MLB Bat Rules

[Michael]

Rules of baseball says it has to be one solid piece of wood.

It makes no mention of the type of wood allowed -- so any, one supposes.

[foggytown]

You have to think that a bat made from purpleheart or zebrano or karelian birch would look magnificent, but probably not be strong enough for anything but bunting. I note no mention of min/max weight - and I'm sure there must be. So although theoretically any wood could be used for a bat, some (like lignum vitae?) would probably be automatically excluded because of their heaviness.

FoggyTown

[Doug Miller]

Purpleheart, at least, would surely be strong enough for a full swing at a Randy Johnson fastball. For bunting, one would want a bat that's nearly as "dead" as possible; cottonwood, basswood, and balsa spring to mind.

Actually, there is neither a minimum nor maximum weight, only maximum diameter and maximum length.

[fredfighter]

Maybe elm as it is lighter than most hardwoods but not prone to splitting.

I've read that cricket bats are made from willow.

I'd like to see a bat made from persimmon.

[Leon]

Golf Ball Bat. ;~) Golf club "Woods" are often made from persimmon.