When we talk about MLB, the spotlight often falls on the sluggers launching towering home runs, pitchers hurling blazing fastballs, and the lucky fans asking for souvenirs from foul balls. Well, these are the electrifying moments that define the game. But amid the roar of the crowd and the crack of the bat, one essential element quietly takes center stage in every play: the baseball itself.
Yes, it may not have the star power of a home run king or the velocity of a flame-throwing ace, but the ball is the heartbeat of the game. Without it, there’s no pitch, no hit, no catch, and well, no baseball. And while it might not carry the rich lore of legendary players, MLB baseball has its own fascinating story to tell.
Do you ever wonder how many balls are used in a single MLB game? You’ve seen new ones being tossed in constantly, but have you ever stopped to count? Most haven’t, and that’s what makes it so intriguing. Today, let’s shed light on this unsung hero of the diamond and dive into some of the lesser-known facts and trivia about the ball that keeps the game alive.
How many balls are used in every MLB game? Is there a fixed number? All to know
Here’s something you probably don’t think about while watching a baseball game. Just how many baseballs are used in a single MLB game? Well, there’s a Spoiler alert. It’s a lot more than you might expect! It is reported that anywhere between 96 and 120 balls are used in a typical nine-inning game. So, when you multiply that by over 2,400 games in a season. We’re already closing in on 300,000 baseballs used, and that’s before you even count the playoffs, extra innings, or practices.
There’s no fixed number of balls to be used!
So why are so many baseballs needed?
Well, MLB rules say any ball that gets dirty, scuffed, or even just a little off-color has to be taken out of play. Moreover, if a pitcher doesn’t like how a ball feels, he can toss it out, too. Incidentally, in 1920, a player named Ray Chapman died after getting hit by a pitch due to a visibility issue. The ball had gotten too dirty to track properly. Hence, we hardly get to see any dirty or stained balls being used in a game. A trivial fact here: A game-used ball sticks around for just 3 to 7 pitches before it’s replaced.
Which game has the highest number of balls used so far? Know more
Ahh, now that’s an interesting take.
MLB doesn’t officially track the exact number of baseballs used per game. Some reports indicate that in a 15-inning game between the Twins and Brewers in 2012, between 180 and 216 balls were used. This is notably higher than the typical 96 to 120 balls used in a standard nine-inning game.
The game was played for 15 innings, which is significantly higher than a normal 9-inning game. In that particular game, Denard Span delivered a walk-off single in the 15th inning, securing a 5-4 victory for the Twins. The game lasted 4 hours and 50 minutes and featured a 42-minute rain delay. Now, this weather condition might be another reason behind using such a large number of balls.
Moreover, there may have been other MLB games that required even more balls, especially those that extended beyond 15 innings. Anyway, it goes, it’s surely impressive that such a large number of balls are getting used in a game. It can be imagined how much it takes to complete a season. So, next time you collect a foul ball, consider it part of MLB history.
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