Table of Contents
- 1 What kind of mud do they rub on baseballs?
- 2 What is rubbing mud and what is the trade secret associated with it?
- 3 Are MLB baseballs slippery?
- 4 Why is baseball dirt red?
- 5 What is the purpose of Baseball Rubbing Mud?
- 6 When did they start putting mud on baseballs?
- 7 Where does the New Jersey Mud come from?
What kind of mud do they rub on baseballs?
Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing
So, what do umpires use to prep the balls and dull the shine? New Jersey mud. For nearly three quarters of a century, a special variety of Jersey muck, Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud, has been removing the sheen from baseballs for just about every professional baseball team in the country.
What is rubbing mud and what is the trade secret associated with it?
Lena Blackburne Baseball Rubbing Mud has been used in the majors dating back to the 1930s to improve the grip and dull the shine of new baseballs. Before every game, dozens of baseballs are rubbed with this one-of-a-kind specialty product, derived from a secret source, by an umpire or other club personnel.
Why do pitchers rub up the baseball?
A pitcher rubs the baseball to increase tack and create friction, which gives pitchers more control over the baseball. Pitchers rub the baseball to scuff up a new ball’s cover in hopes of altering its weight or wind resistance.
Are MLB baseballs slippery?
Fresh baseballs right out of the box are too slippery. In a league in which every team has at least a few pitchers who throw in the mid-to-upper 90s, you don’t really want them armed with slippery baseballs.
Why is baseball dirt red?
Piles of red clay stand nearby, like scale models of the Grand Canyon. Plus, the clay is absorbent, letting teams play in rain and even preventing costly postponements. Before the Pirates installed a DuraEdge infield in fall 2008, PNC Park averaged 5.6 postponed games each season.
Can an umpire eject a fan?
Yes, an umpire is allowed to eject any fan who enters the playing field or a restricted team area.
What is the purpose of Baseball Rubbing Mud?
Delaware River, the general vicinity of the source of baseball rubbing mud. Baseball rubbing mud is mud used to treat balls in the sport of baseball to give pitchers better control and a firmer grip on the balls.
When did they start putting mud on baseballs?
It all began in 1938 when an umpire complained to Lena Blackburne, a third base coach for the old Philadelphia Athletics, about the sorry condition of the baseballs used by the American League. Back then a ball was prepped simply with mud made of water and dirt from the playing field. The result?
When did John Blackburne start his baseball rubbing mud business?
Before Blackburne’s death in the late 50’s, his baseball rubbing mud was being used by every major and most minor leagues in the United States. Blackburne’s mud business, along with the secret of the mud’s source, was willed to a close pal, John Haas, who had worked with Blackburne on his mud-finding exploits.
Where does the New Jersey Mud come from?
The mud originates from the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. The mud is cleaned and screened before sale. Each year Jim Bintliff visits the mud’s source and returns with 1,000 pounds of it to store over the winter and sells it the following baseball season.