In the world of baseball, one of the most important aspects of the game is the type of bat used. From the standard $20 wooden bat to the state-of-the-art $300 aluminum model, each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, and its own unique feel and sound. However, while baseball bats may differ in use and design, there are still advantages for each type for ball players.

             Originally, baseball bats were created in varying shapes and sizes, as players in the 1850's developed their own bats with different lengths and masses. By 1859, a rule was created to help regulate the types of bats used that specified no bat could be more than 2.5 inches in diameter. By 1869, rules specified that no bat was to exceed 42 inches in length (Baseball-Bats.net, 2003). These rules still apply today.

             Until around the 1920's, many bats were made of white ash wood. However, in 1924, the first metal bat was created by William Shroyer, and although metal bats did not come into popularity until the aluminum bat in 1970, their use steadily increased over time (Sports-wired.com, 2002). Currently, the NCAA uses only aluminum bats (Kelly, 2000), while the professional leagues utilize only wooden ones (Baseball-bat.net, 2002). .

             The debate over which type of bat is superior has raged since the introduction of the aluminum bat. While some publicize the safety of the wooden bat (Kelly, 2002), others point to increased performance of the aluminum bat (Crisco, Greenwood, 2000). Yet both types have distinctive attributes that make them equally exclusive and similarly dependable.

             Early bats used hickory for the bat material, whereas modern bats use ash and maple (Conley, et al, 1997). White ash is used primarily due to its inflexibility, sturdiness, strength, mass and "feel". Lighter bats are easier to swing, and thus result in a faster swing (Baseball-bats.net, 2002). Maple bats, on the other hand, have a high strength value, and have thus become popular in recent years, even though their cost is higher.