MLB Increases Baseball Security after Deflategate
- By Matt Holden
- May 12, 2015
In the wake of the New England Patriot’s Deflategate scandal, Major League Baseball has decided to beef up security for its balls in order to prevent tampering during games. According to a report, MLB instituted a policy for game ball security and storage in December.
A memo was sent to all 30 baseball teams introducing a nine-step procedure on how to handle balls that will be used in the game, including having home teams storing the new balls during the season, and the umpires’ clubhouse attendants rubbing more than 80 baseballs for each game.
Starting this season a representative from MLB watches the baseballs as a clubhouse assistant brings them from the umpires’ room to the field, eliminating that job for the team’s ball boy or ball girl.
An MLB security person will also be sent to get more baseballs from the umpire’s room if the supply runs low during a game.
When the baseballs are taken to the playing field, an MLB authenticator follows right behind. The authenticator is a person hired by an outside company to document game-used items, including baseballs that can be sold later or given to charities.
About the Author
Matt Holden is an Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media, Inc. He received his MFA and BA in journalism from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. He currently writes and edits for Occupational Health & Safety magazine, and Security Today.