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MLB By The Numbers

Posted by TRAIN DUDE on Mon Aug 3 19:40:21 2026

In the average Major League Baseball game, between 275 and 300 pitches are thrown. At the same time, 96 to 120 baseballs are used. Which means that the average baseball is used for less than 3 pitches. Does this seem a bit wasteful or excessive?

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Re: MLB By The Numbers

Posted by LuchAAA on Mon Aug 3 20:32:40 2026, in response to MLB By The Numbers, posted by TRAIN DUDE on Mon Aug 3 19:40:21 2026.

A lot of the balls are thrown into the crowd at the end of an inning.

I guess MLB figures it adds to the "experience".

Of the balls used, I'm guessing a percentage are foul balls into the crowd, which is part of the stat. Others might be a pitch in the dirt or wild pitch.




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Re: MLB By The Numbers

Posted by Catfish 44 on Mon Aug 3 21:20:07 2026, in response to MLB By The Numbers, posted by TRAIN DUDE on Mon Aug 3 19:40:21 2026.

It certainly does. There is no need to change the ball so often.
And that’s r what the pine tar rule was for.
Calvin Griffith is rolling around at this nonsense because he’s the one that had the tar rule installed because he was so cheap.

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Re: MLB By The Numbers

Posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Mon Aug 3 23:00:43 2026, in response to Re: MLB By The Numbers, posted by LuchAAA on Mon Aug 3 20:32:40 2026.

A lot of balls taken out of the game are used tossed around during field and batting practice before the game.

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Re: MLB By The Numbers

Posted by Avid reader on Mon Aug 3 23:20:12 2026, in response to Re: MLB By The Numbers, posted by Fisk Ave Jim on Mon Aug 3 23:00:43 2026.

— all official Major League Baseballs are made in Costa Rica, specifically at Rawlings’ factory in Turrialba, a small town in the country sportsgeardaily.com+1.

Since 1977, Rawlings has been the exclusive supplier of MLB baseballs, and the Turrialba facility has been the only authorized manufacturer of game-day balls under strict MLB oversight sportsgeardaily.com. The factory produces around 2.4 million balls annually, with about 1.8 million going directly to MLB games howlermag.com.

Why Costa Rica?
Skilled artisans: Generations of workers specialize in hand-stitching each ball with 108 red stitches, a process that machines cannot replicate howlermag.com.

Quality control: Proximity to U.S. oversight while maintaining lower labor costs than domestic production sportsgeardaily.com.

Stable environment: Political and economic stability compared to other offshore locations sportsgeardaily.com.

Materials Sourced from the U.S. and Europe
While assembled in Costa Rica, most raw materials come from abroad:

Cowhide leather from Tennessee, U.S. sportsgeardaily.com+1

Cork core from Portugal sportsgeardaily.com

Rubber layer from the U.S. sportsgeardaily.com

Yarn windings from U.S. wool/cotton blends sportsgeardaily.com

Production Process
Core assembly: Cork sphere with rubber layers.

Yarn wrapping: Multiple layers for resilience.

Leather covering: Two pieces of premium cowhide stitched together.

Hand-stitching: 108 red waxed thread stitches.

Quality checks: Each ball must meet MLB specs for weight (5–5.25 oz) and circumference (9–9.25 in) sportsgeardaily.com+1.

In short, Costa Roca (likely a misspelling of Turrialba) is indeed the home of MLB baseball manufacturing — every official game ball you see in the majors starts there.

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Re: MLB By The Numbers

Posted by TRAIN DUDE on Mon Aug 3 23:26:18 2026, in response to Re: MLB By The Numbers, posted by Avid reader on Mon Aug 3 23:20:12 2026.

Interesting information

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