since
the inception of the game, the group determined that the level of risk associated
with wooden bats is generally accepted by all associated with the game."
"WHEREAS, The exit velocity of the Wood Bat is comparable to the Aluminum Bat;
and"
Exhibit Two (2) Page 43 Contains results of testing by Professor James Sherwood,
of the University of Massachusetts at Lowell, (978-934-3313). He stated in his
report, "If wood bats are considered the safe level for play, then it is
difficult to defend, from a safety point of view, any level of performance above
that of comparable wood."
A 32 inch, 29 ounce Major League Wood Bat, a "-3" differential, generates an
average exit speed of 93.712 miles per hour (70 mph bat speed, 70 mph pitch
speed). Many of us have heard our Legion Coaches proudly boast about their top
pitcher. What pitch speed does he boast about? Watch any televised Baseball
Game, College and Legion included, and check the radar readout on pitch speed.
They are significantly greater than 70 mph. Much above 70 mph, wood bats break
on a pitch middle and in offering protection to the defending players. Aluminum
bats do not break the same if at all when a ball is hit off the enhanced "sweet
spot" built into the balance point middle and in of an Aluminum Bat. The result
is a "come backer" that returns before the human reaction time of .4 seconds to
defend at 52-53 feet from bat-ball impact.
"WHEREAS, The Wood Bat is forgiving in that it breaks and Aluminum Bats repel the
baseball at velocities that exceed human reaction time; and"
Exhibit Two (2), Page 45 describes the human reaction time, four tenths of a
second (.40), a Baseball Pitcher needs to react and defend.
In a memo to NCAA membership, August 28, 1998, it was stated:
"The average time to react to a ball hit from a distance of 54 feet is
approximately .4 seconds. The ball-exit velocity that matches this reaction time
is 93 miles per hour. Ball-exit velocities from aluminum bats currently in use
in collegiate play have been measured from 103-113 miles per hour, translating to
a reaction time of .357 to .315 seconds at a distance of 54 feet. Therefore,
there is a window of time during which a collegiate baseball pitcher could be
vulnerable to being struck by a batted ball." (Exhibit Two (2) page 56)
"WHEREAS, The Wood Bat served American Legion Baseball Players for many decades
creating a growing Legion Baseball League of distinction from other travel
leagues, and lesser known upstart leagues; now, therefore be it"
The Bat Rule of the Department of Florida for Wooden bats states:
"Wooden bats are permitted under Official Baseball Rules as published by The
Sporting News."
The Wood Bat rule served the American Legion from the first pitch in the 1920's
until 1974 when the first Aluminum Bats became widely accepted in Collegiate
Baseball. Every Legion member admires the distinguished Major League Baseball
players that proudly acknowledge their accomplishments as rising stars in
American Legion Baseball.
Today, rival leagues, like the "Connie Mack" of the American Amateur Baseball
Congress (AABC), proudly send a nationwide newsletter acknowledging the Major
League Players they have promoted to the Major Leagues. There is little, if any,
distinction between these two leagues especially considering the AABC has been
Aluminum Bat for most of its existence.
The American Legion Baseball program has always been viewed as a "pre-Major
League" program for nearly a century. Are we now being asked to accept a lesser
amateur status by playing the game with Aluminum Bats the Major Leagues have not
even considered using? Are Aluminum Bats necessary to prove an American Legion
Baseball player is a pro prospect?
There are 6 additional bat rules just to govern the Aluminum and other non-wood
bats. The liability for an American Legion umpire that fails
to enforce these complicated rules could be increasing. Legion teams are paying
more for accident and liability insurance than competing leagues. Liability
insurance for one aluminum bat manufacturer increased from $ 10,000,000.00
10-7-92 to $ 20,000,000.00 on 6-26-97. Exhibit Two (2) page 13.
Additional Supporting Correspondence
Department of Florida Baseball Chairman, Tom Sperling, focused the debate of this
resolution with his letter dated July 20, 2004. The letter and the attachments
are Exhibit Four (4).
