Leathery balls

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 11:57 am

You know, we get through quite a lot of balls, and the cost of buying them has so far been borne largely by a handful of people: Rich, Scott (in addition to all the money he's spent on other things, a very substantial amount all together) Dave L and myself. Leather balls are expensive, and we all hate using synthetics in-game.
I think we can reduce some of our wastage by being careful only to use synthetics during all warmups (including between innings) as at this time the ball is more likely to be dropped onto wet and/or muddy ground in the outfield. To this end I have some cheap, not at all for in-game use sythetic balls coming that I bought on eBay. Actually they are photoballs of one of baseballs best lead-off men, which I got for just $0.83 each. Can you guess who it is? Anyway, they can't be used in-game, as they are a green color. But they are the correct size and weight, and so should be fine for warmups. If they get wet and/or muddy, who cares?
Also for in-game use I have some good leather balls on the way, which I managed to get for $24.75 a dozen, a good price. There are cheaper leather balls out there, to be sure, but unlike men, they are not all created equal. On the other hand, there is not much point for us to use the top of the line balls, as we simply lose too many.
Anyway, I am not asking for contributions, I am just asking you to please not use a leather ball for warmup unless it is already very dirty.
If you can't remember to do that, buy some balls!

Also, broken stitches can be fixed, I got a couple tubes of some special glue for this purpose. Haven't tried it out yet, but for now please do not use balls with broken stiches for warmup either, leather or synthetic.

Post by **Baseball=Life** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:25 pm

tallguy wrote: please do not use a leather ball for warmup unless it is already very dirty. Also, please do not use balls with broken stiches for warmup either, leather or synthetic.

Thanks for bringing up this issue, Paul. If we all do a little bit to preserve the leather baseballs, it will really reduce the costs of replacing them!!!! So please follow Paul's advice and don't use leather balls or balls with broken stiches for warmup ! Thanks.

Yeah, new leather baseball costs can really add up--I was worried we wouldn't have enough available at last Sunday's live game, so I made a last minute run to Sportmart, where I was pillaged for $12.00 for 3 leather baseballs. Luckily, we didn't end up needing them (or I forgot they were in my bag, not sure which), so we still have those pristine, if costly, baseballs to use.

TheLegend · Post by **TheLegend** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:11 pm

I've got your leathery balls right here.

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 1:14 pm

Your mother has leathery balls.

Southpaw Slim · Post by **Southpaw Slim** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 11:05 am

tallguy wrote:...I have some cheap, not at all for in-game use sythetic balls coming that I bought on eBay. Actually they are photoballs of one of baseballs best lead-off men, which I got for just $0.83 each. Can you guess who it is?

Rickey.

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:25 pm

Nope. Try again

Post by **Baseball=Life** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 1:28 pm

tallguy wrote:I have some synthetic balls ---they are photoballs of one of baseballs best lead-off men, which I got for just $0.83 each. Can you guess who it is?

I'm thinking it's Derek Jeter.

Is it a current or past player?

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:13 pm

Current player.
Not Jeter. Screw the Yankees, I'd never sully our Oakland mud with a Yankee ball. So no Damon, either.

Post by **retep** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 2:53 pm

Randy Winn? I don't think he's a best, but Pauls frame of referance is one season!

Kenny Lofton?

Oh, I know! Dion Sanders?

Hahaha, kidding!

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 3:24 pm

No, no and no.
OK, another clue: he won rookie of the year (although this was controversial)

Post by **Baseball=Life** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 4:23 pm

I can't believe we didn't figure this out sooner................

It's ....

ICHIRO !!!

Pat K · Post by **Pat K** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:42 pm

I have a half dozen leather balls I will bring on Sunday. Rain?

P.S. As far as leadoff men go, its all bout RICKEY baby.

Post by **retep** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:07 pm

Pat, I agree he is the all time best... but Paul's not one of us Americans

He doesn't know these things!

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 9:08 pm

Ichiro it is. Well done Commissioner. You just won yourself a dozen.

As far as leadoff men go, its all bout RICKEY baby

Rickey who?

Sorry. Just kidding

tallguy · Post by **tallguy** » Mon Feb 27, 2006 12:34 pm

Ichiro balls have arrived, and with all this wet weather it is good to have some "junk" balls to throw around. They have a very synthetic-feeling cover, which may or may not make them more waterproof. The more likely thing is that the seams are not great and water will get in that way. Oh well. They also have lots of raised lettering and images, which should give a good drip when wet.

Oakland Park Baseball

Leathery balls

Leathery balls

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