Corked Bats, Juiced Balls, and Humidors: The Physics of Cheating in Baseball

TL;DR

This paper investigates three baseball cheating methods—corked bats, liveliness of balls over time, and storage conditions—using physics analysis, experiments, and data interpretation, concluding that corking and liveliness are ineffective but storage can influence home runs.

Contribution

It provides a physics-based analysis of common cheating techniques in baseball, offering definitive answers supported by experiments and data.

Findings

Corked bats do not increase hitting distance.

Baseballs are not more lively today than in the past.

Storing baseballs in controlled environments can significantly affect home run rates.

Abstract

Three separate questions of relevance to Major League Baseball are investigated from a physics perspective. First, can a baseball be hit farther with a corked bat? Second, is there evidence that the baseball is more lively today than in earlier years? Third, can storing baseballs in a temperature- or humidity-controlled environment significantly affect home run production? Each of these questions is subjected to a physics analysis, including an experiment, an interpretation of the data, and a definitive answer. The answers to the three questions are no, no, and yes.