The "Return to Wood" Bat Resolution was presented to the Department of Florida
before May 1st. The Department Baseball Committee letter was received after the
Convention passed the Resolution. Discussion on the Resolution, its whereabouts
and status, also occurred in the pre-convention Department of Florida Americanism
Committee, Internal Affairs Committee, and Executive Committee. Members of the
Baseball Committee, if present at Convention, did not acknowledge Roll Call in
the Americanism Committee Meeting. Widespread support by Delegates who
previously represented Areas in the Department of Florida for Baseball supported
the "Return to Wood" Bat Resolution. These delegates had information presented
to them at convention the Department Baseball Chairman did not have but was
available to him and even offered to Department in support of the Resolution
before convention. This information is presented to inform The National
Convention of the material relevance of the subject, Wood Bat Baseball, to the
purpose for which the American Legion was formed.
Chairman Tom Sperling acknowledges in his July 20th letter that the Wood Bat
issue has been the topic of discussion at the last two (2) Americanism
Conferences in Indianapolis. The fact that at least two (2) Americanism
Conferences have addressed the Wood Bat issue establishing the material relevance
of the subject, Wood Bats. The death of a Legion Baseball Player reflects on the
purpose of American Legion Baseball as previously noted during discussion of the
American Legion Department of Florida Baseball Rules and Regulations. Since
this death occurred during an official American Legion Event, it is of material
relevance to the purpose for which the American Legion was formed. What action
can be taken to protect our youth in accordance with the American Legion Preamble
to the Constitution?
Several items were raised in the letter from Chairman Sperling. Cost. This item
has been discussed previously. Mr. Sperling does not disclose how he figures
that "Aluminum bats cost more, but are less expensive over the season." A player
would have to break over 6 lightweight northern ash bats to make the aluminum bat
less expensive. How often do you see a broken bat hit or foul in a Major League
Baseball game? Once? Twice? Per player? A leading bat company sales
representative estimates a summer wood bat league baseball player will break 4
bats on average per summer season. The comparison of immaterial costs versus the
death of a Legion Baseball Player by a batted ball off an aluminum bat is the
real question, not cost.
Use. Mr. Sperling writes "High Schools and Colleges use the aluminum bats." In
the January 2, 2004 issue of Collegiate Baseball, the official publication of the
American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) representing thousands of College
and High School Baseball Coaches, a letter discloses that "the junior colleges in
Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, and Idaho" are using wood bats. This is not
a ""few" selected leagues" as Mr. Sperling writes in his letter. It is possible
he did not know of this recent development. The Collegiate Coach goes on to
"commend the junior colleges" for getting "past the cost issues and using wood
bats. They have made the right decision for player safety and better baseball."
National Baseball Chairman, Jim Quinlan, also looks to the colleges for action on
the Wood Bat. This change to wood by college teams comes at the same time that
an October 23rd, 2003 College Baseball incident where a pitcher received a
fractured skull from a batted ball off an aluminum bat has again created a grass
roots collegiate call for change to Wood Bats. See Exhibit Five (5).
Control. Mr. Sperling writes "The High School Federation and the NCAA require a
BESR (Ball Exit Speed Ratio) certification to ensure a
bat meets certain criteria. Bats not meeting these requirements are not
allowed." The BESR certification is the "-3" that is painted on the aluminum bats
for umpires to check for compliance. The unfortunate reality is that the BESR
label is often unreadable after a few uses. There is no standardization as to
location of the label. This often results in delay of the game if an umpire were
to check each bat as the batter comes to the plate. Rarely, if ever, are the
aluminum bats checked. It is often possible to swing a bat with differential of
"-5" or more without being discovered by an umpire in summer league baseball.
These bats can be modified simply by repainting the "-5" to a "-3".
These aluminum bats can be tampered with just as a wood bat can be "corked".
However, umpires do not need a tool kit to check a wood bat for tampering. The
grain of the bat is easily seen. Unlike an aluminum bat, a "corked" wood bat may
break disclosing the tampering. Given the fatality rate from batted baseballs
the Wood Bat is a simple solution to the tampering and enforcement of control
raised by Mr. Sperling.
Player Reaction. Mr. Sperling writes, "Individual player reaction also factors
into injuries. One player's reaction time may be slower than another's and he
may not get a glove on the ball." This is certainly true. However there is a
speed reached where the best humanly possible reaction time cannot react in time.
