Okay, so, I’ve always been a huge baseball fan, right? But the other day, I got to thinking, what are these things actually made of? I mean, I’ve held countless baseballs in my hand, but never really stopped to consider their construction. So, I dove in.
First, I grabbed an old, beat-up baseball from my garage. It had seen better days, that’s for sure. I figured this was the perfect specimen for a little dissection experiment. I also found a fresh, untouched ball. I wanted to compare them side by side.
The Core
I started with the core. Now, I always thought it was just solid rubber or something, but it turns out there is more. I learned it is actually a cork center. They call it the “pill” I guess. It’s pretty small and, well, it looked like a little cork ball. I tried to squish it, but it was surprisingly hard.
The Yarn
Next, I unraveled the yarn. It’s not just one type, either! There is an initial process of wrapping the yarn around, with a few layers. I pulled and pulled, and it just kept coming. Eventually, I ended up with a massive pile of yarn that was way bigger than the baseball itself. It’s crazy how much they pack in there!
The Cover
Then came the cover. From the looks of it, I assumed that it would be some type of leather. I tried to be careful taking it off, and I noticed that it is stitched on with that iconic red thread. I also noticed that the cover on the new ball was tighter and smoother. The new ball had a really nice, tight cover that felt great to hold. I noticed it was also cowhide.
Putting it all Together
- So, basically, a baseball is like an onion, with layers.
- You’ve got the cork center, then layers of different types of yarn, and finally, the cowhide cover, all stitched together.
- It’s really a pretty simple design, but I guess it works!
My little experiment really gave me a new appreciation for the baseball. It’s not just a ball; it’s a carefully crafted piece of sporting equipment. I even learned that they have strict rules about how they’re made for the Major League. They even test them!
I even learned about how baseballs were made during World War II. I found that the materials changed based on what was available during that time. After the war though, they went back to using the traditional materials.
It was a fun little project, and now I feel like I know my favorite sport a little bit better. Plus, I have a giant pile of yarn now. Maybe I’ll try to make something with it. Or not, we’ll see!
