A baseball is made of several layers: a small core of cork and rubber, wrapped in yarn, and covered by two panels of leather stitched by hand. That build gives it its hardness and its bounce off the bat.
Layer by layer
At the center is the «pill,» a cork-and-rubber core. Over it go hundreds of meters of wool and cotton yarn wound tight, which gives the ball its weight and resilience. Finally, two white leather covers are sewn on with red thread.
108 stitches by hand
Every ball has exactly 108 double stitches, sewn by hand, one of the last steps still done manually. A regulation ball weighs about 145 grams and measures roughly 23 cm around. Those red seams aren’t just decoration: they’re what lets a pitcher grip the ball and make it curve.
FAQ
How many stitches does it have?
108 double stitches, sewn by hand.
What’s at the center?
A cork-and-rubber core called the «pill.»