In a memo to NCAA membership, August 28, 1998, it was stated:
"The average time to react to a ball hit from a distance of 54 feet is
approximately .4 seconds. The ball-exit velocity that matches this reaction time
is 93 miles per hour. Ball-exit velocities from aluminum bats currently in use
in collegiate play have been measured from 103-113 miles per hour, translating to
a reaction time of .357 to .315 seconds at a distance of 54 feet. Therefore,
there is a window of time during which a collegiate baseball pitcher could be
vulnerable to being struck by a batted ball." (Exhibit Two (2) page 56)
The best example of this was a College World Series game between the Miami Canes and
Minnesota Gophers. The Minnesota pitcher was
video taped. The analysis showed the ball left the aluminum bat at a rate of speed
that exceeded human reaction time.
During an October 23, 2004 college scrimmage where a pitcher was struck in the
head, Coach Scolinos of Pasadena City College wrote "The pitcher was
fundamentally sound regarding his glove positioning for defense, it was just a
matter of not having the reaction time to defend himself." See Exhibit Five (5).
The quality of the pre-Major League Player - many also have signed to play
College Baseball - that typically makes up a Legion Baseball team is not a
comparison of one player to the next. It is the ability to react within the
definition of human reaction time. The University of Minnesota Video showed the
impossibility of reacting to the ball hit by a Miami player using an Aluminum
Bat. Mr. Sperling states for every one (1) player we put in the professional
ranks, we put 300 plus into college baseball. Like Legion Baseball players,
Collegiate players are also victims of the batted ball off Aluminum bats.
Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Council (MIAC). The attachment to Mr.
Sperling's letter is a press summary, not a report, regarding the hearings of the
MIAC. Mr. Paul Wetzel, by telephone conversation (617-451-9663, 781-826-5265)
confirmed that MIAC did not issue a report. The council heard oral testimony,
including testimony from Easton Bat Company, over several days. Written
testimony was not limited. Minutes of the testimony were not kept. The vote was
the official record in the minutes. These votes showed a significant minority
voting for Wood Bat use. Further information is on the web at miaa.net.
The attachment to Mr. Sperling's letter was also handed out by the Easton Bat
Company representative at the Youth Baseball (Committee) Breakout Session at the
ABCA Convention to College and High School Coaches. There have been many new,
material developments in College Baseball as discussed above since January.
Mr. Sperling's letter brings great focus to the core issues to be discussed on
the subject of the Wood Bat. He did not discuss the death of the Montana Legion
Baseball Player, Brandon Patch, or any other fatalities or life changing injuries
from batted balls off Aluminum Bats. Pitcher Brandon Patch was killed by a
batted ball off an Aluminum Bat. Yet, the second page of the attachment to Mr.
Sperling's letter states, "The commission is not aware of any information that
injuries produced by balls batted with non-wood bats are more severe than those
involving wood bats". Is death severe enough? Clearly, this part of this
attachment is out of date and is definitely misleading and out of context. See
Exhibit Two (2) "Consumer Product Safety Commission"
Conclusion
Head Baseball Coach, Mike Gorman, Barstow College, California, wrote it best in a
letter to Collegiate Baseball, Spring 2004, "I am with Coach Scolinos in asking
for someone to step up and show some common sense and courage in the name of
safety." Plain words that appeal to the conscience of the people. Is that
"someone" us, the Delegates of the Departments of the American Legion who can
lead this history making event with courage? Step up to the challenge to save
lives and reduce injuries. Let's get back to the "crack of the bat".
"RESOLVED, By The American Legion in National Convention assembled Nashville,
Tennessee, on August 31, September 1, 2, 2004 That the National American Legion
Baseball Chairman prohibit the use of bats of any substance except wood as
approved by the American and National Leagues of Major League Baseball effective
with the 2005 American Legion Season."
Exhibit One (1)
Death of Legion Baseball Player as reported by Newspaper Reporter Tom Cotton (2
pages), or access at:
www.helenair.com/articles/2003/07/27/breaking/a01072703_03.prt
Wood Bat Resolution - Word doc. download
Consumer Product Safety Commission Petition/Report
in 5 parts ( in approx. 2.7mb each .zip files )
( part 1 above )
start Download of Wood Bat Res. part 2;
(2.6mb)
start Download of Wood Bat Res. part 3;
(2.6mb)
start Download of Wood Bat Res. part 4;
(2.8mb)
start Download of Wood Bat Res. part 5;
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