Behind the Scenes: Prepping game balls

Our Matt Shepard gets a lesson on mudding the baseballs.

[@jakefulton2125]

Commentator: the mud comes from a secret spot Also commentator: comes from just off the Delaware River

[@extasy6000]

A secret spot in the Delaware River, but doesn't really matter since it's just mud💀💀

[@FctHvn]

It’s in a very precise location on the pennsauken creek

[@patton303]

It’s like a baseball story with a smooth jazz band practicing in the basement.

[@RileyWuzzHere]

Remember when you made fun of the equipment manager in high school? WHOS LAUGHING NOW?!

[@jaxsazerac4904]

Yeah I wish I could play with balls. 👀

[@RileyWuzzHere]

@@jaxsazerac4904 you don’t play with your own?

[@godbluffvdgg]

The Delaware River, near Palmyra NJ is where that mud comes from...20 minutes from me in philly...GO PHILS!

[@thunderbugcreative7778]

Approx. 120 balls are prepped for each game. MLB ball retail is around $20 now days. Meanwhile I'm over here searching for 2 clean-ish $5 game balls for each youth game I coach. PS they really should have interviewed another person for this. This poor chap hasn't put much thought into his job. The reason baseballs are mud rubbed is due to the slick glaze on the leather from the tanning/manufacturing process. A fresh ball feels almost vinyl like until its been played with a bit (or rubbed) to remove that slick film.

[@thecman26]

Actually the balls are mud rubbed due to an mlb player losing his life after being hit with a "slick" ball. The mud was discovered to be the best method to give the balls more grip at the time.

[@LowkeyFish]

they may sell for $20 but each ball prolly costs them 10 cents

[@mrdottle8581]

YEP AND THESE BALLS ARE NOW SELLING FOR $25........SMH

[@Ray3645]

This used to be the plate umpire's responsibility before each game. When did it change?

[@Patriot6669]

As an autograph collector, it hurt to watch them muddy them up. 😂

[@tadhgobriain8109]

Every ball is mudded.

[@HesTNTonPMS]

Why? that is what is helping you determine if you've got a potential game used

[@HesTNTonPMS]

It would be different if they were rubbing the mud in after the sig were applied.

[@bradcarter5403]

They can still be signed lol. Any game ball you’ve have signed was rubbed in this same mud. Very fine mud that costs about $65 for a small container lol. But any ball that sees the field has been rubbed

[@two-tone6524]

He does it with his ring on?!

[@musicmode6657]

yeah its just dirt bro

[@RayFinkle05]

Yes.

[@MarKinlovehangfire]

I know a guy who does it with TWO rings

[@HesTNTonPMS]

@@musicmode6657 By the end of his career, that ring will be half it's weight when he started :)

[@benniedavilalopez271]

Good information

[@th2273]

5 guys holding a hose in the background. USA yeah what a country!

[@buttdreads]

They better start dumping water on Wickenbuurg ranch to keep fairways green

[@bearhandle81]

Forgot to see the bullet board!!

[@vstabill36]

The ball sails if it isn't rubbed down. Pitcher here for some 25 years.

[@olivermarcos8513]

I honestly always wondered why rub it with mud until now

[@thecman26]

@@olivermarcos8513 there's a more in depth video on here. The balls are actually mud rubbed due to a player who died after being hit with a ball way back in the day. The balls were found to be too slick and something had to happen to get the sluckness off the ball. The mud worked the best and was pretty cheap too!

[@pigjubby1]

How many balls are ready per game? Dodgers vs. Reds went 18 innings. Must've been 100's

[@thunderbugcreative7778]

My friend is a clubhouse grunt for the Rockies and he says they prep at least 120 balls per game.

[@shortyshorty100]

IG BROUGHT ME HERE ._. 🤣

[@johnsrabe]

:20 Speaking of ball prep … that’s not a good pose, dude.

[@bearhandle81]

I reassure you the 0 been talking Right!!! To inform my self to take a rain check for the insurance of a life to offer to the world a symbol that can can be mysteries way C bdoricaray Ray's I a mix of classical conversations

[@My.Funny.Bunny.]

I’m sorry….what?

[@bearhandle81]

@@My.Funny.Bunny. you wouldn't understand

[@joanmarquez2594]

Hello

[@crunchchannel9391]

This is why the basebakks are so slick and why they need the sticky stuff to grip the balls. If they stop doing this maybe the pitchers can grip the ball. dry mud has a slick dry dusty feel this should stop

[@thecman26]

That's why they put water in it to make mud. The mud makes the balls less slick. Try it out yourself!

[@Omar-uf6io]

If have played baseball before u would know that is imposible to get grip on brand new baseballs

[@Omar-uf6io]

To have grip*

[@clarity85]

They found the world’s most boring man .

[@bearhandle81]

My sense feel my blood trust me 95% UPDhandle the subs don't mind precryption unbelievable I tell you mustn't