The ball exit speed ratio-or BESR-standard required that all bats be measured for the ratio of exit speed they produced compared to velocity of the pitch and the bat speed of a swing. The next year, college baseball adopted a new bat standard. Concerns over the safety of pitchers and infielders on the receiving end of line drives added to the decision to tone down the bats. Southern California beat Arizona State 21-14 in the College World Series final that year, and teams averaged 7.12 runs per game.įaced with football-like scores and many baseballs disappearing over the outfield fences, college baseball collectively decided that it had too much of a good thing. In 1998, Division I teams averaged more than a home run per game for the first time in NCAA recorded statistical history. But the rise of “gorilla ball” in the late 1990s and better and better metal bats led to an offensive explosion that mimicked what was going on in the major leagues, specifically the 1998 home run race between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. 300 in 1981.Ĭollege baseball remained in a relatively static offensive environment for much of the 1980s and early 1990s. Batting averages around college baseball soared from. And home runs per game went up 57% in just four seasons. The change almost immediately added another run per game. The switch was done partly to cut costs-metal bats last much longer than wood-but also to boost the offense of a game that was somewhat stagnant. Most notably, in 1974 college baseball switched from wood bats to metal. Change has been a constant part of college baseball.īut unlike Major League Baseball, where there has long been plenty of speculation and intrigue around changes MLB may or may not have made to the baseball to alter the offensive environment, college baseball has been much more transparent about its tweaks.Ĭollege baseball has been much more willing to pass rules to adjust the equipment and bring the game back in line with its desired environment.
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