This article is for those who are just starting to get into baseball. We’ll start by answering the question “How much does a baseball weigh?”. And we will go through some other relevant information, such as the evolution of all types of baseball sizes and their weights and differences among all types of baseballs.
The official and standard MLB baseball weight ranges between 142 – 149 gm. This weight is paired with a circumference between 229 and 235 millimeters, and a diameter between 73 millimeters and 76 millimeters for proper proportionality.
How Much Does a Baseball Weigh?
Major League Baseball (MLB) can use a baseball weighing between the range of 142 to 149 gm.
The modern baseball’s material, which is a mix of rubber and cork with a black rubber exterior layer, partly determines its weight. The outer layer of rubber is covered with a red rubber shell, which is then finally covered by yarn.
To ensure fairness in all MLB games, each baseball used is monitored carefully throughout manufacturing process. Usually baseballs can’t all be the same weight due to some differences in RM or other factors. Instead, the weight range is between 142 and 149 gm.
Different types of baseballs
There are seven other types of baseballs, however, beyond the MLB baseballs. Each one has designed for its purpose and type. They also come in different weight ranges and usually lighter than the MLB standard baseball.
1 Ordinary MLB
This ball is used for Major League Baseball (MLB). Rawlings, a famous Missouri sporting goods company specialized specifically in baseball equipment and apparels, manufacture this official ball.
This type of ordinary baseball is used in Japan’s high school baseball games. It is known as “hardball” in Japan.
2. Rubber baseballs
Rubber baseballs are an example of this. They were manufactured first time in Japan in 1950s. These baseballs were made for children, hence designed lighter than the official MLB baseballs.
For youths who were interested in this sport, rubber was considered safe. Although rubber baseballs aren’t very common in America, they are used in many Japanese sporting events.
3. Safety Baseballs
This type of baseball is similar to the Japanese rubber ball, but it’s specifically made for children aged 3-5 years. These type of baseballs are made from synthetic materials and are lighter in weight and more comfortable in sports. These type of baseballs can be paired with small lightweight aluminum bats.
4. Compression Baseballs
These baseballs are also known as softballs. These baseballs are statistically 93% softer than traditional hard baseballs. These baseballs are safe and recommended for junior and rookie players.
These baseballs are also used by older people playing baseball recreationally. These type of compression baseballs are made from synthetic leather. These baseballs are even more lighter than standard hard baseballs.
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5. Reduced Injury Baseballs
These baseballs, as the name shows, were designed to prioritize player’s safety. Using a poly-mixture base with different index levels to match and suit different ages. This index is called “SEV”, stands for severity.
These types of baseballs are mostly used for practice and friendly matches.
6. Little League Baseball
These type of little league baseball is designed for the players between age of 8-14. It weighs from 113 to 141 gm. They baseballs are more cushioned, and their cork is wrapped bit loosely.
These baseballs are still very hardy and follows the requirements of the Minor League Baseball participants (264 teams). In 2019, MLB players at the Triple-A level switched to heavier MLB game balls.
7. Softball Baseball
Further, Many compression baseballs are made of polyurethane material. This makes them more comfortable than traditional ones. The level of softness can vary. These balls are bit larger and even heavier than regular baseballs in dimensions.
These balls can also be used for battling or field practice. These baseballs are soft and can be used indoors by players.
Softballs measure 3.82 inches (9.7 cm) in diameter and 12 in (30.5 cm) in circumference. And its weight ranges from 6.25 ounces (173 grams) to 7.25 ounces (191 grams).
What is the reason for such a variance in weight regulation?
Although there are many discussions and theories on this topic, MLB decided to allow some cushioning for the weight of the baseballs to reduce their manufacturing cost.
Rawlings produces all MLB baseballs.
Different Sports Balls: Weights
Baseball 5-5.25 Ounces, 142 Grams
Softball 6.25-7 Ounces, 177 Grams
Cricket 5.5-5.75 Ounces, 156 Grams
Golf ball 1.62 Ounces 46 Grams
Pool Ball 5.5-6 Ounces, 156 Ounces
Pickel ball 0.8 Ounces 23g
Croquet Ball 16 Ounces 453 Grams
Table Tennis 0.1 Ounces 2.83 Grams
Conclusion: How Much Does a Baseball Weigh?
This concludes our article about how much a baseball weigh. The weight of a MLB baseball from 142 to 149 grams.
There were however many weight ranges that existed in the past, corresponding to different situations, such as the Dead Ball and Live Ball era. There are many baseball variations today, each with a different weight to suit a particular user or purpose.
Please feel free to leave any comments or questions regarding this topic. We love to hear from readers. Feel free to share the article with others.
Frequently Asked Question
1. How much does a baseball weigh in Kilograms?
A baseball weighs between 140 and 150 grams. It can weigh between the range 140-150 grams and 0.14 to 0.15 kilograms. They are usually used in official league matches.
I measured my average weight and came up with 0.147kg (approximate).
What is the weight of a baseball in grams?
Major league baseball is currently weighed between 5 and 5+1/4 ounces (142 and 149g) and measures 9 to 9+1/4 inches (2229-235mm), or 2+7/8-3in (73-76mm).
Are MLB baseballs lighter?
Wills discovered that Rawlings has been producing both lighter and heavier baseballs since late 2019. The lighter ball was manufactured from Oct. 2019 through Jan. 2020 and the heavier ball, Jan. 2020.
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