A total of 108 double stitches make up an official Major League Baseball, with the first and last stitch hidden on the ball. That means 216 total stitches cover the seams of the ball. Two figure-8 patterns of cowhide covering pieces of material are sewn together before passing the ball into a rolling machine to level out the stitches. The actual stitches use a waxy red thread, which is now typical for every ball in the MLB today.
The red stitches on a baseball help hitters pick up the spin from a pitcher’s throw, but those stitches were not always red. Initially, MLB baseballs in the early 1900s had black and red laces in the National League. In the American League, during that same time, balls had red and blue laces. It was not until 1934 when professional baseballs had a consistent red stitch for every ball.
The purpose of having stitches on a baseball helps pitchers throw different pitches to hitters. By gripping the ball differently on or across the baseball seams, they can change their pitch trajectory. The spin of the ball against the air can cause a pitch to break in a specific way, or drop as it comes to a batter. Some pitches that pitchers can throw by gripping the ball differently from one another include curveballs, sinkers, splitters, and sliders.
Credit : Stadium Reviews
Picture Credit : Google
