The first batting cage was created in 1910 when a group of players wanted more available time at the ballpark. Today, batting cages are standard in baseball training centers across America. They’re used by young players who need extra reps and adults who want to maintain their skills before getting back into competitive leagues. In this article, we’ll explore how batting cages came about in America and how they became popular today.
How Did Batting Cages Come to America?
The early 20th century was a time of great change for baseball. The game had long been popular with amateurs, but the arrival of professionalism transformed it into a fully professional sport. Organized leagues, salaries, and travel teams emerged to provide an entirely new set of economic incentives. Professional baseball players wanted more reps to maintain their skills before going back into competitive leagues, but the cost of travel was too expensive for them to practice every day. Facing this problem, early baseball players came up with ways to practice without leaving the park. In 1910, long before the advent of modern retractable batting cages, a group of amateur players in Florida, led by Washington Phillips, established the first public batting cage in America. They installed a sports netting system at the outfield fence and put up some wooden posts to create a roughly square space. The new cage was called the “batting cage,” and others soon followed the open-air version. With the advent of the batting cage, baseball players had more time for practice and could stay on the field longer. Cages also made it easier for amateurs and professionals to practice together since both groups could use the same space.
The First Batting Cage in America
As the name suggests, the first batting cage was simply a cage with a net where balls could be hit. The net could be adjusted to create a variety of hitting angles. Today, some first-generation batting cages have been preserved and are on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame. The early cage was typically set up at the outfield fence, not inside the ballpark. The cage was simply a large clearing where balls could be hit toward the mouth of the net. The net was positioned so the ball could be hit at a downward angle toward the ground. This type of hitting is called “bunt” or “runners-up” hitting, and it was a common practice among amateurs and professionals alike. Bunt hitting was important in earlier ball games since it was the only way to score. Later, with the advent of the curveball and other modern pitching techniques, the need for the bunt was reduced substantially.
Batting Cage Equipment Development
The early batting cages were simple affairs, and many first-generation cages were destroyed over the years. In response, batting cage companies started to develop more durable sports netting. One of the first manufacturers of durable netting was the American Net Company, founded in New York in 1911. As the market for batting cages developed, other companies entered the fray. One of the most popular equipment manufacturers is RSL, based in Omaha, Nebraska. The company has been operating since 1884, and its netting has been used in more than 1.5 billion cages. RSL has held more than 200 patents related to netting construction.
Commercial Batting Cage Companies Arise
With the development of durable netting, other companies started manufacturing batting cages. By the late 1920s, a handful of companies had started to produce commercial cages, offering them to amateur and professional teams. One of the first commercial batting cage companies was the American Baseball Co., founded in 1925 by J. Lee Crumpler. It was followed by the National Sporting Goods Co., the National Sporting Co., and the National Sporting Cage Co., among others. The companies offered a wide range of batting cages, from a small model for individual practice to full-size cages rented to professional teams. Each of these companies had its own patented cage design. For example, the National Sporting Co.’s patented cage design featured netting that was raised off the ground, making it easier to clean.
Other Developments in Baseball Batting Cage Technology
While the use of batting cages was not new, the first half of the 20th century saw some major technological developments. For example, the first batting cage models were controlled by cables that ran from the cage to a control station in the field. The problem with this setup is that players often play too “hard,” missing easy balls that they would otherwise hit easily. This led engineers to develop remote-controlled systems, which are still used in most modern retractable batting cages. Using electronic sensors in the netting has also helped improve the batted balls’ accuracy. In remote-controlled systems, sensors in the netting detect the speed of each ball and calculate its trajectory, which is then displayed on a graphic system.
Recent Trends and Future of Baseball Batting Cages
Over the last half-century, the use of batting cages has seen remarkable growth in public and private settings. Modern batting cages have evolved considerably over the years with more advanced technologies. For example, automatic ball feeders have been used to increase the number of balls available. These feeders use a system of sensors in the netting to detect the speed and angle of incoming balls. Another key development has been the use of climbing slats in netting. With climbing slats, balls are released at different angles, making it easier for players to hit them at varying speeds. These and other technologies have led to more accurate batted balls, making it easier for players to improve their skills.
Conclusion
Bats, balls, and other equipment have changed dramatically throughout baseball history. One thing that has remained relatively constant throughout the game’s nearly 150-year history is the popularity of batting cages. Today, batting cages are used by both amateurs and professionals, who practice at them before and after playing in games. Batting cages are even used by young players who want to improve their skills before joining a baseball team and older players who want to maintain their skills before they get back into competitive league play. The change from baseball to softball may have been difficult for teams to adjust to, but it was a necessary change for modern baseball.
