Alderman Proposes Ban on Metal Bats for Youth Baseball

By Margaret Lyons in News on Sep 10, 2008 5:07PM

Alderman Bob Fioretti (2nd) introduced an ordinance yesterday that would ban metal bats from youth baseball within city limits. Metal softball bats would still be allowed under the proposed law, which would apply to players 8–18 years old.

According to Fioretti, "This is an issue where children are harmed…This is an issue of protecting our young people and bringing them back to our old pastime of baseball and wooden bats." New York City recently adopted a similar rule, and according to one city councilman there, "none of the metal bat industry’s dire predictions have come true" during the first year of wooden-bat games.

At least one study found "no statistically significant evidence that non-wood bats result in an increased evidence of severity of injury" in 2007, and the Consumer Safety Commission says metal bats aren't more dangerous than wooden ones. [S-T]