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Baseball Trivia (General)/Bats and batboys

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Expert: - 7/30/2011


Question
I have two questions:

1) Do major league players have to buy their own bats?

2) Are the batboys for visiting teams provided by the home team or do batboys travel with their teams on road trips?

Thanks.

Answer
Major league players do not buy their own bats - the team buys them but in many instances the bat manufacturers supply the bats to the players if the players are under contract to the bat manufacturer - for example Louisville Slugger will have certain players under contract and will provide that player with bats bearing his signature.  Also other companies such as Mizuno - might have a player under contract for shoes, gloves and bats.  The players will work with the bat manufacturers in supplying the bat to a player based on that players specifications - weight, length, type of handle, bat barrel etc - usually power hitters want a thin handle to get more snap into their swing and therefore more power - singles hitters and usually request a thicker handle

Bat boys for visiting teams are provided by the home team - to the best of my knowledge bat boys do not travel with the teams - for many years, bat boys also were responsible for providing batting practice balls, shining players shoes and on occasion warming up certain players before a game - not certain this is still the case today  

Baseball Trivia (General)

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George W. Case III

Expertise

WW II era major league baseball history - questions about specific WWII era players, stadiums, life in the major leagues, teams, impact of major league baseball upon American society during WWII (FDR's "Green Light" letter to the then Commissioner of Baseball) and the relationship of President Roosevelt with Washington Senators owner Clark Griffith in an effort to keep baseball "alive" during the darkest days of WWII.

Experience

Son of a former major league baseball player, George Case Jr. who played in the major leagues from 1937-1947. I was the former Executive Director of SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) Have produced a DVD taken from my father's 8MM COLOR "home movies" of life in the major leagues from a ballplayer's perspective - currently marketing this DVD privately and also in conjunction with www.baseballdirect.com

Publications
SABR Bulletin - "Case's Corner" - newsletter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) "Growing Up at Griffith Stadium" - article published courtesy of The Big Train (Walter Johnson Baseball League) - Bethesda Maryland

Education/Credentials
BA - Rutgers University 1963 MA - Rider University 1979

Awards and Honors
Former Executive Director of SABR Consultant and speaker - City of Trenton NJ baseball exhibit - "When Trenton Baseball Roared Like Thunder" - 1994

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