Baseball bats have been around as long as the game itself, but William Shroyer patented the first metal bat in 1924. It would be almost another fifty years before players used them in the professional sport in 1970.
Initially, all bats were custom-made, but things have come a long way since the days of individually hand-carved wooden bats. Why are baseball bats so expensive?
Baseball bats are so expensive because better quality materials and higher manufacturing standards are used to make the bats customized to perform better. Bats are made in factories using machines that pre-cut the shape and workers who weigh and refine the bat using hand tools to make them thinner to have more spring effect to make the ball fly farther.
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Why Are Some Baseball Bats So Expensive
High-end baseball bats are not so different from the original bats used by early baseball players. In short, that means they are still made partially by hand.
Skilled laborers take specially chosen and treated woods and turn them into the iconic shape. After that, a handle is added if it’s a two-part bat. Otherwise, there’s a protective coating that goes on the outside.
Most bats are made in factories using machines that pre-cut the rough shape on an industrial lathe. After that, the workers will weigh and refine the bat using hand tools.
The type of wood and machines used to form different bats vary significantly. Moreover, a bat has to be an exact size and weight for each player.
According to Ball Scouter, “Wood-bat production costs are around $60 to $80 for each stick and could be higher depending on the quality of wood used.”
If you want to see exactly how some wooden bats are created, I recommend this video from How It’s Made.
Why Are Youth Baseball Bats So Expensive
You can buy a cheap baseball bat for a youth player. Seven to ten dollar bats exist, but you will get what you pay for, as the old saying goes.
Baseball bats are subject to tremendous forces in small, concentrated areas. If they aren’t made correctly, they will break.
A broken wood bat can shatter into splinters. The player behind that bat is likely to get injured even if those around escape the flying wood pieces.
It is well worth getting a higher-quality youth baseball bat made by someone who knows how to create an adequately weighted, high-density bat that will last.
Children’s and youth baseball bats are made the same way as adult bats. The only differences are size and weight.
However, that often means that more work goes into refining them rather than less. In wood carving, a smaller piece takes longer.
Moreover, once the retailers receive the equipment, the markup can be as much as three hundred percent per bat.
Why Are Metal Baseball Bats So Expensive
A decent quality metal baseball bat can be hundreds of dollars. That may seem like a lot for a lump of aluminum, but metal bats are lightweight and durable.
Moreover, there are a lot of steps to get even these cheap bats to your hands. For example, the raw metal has to be mined.
Mined metals require paid workers and managers for the quarry. Plus, the ore has to be shipped and then refined elsewhere by more paid employees.
Some bats are high-quality pure aluminum, and others are an alloy, a mixed metal that is usually stronger than the original but also requires additional metals and more refinement.
Afterward, the prepared metals get sold and shipped to the bat manufacturer, who pays for their shop, machines, and workers to turn that lump of manufactured metal into a bat.
Finally, the bats are packaged and sent to retailers all over the country, who make them accessible to everyone.
In short, dozens of workers and no less than three businesses (plus shippers) all have hands in the process, and they need to make enough money to pay everyone and keep the business solvent.
When looking for a well-made mid-range bat, I recommend the Marucci CAT8 -3 BBCOR Baseball Bat from Amazon.
Single-piece construction lets the player have a consistent traditional swing for better practice and games. Plus, this incredibly durable bat is made from AZ105 alloy.
The 2nd Generation AV2 Anti-Vibration knob has a finely tuned harmonic dampening system to reduce the vibrating in a player’s hands.
- AZ105 alloy, the strongest aluminum on the Marucci bat line, allows for thinner barrel walls, a higher response rate and better durability
- Multi-variable wall design creates an expanded sweet spot and thinner barrel walls that are more forgiving after off-centered contact
- 2nd Generation AV2 Anti-Vibration knob features an upgraded, finely tuned harmonic dampening system for better feel and less negative vibrational feedback
- Ring-free barrel construction allows for more barrel flex and increases performance with no "dead" spots
- One-piece alloy construction provides a clean, consistent, traditional swing
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Are Expensive Baseball Bats Worth The Money
If you are a casual player who only hits a few balls around in your yard or local park, here’s nothing wrong with buying a less expensive bat.
One way to accomplish this and still get a good bat is to pick up last year’s model or even a used bat from a sporting goods resale shop. However, for serious players, having an expensive bat can make all the difference.
Better quality materials and higher manufacturing standards mean you get a bat that quite literally performs better.
Professional and serious amateur players understand that you need to regularly get a new, updated bat because of the stresses on your equipment while playing. However, a high-quality bat will still have a longer working life.
When you’re ready for your next bat, I suggest checking out the Louisville Slugger 2020 MLB Prime Wood Bat from Amazon.
The Louisville slugger is famous for its high quality and exceptional style. This maple wood bat features an EXOPRO finish which is two times as hard as the previous ExoArmor finishes.
- Wood: MLB Maple
- Turning Model: C271
- Swing Weight: Most Balanced (1)
- Features EXOPRO finish - twice as hard as previous finish
- MLB Ink Dot; Bone-Rubbed; Cupped; Color: Fade - Deep Flame to Distressed Black; Seamless Decals
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Do Expensive Bats Really Make A Difference
Expensive bats make a difference because they are made from better quality materials by trusted companies.
Not only will the right, more expensive bat feel better in your hands, but it will be customized for your height and play style.
While a bat doesn’t control how hard you hit or how far the ball flies, it can help improve your speed and balance.
While that may not seem important, it allows players to make the most out of their talent and skill.
Helpful Tips To Know Why Are Baseball Bats So Expensive
The cost of baseball bats has everything to do with the materials and skilled labor that makes them. Different sizes and styles affect how players can use their equipment, and an expensive bat will typically move better and last longer.
Here are more helpful tips to know why baseball bats are so expensive.
- Baseball bats may seem like chunks of wood and metal, but decades of testing and improvements have gone into every aspect of this unique equipment. An off-balance or poorly made bat will negatively impact how you play.
- Each baseball bat is made to suit an exact player’s height. The bat’s weight is measured down to the last gram, and its balance is incredibly precise.
- Baseball bat prices vary based on the cost of wood. When prices go up for materials, they rise accordingly on finished products.
Final Thoughts
Baseball bats are so expensive because literal decades of testing have created the perfect forms, and highly skilled professionals make them.
For casual players or non-sporty types, the cost of equipment like expensive baseball bats can seem confusing.
However, just as a bike that weighs one pound less can carry a pro cyclist to victory, a bat with the ideal curvature and balance can help them hit that home run that wins the final game of the series.
More importantly, high-quality equipment lasts longer and helps players stay safer because it’s less likely to suffer a critical failure.