MESSAGE FROM YOUR
As the holidays approach and your thoughts turn to baseball, well maybe the
gift of a baseball bat, here is some info to help keep your gift legal in
accordance with 2012 Babe Ruth / Cal Ripken rules.
There are significant rule changes
affecting almost all of our players. Please read the below info
carefully. The pertinent rule depends on your child's age. These
rule changes are mandated to us (and all Leagues) by Babe Ruth Headquarters.
CAL RIPKEN Divisions (ages 4-12)
Metal bats (i.e. non-wood):
The biggest change in bat rules is
for these players. Beginning in 2012, all bats must have a stamp on them
which says 'BPF 1.15'. One consequence of this rule change, is a bat
used last year which does not have a BPF 1.15 stamp on it, that bat is illegal
for use in 2012. Bats for this age group must also not exceed 33 inches in
length, and the barrel must not exceed 2 ¼ inches in diameter; these length and
diameter rule restrictions are not new.
Wood bats are legal and subject to the above length and barrel diameter rules,
but do not require the BPF stamp.
BABE RUTH Junior Division (ages 13-15)
Bats with a barrel made of composite material, must now have a 'BBCOR .50' stamp
on the barrel. That is the new rule for 2012. Bats with a barrel
made of aluminium or metal alloy, do not require the BBCOR stamp [or any
stamp]. To determine which material the bat barrel is made of, one must
examine the bat barrel carefully. If you are in doubt as to the barrel
material, contact us.
The BBCOR stamp is the new rule for 2012. Other restrictions for non-wood
bats still in place are:
The length of these bats cannot exceed 34 inches, and the barrel cannot exceed
2 5/8 inches in diameter.
Also, if your son is playing for a High School team (modified or JV), High
School bat rules are even more restrictive than Babe Ruth rules. One
consequence of that situation, is if a bat is legal for HS, it is legal for use
in Babe Ruth play.
BABE RUTH Senior Division (ages 16-18)
This division has a significant rule change for 2012: all non-wood bats
must have the 'BBCOR .50' stamp. If a non-wood bat does not have this stamp, it
is illegal for use in Babe Ruth (this is also true for High School play).
Bat length (34 inches) and barrel diameter (2 5/8 inches) restrictions also
apply, and the -3 drop stamp must be on barrel. In short, these are the
same bat restrictions used in High School play; so, if a bat is legal for HS,
it is legal for use in Babe Ruth.
Here is the link to the Babe Ruth website where the rule changes are listed:
http://www.baberuthleague.org/side-indexes/latest-rule-changes.html