Should we be...
 

rubbing up baseballs using Spit/Saliva ?

When I first started umpiring, I was taught to put a little spit in my hand to rub up balls before a game. I've been doing that for years now. Sometimes, if my mouth is dry, I'll use some sweat off the top of my head. Yeah, all this is gross, but it's what goes on on baseball fields every day.

So one game a couple of weeks ago, I'm standing there during a time out rubbing up a new ball that was given to me. The reason for the timeout, was we had to decide that a player had to change his pants due to blood stains from a slide.

So as I'm putting my spit all over this ball, I start to think, "what's the difference between him having blood on his pants, and me coating this ball with my spit ?" I know different body fluids carry different elements, but body fluids are body fluids, and our nasty stuff is in them.

I guess I need to start carrying sterile water, maybe even holy water, for rubbing up balls ?

I don't spit on baseballs. If they are not rubbed up already I use whatever dirt is available to take the shine off.

I just take a handful of dirt after the pregame meeting (if the home team doesnt rub them up before the game) and apply that to the ball. We never have to rub up baseballs during the high school season.

You beat me to it, Tee.

Another benefit.....one "bucket" of Blackburn's rubbing mud will pretty much last a career.

Rubbing up game balls
 

The Lena Blackburn mud is the way to go. Here is how I was taught:
Get a cup and fill it with water. Get a small amount of mud from the can, rub it in your palm, and then add some water and rub your palms together. Good for about 6 balls.

You must have been working with a three man crew... or four man if you leave yourself out of it and just take care of your partners :D

Now that's freakin' funny!!!http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/4/4_1_213.gif

Comedians
 

Quick thinking on your part.

I never thought twice about this until last season when my partner...literally...HOCKED A LOOGIE to rub up a baseball...then handed it to me. I didn't want to touch the thing.

Mud is great if your sitting in a nice locker room before a game.

We get the (3) balls just before the Plate Mtg., and have to rub them up there on the field.

Then, there are the new balls that come in during the game.

This is JMO of course, but this is how I handle rubbing up the baseballs.
I arrive at most games about 1 hr. before gametime. At that point, I pay a visit to the head coach, AD, or whoever to inform them that I'm there, so you will have at least 1 umpire today. Then I ask for a supply of baseballs. If they give them to me, I rub 'em before I get dressed. If they choose to not have me rub 'em up before that, I let them know that their pitchers don't like pearls, they usually take care of it.

Nick,
 

ctblu40 has hit EXACTLY what I do.

When I get to the game I ask for baseballs . . . I then rub them up at my car.

If they give me three I ask politely: "Will you please have someone rub up the new ones that come in after these disappear?"

When new balls are brought out and if they are NOT rubbed down . . . they get them just as they have been given to me . . . pearly whites.

Our three man crew for a state semi-final where given three dozen balls and all where done prior to the game and we never ran short.

Regards,