The Baseball Bat

Bart Bat wants to join his animal friends on their baseball team, even though he usually sleeps during daylight hours when they are playing.

In Good Wood, New York Times contributor Stuart Miller takes readers on a journey through the rich and storied—and occasionally nefarious—story of the baseball bat and those who have made them and swung them. With over 50 photos, Miller reveals the creation, history, and development of the bat, brings readers up to date on modern methods and materials for making bats, and explores the folklore surrounding bats.

"What happens when a cat meets a rat with a baseball bat?"--P. [4] of cover.

When Martin, the Tigers' newest slugger, loses his lucky baseball bat, he fears that he has also lost his ability to play baseball

Describes Christmas in 1955 in Repulse Bay when two little boys find a bat to play baseball with on the Arctic circle.

How does a piece of wood become a brand-new baseball bat? Follow each step in the process—from cutting the wood to shipping the bat to a store—in this fascinating book!

A photo essay describing how baseball bats are made for the Hillerich and Bradsby company in Louisville, Kentucy.

How does a tree become a baseball bat? First, a tree is cut into logs. Then logs are cut and shaped. Next a machine carves them. Then the bat is sanded. Follow the process step by step.

Why do modern-day sluggers like Aaron Judge prefer maple bats over the traditional ash bats swung by Ted Williams and others? Why did the surge of broken bats in the early 21st century create a crisis for Major League Baseball and what steps were taken to address the issue? Are different woods being considered by players and manufacturers? Do insects, disease and climate change pose a problem long-term? These and other questions are answered in this exhaustive examination of the history and future of wooden bats, written for both lifelong baseball fans and curious newcomers.

On deck and ready for your reading lineup, New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Brian Lies’s ode to “batty” baseball fans. You think humans are the only ones who enjoy America’s national pastime? Grab your bat—the other kind—and your mitt, because it’s a whole new ballgame when evening falls and bats come fluttering from the rafters to watch their all-stars compete. Get set to be transported to the right-side-up and upside-down world of bats at play, as imagined and illustrated by bestselling author-illustrator Brian Lies. Hurry up! Come one—come all! We’re off to watch the bats play ball!