The Far Reaching Effects of EAB

EAB was found in Pennsylvania in late June, alarming the makers and users of baseball bats, most of which come from this region. Climate change is also an issue, with longer growing seasons making ash wood softer.
Ash has been historically the wood of choice for baseball bats, but has faced competition from aluminum and composite bats and sugar maple.

“Maple is all the rage with the young players coming up now,” said Tom Hellman, the clubhouse manager for the Chicago Cubs, whose responsibilities include ordering bats and keeping track of them. “But the older players still want their ash.”

Juan Uribe, Chicago White Sox shortstop, reportedly speaks to his ash bats every day.

With EAB and a warming climate, the future of the ash tree and "the complicated relationship of the baseball player to his bat" is uncertain.

"In the end, baseball players may be faced with switching to, and holding conversations with, bats made of maple or some new wood yet untested by the hardball."

From the NY Times July 11, 2007 article 'Balmy Weather May Bench a Baseball Staple' By Monica Davey

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