"FED Legal" Baseballs

[Publius]

Originally Posted by DG

I am familiar with other baseballs from youth league play but all I recall from HS play is Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings. AD Starr makes some good balls. I have seen Baden (rare though), but I have never seen a Pro-Nine ball.

Come on, Deej, you CAN'T think Starrs are good. I know your son played NCBA baseball, so you're familiar with A.D. Starr (the official ball of the league; by league rule, failure to use it is protestable and grounds for forfeit). I've worked that league since 2002, and I've never seen a worse ball--even Pro-Nines are better, and they stink. Starr is based in PA, so I'll bet piaa ump knows of what he speaks on that issue--particularly since he describes what I experience, too.

I'm like Finnerty when I work NCBA; I buy 3-4 dozen extras every year for my plate jobs. I always bring 4 (7 inning game) or 6 (9 inning) with me to add to the 4 the teams provide. Almost always, every one of them ends up in the practice bucket because they aren't salvageable at game's end for use in another game.

For adult players, there may be serviceable baseballs other than Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings, but I've never seen one.

[DG]

Originally Posted by Publius

Come on, Deej, you CAN'T think Starrs are good.

For adult players, there may be serviceable baseballs other than Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings, but I've never seen one.

Starr, like others, make different quality balls, the ones I have seen are pretty good. Every Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings ball I have seen are not the best quality.

[SanDiegoSteve]

Originally Posted by DG

Starr, like others, make different quality balls, the ones I have seen are pretty good. Every Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings ball I have seen are not the best quality.

Even the Rawlings Major League Baseball? I get these quite often, and they are the real deal.

[MrUmpire]

Here's the problem with inconsistent quality of "FED" baseballs as opposed to MLB baseballs.

MLB has set standards and randomly tests balls that bear the MLB logo and are used in MLB.

The only standard FED enforces on those balls that bear the FED stamp is whether or not the check cleared.

Any company willing to pay for the right to use the FED logo, no matter what piece of crap they produce, may do so.

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

Here's the problem with inconsistent quality of "FED" baseballs as opposed to MLB baseballs.

MLB has set standards and randomly tests balls that bear the MLB logo and are used in MLB.

The only standard FED enforces on those balls that bear the FED stamp is whether or not the check cleared.

Any company willing to pay for the right to use the FED logo, no matter what piece of crap they produce, may do so.

MrUmpire,

I believe the FED also requires that the vendor alledges that the balls conform to FED specs regarding weight, circumference, and COR specifications.

JM

[jkumpire]

It's simple to me.

If the game is close between two good teams, make sure the game balls are good.

If the game is not close between a good team and a bad team, make sure the bad team plays defense using the soft, spongy game balls. If the good team is on defense, let them use the harder better game balls.

Anything to get the game over ASAP, so there is more tim for root beers after the contest!

[MrUmpire]

Originally Posted by UmpJM (nee CoachJM)

MrUmpire,

I believe the FED also requires that the vendor alledges that the balls conform to FED specs regarding weight, circumference, and COR specifications.

JM

I can see where I was a bit unclear...my point is that FED does not eforce their requirements and, the last I knew, did not conduct random tests of any of the various manufacturer's products. They are primarily interested in the revenue generated by selling the rights to their logo and are minimally, if at all, interested in the quality of items that bear that logo.

[Kevin Finnerty]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I can see where I was a bit unclear...my point is that FED does not eforce their requirements and, the last I knew, did not conduct random tests of any of the various manufacturer's products. They are primarily interested in the revenue generated by selling the rights to their logo and are minimally, if at all, interested in the quality of items that bear that logo.

And that makes them just like most American businesses and corporations.

[I know, the truth again; I'm sorry in advance]

[UmpJM]

Originally Posted by MrUmpire

I can see where I was a bit unclear...my point is that FED does not eforce their requirements and, the last I knew, did not conduct random tests of any of the various manufacturer's products. They are primarily interested in the revenue generated by selling the rights to their logo and are minimally, if at all, interested in the quality of items that bear that logo.

MrUmpire,

No, you were perfectly clear. My response was intended to support your assertion.

A friend of mine who is "in the business" informed me that FED does absolutely nothing to verify that the baseballs conform to spec. They do, however, require that the vendor states that the balls conform to the specs when they apply for permission to use the "mark".

JM

[DG]

Originally Posted by SanDiegoSteve

Even the Rawlings Major League Baseball? I get these quite often, and they are the real deal.

My last post on baseballs, as this has gotten boring. I don't work any games where the Rawlings Major League Baseballs are used. I do work some games where very good Rawlings baseballs are used.

Most high schools around here use Diamond D1 or Wilson 1010 and they are very good.

[Publius]

Originally Posted by DG

Starr, like others, make different quality balls,... Every Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings ball I have seen are not the best quality.

True that, but the NCBA balls are Starr's top-of-the-line model, and they are junk after two innings. None of the teams I work for use them for non-league play. I can't imagine how poor they are down the line.

Steve, I think he meant, "Not every Diamond, Wilson and Rawlings ball I have seen is the best quality." That's true, too, particularly with Wilson in my experience.