Bat Maker Liable in Baseball Player's Death

Here is my problem with this case. The bat in question was within the parameters set fourth by the league. It is the league that is responsible for setting the appropriate ball exit velocity limits at that level. The player who died agreed to play by those rules. The court ruled the bat was not defective and outside of those limits.

If it was defective then I could understand holding the manufacturer accountable however in this case I believe the participants accept the risk associate with playing by league rules. I'm sorry for the loss this family experienced but they don't deserve a penny.

There was an interesting comment in the article from his mother. She said "We should go back to the way baseball is supposed to be played."

I'd like to ask her if she really believes baseball is only supposed to be played with wood bats then why did she agree to allow her boy play Legion ball?

Wurster, if kids baseball should only be played with wooden bats then why should the bat maker be held accountable? Why isn't the league that sets the rules and regulates which equipment can be used take the blame. Seems to me that if anyone has responsibility in this death, besides the parents who allowed their child to play by those rules, is the group that makes the rules.

Of course we know why they didn't sue the American Legion, it's because Legion doesn't have the money that H&B has.

I wonder if they will be bringing suit against the ball manufacturer for not labeling the baseball.

"I still would rather Louisville pay money than create some government 'Legion Baseball Oversight Committee."

So you would rather see some company that you acknowledge is not at fault have to pay more than 3/4 of a Million bucks instead of having some bullshit that you made up in your head and no one in congress has been considering.

In that case I'm going to sue Domino's because I don't like there pizza and I don't want to see the government create a Pizza Quality and Tastiness Oversight Panel.

If it is a racist they need then I nominate you for the position FW.

Rcade, my original headline was far better.

"All leagues should go back to wood. It's the way the game was meant to be played."
#75 | Posted by jackass

Originally the pitchers had to throw underhand and toss the ball to the area of the strike zone that the batter requested. That would cut down on the speed of the game and would help protect the arms of the pitchers from injury.

Perhaps we should revive those rules?

"If it cuts down on injuries then why not use wooden."

That is the key, if it cuts down on injury. Wood bats do not necessarily cut down on injury because metal and composite bats are available that have exit velocities that are no higher than those of wood bats.

What does cut down on injury is for the leagues to set the appropriate guidelines for safety equipment for that level of play. If the appropriate guidelines are set then wood bats may be more dangerous because they can break and splinter sending dangerous shrapnel at players the players in the field who may not see it coming at them because they are focused on the ball.

If the argument is going to be made for safer equipment then I still point back to the league as potentially negligent for not mandating that pitchers and perhaps all infielders be required to wear chest/heart protectors and fielding helmets or the protective inserts that are available for the standard soft hats that fielders wear which distribute the force of a direct blow to the head.

I just don't see how it is reasonable or just that a bat manufacturer should be held liable for an injury because they made a bat that conforms with the safety regulations of the league.

"Then you'd better have the pitcher outfitted like the catcher."

Not necessary. There has been equipment on the market for years that is nonobstructive and can be worn under the uniform to protect the head and heart.

As long as they are are at maybe they should require the Nutty Buddy too. It is in my opinion the most amazing piece of sports safety equipment ever invented.
Want to see a guy take a 90 MPH fastball down below and reacting to it with nothing more than a flinch?

Go about 8 minutes in to this video:

www.youtube.com