New Jersey State Little League: Don't Take My Bat Away
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Welcome to the Don't Take My Bat Away Coalition
The Don't Take My Bat Away Coalition is a newly formed group of families, players, coaches, baseball leagues, bat makers and concerned citizens opposed to a government ban on the use of aluminum and composite bats in amateur baseball. Baseball, with both wood and aluminum bats, is one of the safest sports played in America today.
Our growing coalition includes:
• American Baseball Coaches Association
• American Legion Baseball
• Babe Ruth League
• Little League Baseball
• National Council of Youth Sports
• National Federation of State High School Associations
• PONY Baseball
It’s important we don't let the politicians take away our choices.. Sign up today!
If you would like to help in a leadership role, be sure to visit the Get Involved page and volunteer as a Coach or Captain.
Overview:
Safety in high school, or little league, or college, or anywhere kids play baseball, is a top concern for all of us. But banning aluminum bats won’t reduce the risk of injuries from batted balls, because the speed of the ball leaving today’s aluminum bats is comparable to the speed of a ball off the best wood bat. Accidents are rare in baseball; but they can also happen with wood bats – yet no one says ban wood.
Like baseball itself, the debate about aluminum versus wood has many angles, but safety shouldn’t be one of them. Some players prefer wood because of tradition. Lots of children prefer aluminum because it’s easier to get a hit thanks to the bigger sweet spot found on metal bats. That’s why a ban is so harmful to baseball – it risks driving kids out of the game if it isn’t as much fun.
Unlike wood bats, however, aluminum bats don’t shatter or splinter, which can lead to injury. They don’t sting your hands when you hit on cold days. More than 9 out of 10 amateur players use them because they have a choice and they prefer non-wood. They make the game more fun, which keeps interest in the game high and attracts young people to the sport. And since wood bats break a lot, they end up costing schools and parents more money.
If aluminum bats posed a true safety issue, you’d think those closest to baseball would have banned them years ago. But they haven’t. In fact, American Legion Baseball, National Federation of State High School Associations, American Baseball Coaches Association, Little League, Babe Ruth League and PONY Baseball ALL OPPOSE a ban on aluminum bats. The Federal government’s Consumer Product Safety Commission, after studying this issue, said that there is “no information, nor is the Commission aware of any, indicating that injuries produced by balls batted with non-wood bats are more severe than those involving wood bats.”
Players and leagues should be free to choose the bat of their choice. If they like wood because of tradition, they should be free to choose wood. If they like aluminum because they prefer the game that way, they should be free to choose aluminum. But politicians shouldn’t be able to tell people how to play the game – especially when both ways are safe. More
ONLINE MEDIA KIT
Facts Regarding Non-Wood Bats
The following information is provided by Little League International regarding the use of non-wood bats in Little League Baseball and Softball. In short, these documents show that non-wood bats are as safe as wood bats, and that Little League International continues to place safety ahead of all other concerns. We invite anyone to review these documented facts in order to reach an informed conclusion.
Synopses of the documents attached: Click Here
USA Baseballs Youth Committee Issues Statement on Non-Wood Bats
The Youth Committee of USA Baseball today issued the statement below
regarding non-wood bats. Little League International is a member, along
with other youth organizations, of USA Baseball. Little League also
holds a seat on the USA Baseball Board of Directors. USA Baseball often
coordinates research that affects all youth baseball organizations. For
example, USA Baseball was instrumental in the recent change to the league
age determination date by all youth baseball organizations.
More
BAN OF NON WOOD BATS IN NEW JERSEY
At the present time there is legislation pending in the New Jersey
Legislature to prohibit the use of non-wood bats in all organized
baseball and softball games involving players under the age of 18.
New Jersey Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan has proposed legislation
to discontinue the use of non-wood bats only in the State of New
Jersey. Legislation such as this will undoubtedly put New Jersey
kids at a huge disadvantage. While Little League Baseball has a
respected and proven track record with regard to safety and the
prevention of sports injuries, the facts simply do not support a
prohibition against non-wood bats. Here are some facts: *According
to US Consumer Safety Commission, there were 17 deaths by batted
balls in the last decade, [1991-2001], 9 involved wood bats, and 8
involved aluminum bats. There were more deaths [18] as a result of
thrown balls. *In LLBB, there were 6 deaths of players by batted balls
between the ages 5-12 since 1963, the last occurred in 1973. *In 2002,
the Consumer Products Safety Commission examined metal bats and found
no compelling proof that they were unsafe.* Nationally, in LLBB, with
3.5 million players, with 177 million at bats last year, there were
22 injuries to pitchers, down from 145 in 1992. *In NJ, which have over
300 leagues and a 170 thousand players in LLBB/SB, there have been no
serious incidents to pitchers. *A 2002 Brown University study is being
cited by wood bat proponents as having demonstrated that non-wood bats
propel balls much faster then wood bats. Simply put the Brown survey has
no bearing on todays debate. Because the bats used in the 1999 study
published in 2002) were made in thelate 1990s before current
performance-limiting standards were put in place by the various governing
bodies of baseball. We encourage you to write, call or e-mail your local
Assemblyperson and voice your opposition to bill AB3388. To conduct your
State Senator and Assemlymman click on this link More
Little League Statement on Non-Wood Bats
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (March 23, 2007) Recently, Little League International
has received a number of inquiries regarding non-wood bats, particularly in
relation to a March 14 vote by the New York City Council to ban the use of
non-wood bats in high school baseball games. It is important to note that
the New York City Councils vote applies only to high school baseball games
played in the city, and does not apply in any way to Little League games
at any level in the city or anywhere else. Little League International has
and will continue to provide as much factual information as possible on the
subject to the media, to volunteers, and to legislators considering laws that
would dictate the use of certain types of equipment in Little League Baseball
and Softball. It is Little League Internationals belief that the same
governmental imposition may soon be directed at Little League Baseball
and other youth baseball programs. More
Dr James Andrews and Dr. Glen Fleisig presentation at Little League Congress
One of the most popular presentations at the 24th Little League International
Congress in Houston was that given by the American Sports Medicine Institute's
Dr. James Andrews and Dr. Glen Fleisig,two of the world's most knowledgeable
and respected experts in pitching injuries. You can access the presentation
here: More
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Little League Baseball International has joined a coalition called Don't Take My Bat Away (DTMBA). This coalition consists of parents, coaches and other baseball organizations that OPPOSE pending legislation in New Jersey and elsewhere that would make it illegal to use non-wood (aluminum and titanium) bats in baseball and softball games consisting of children 18 and under.
Click here to join DTMBA
Don't Take My Bat Away
WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Aug 20, 2007) – Ari Fleischer, former White House
press secretary and the national spokesperson for “Don’t Take My Bat
Away,” along with Stephen D. Keener, President and chief executive officer
of Little League Baseball and Softball, conducted a news conference on
Monday to discuss the safety of non-wood bats.
Click Here for more information.
BAN OF ALUMINUM BATS IN NEW JERSEY - "Steven's Law"
New Jersey Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan reintroduced his bill (A-372), to ban the
use of non wood bats at all levels of youth baseball from high school to tee ball, into
the new legislative session. The bill has been referred to the Law and Public Safety
Committee. To date, a hearing date has not been scheduled. One subtle change to
the new bill is the name. It is now titled “Steven’s Law” after the young boy who was
seriously injured in a Police Athletic League game two years ago. We must all be
vigilant of this effort and I urge you to join the Don’t Take My Bat Away Coalition. Click above
Without your support this unnecessary legislation may become law in this state and
others.