Hickory wood has a long history of being used for baseball bat production.
While it has largely been supplanted by other woods like ash and maple in modern times, hickory still holds an important place in baseball's origins and remains popular with some players today.
Key Takeaways:
- Hickory has been used for baseball bat production since the 1800s due to its favorable strength, hardness, and flexibility. It was a popular wood choice along with ash during baseball's early days.
- Legendary players like Babe Ruth and Edd Roush used hickory bats during their careers. The dense, heavy wood allowed them to generate substantial bat speed and power.
- Companies like Old Hickory Bat still produce hickory bats today for major league players who appreciate the traditional look and feel. However, ash and maple are now more common woods used.
- Hickory offers some advantages including vibration dampening, customization options, and durability. The wood grain structure makes the bats very long-lasting if maintained properly.
- Manufacturing improvements, safety concerns with other woods, vintage appeal, and hickory's environmental stability could promote a resurgence in hickory bat usage in the future. It retains strong connections to baseball's history and origins.
- While not prevalent currently, hickory is poised for a potential comeback at the professional level if players and teams refocus on its positive attributes like flexibility, durability, and customization potential.
Hickory's Strength and Flexibility
Hickory is known for its combination of strength, hardness, and flexibility, which makes it well-suited for use as a baseball bat.
The dense, heavy wood provides power when making contact with the ball.
At the same time, hickory has some "give" or flex to it that allows the bat to whip through the hitting zone quickly.
This blend of rigidity and elasticity provides an optimal mix for maximizing bat speed and power.
Early Adoption in the 1800s
In the early days of baseball during the 1800s, players made their own bats out of whatever wood was available.
Through experimentation, hickory emerged as a favored wood, along with ash, for its performance characteristics.
During the 1870s and 1880s, hickory and ash bats rose in popularity and were the predominant woods used during this era.
Famous Hickory Bat Users
Even after ash largely overtook hickory as the wood of choice, some prominent players continued to wield hickory bats.
Babe Ruth used a 54-ounce hickory bat during his younger days as a player.
Hall of Famer Edd Roush, who played from 1913-1931, preferred a 48-ounce hickory bat with a thick handle.
The heavier bats of hickory wood helped these power hitters generate substantial bat speed and hitting force.
Hickory Bat Production Past and Present
The Old Hickory Bat Company based in Tennessee became one of the most prominent producers of hickory baseball bats during the first half of the 1900s.
They supplied hickory bats to professional and amateur players alike.
The company continues operation today, providing modern big leaguers with hickory bats per their specifications.
While hickory is less common now than maple or ash, it remains a chosen wood for current players who value its traditional look and feel.
Modern Advantages of Hickory Bats
Though ash and maple rule today's bat market, hickory still offers some benefits that appeal to contemporary players.
Vibration Reduction
The fibrous structure of hickory makes it good at dampening vibrations.
Hits don't sting the hands as much as with more rigid bat materials.
This can improve comfort and bat control.
Customization Options
Hickory's relative rarity among modern bats allows players to customize and personalize their bat's shape and dimensions.
The wood can be crafted into a variety of barrel sizes, taper designs, and handle thicknesses to match a hitter's preferences.
Uniqueness Factor
Using a less common wood like hickory differentiates a player from his peers.
The classic appearance and connection to baseball's early history gives the bats appeal.
Branding a hickory bat with a player's name or number provides an opportunity to enhance image and stand out.
Durability and Longevity
Properly maintained hickory bats can have a long lifespan and retain their pop even after extensive use.
The dense grain structure makes the bats quite durable if users avoid cracked or dented areas.
Many hickory bat companies also offer reconditioning services to extend bat life.
The Future of Hickory Baseball Bats
While hickory bats are now rare in the big leagues, they appear poised for a resurgence.
Several factors could lead to expanded hickory bat usage in the coming years.
New Manufacturing Techniques
Improved bat production methods allow makers to better control wood density and moisture content.
This results in hickory bats with more consistency and performance than handmade bats of the past.
New finishing methods also improve durability.
Safety Concerns with Maple and Ash
Recent MLB studies have raised concerns that maple and ash bats break more dangerously than hickory models.
As a result, hickory's relative durability and flexibility could prompt a move back toward that traditional wood.
Vintage Appeal
Hickory bats provide a tangible connection to baseball's origins and lore.
Using them evokes images of the game's early legends.
More players may adopt hickory bats for the vintage style and appeal to baseball purists.
Environmental Factors
Hickory is abundant in American forests, providing a reliable and renewable source of wood.
Ash supplies have become threatened by an invasive beetle, while maple forests face climate change pressures.
The environmental stability of hickory forests could promote its use.
In the modern era of engineered composite and alloy bats, wooden bats may seem archaic.
But for those who connect hickory to the nostalgia of baseball history, its future remains bright.
With craftsmanship and innovation, hickory could make a larger comeback in professional baseball.
