MLB special balls?

Question

I keep seeing on ESPN that when Arod and Bonds get up to bat the umps switch to "special balls". What is the difference between these and normal balls?

Answer 1

They are marked with an ink that is visible under a special light. By doing this they can prevent someone from presenting a different ball as the home run ball.

This is often done when a player is approaching 500 or 600 homeruns or going for an all-time season or career record.

There is too much money at stake to take a chance on a fake ball being selected as the record breaking ball.

Answer 2

When McGwire was about to break Maris' record in 1998, they used balls when he came to bat that I think had serial numbers on them. The numbers were noted before the at bat, so when he did break the record there wouldn't be a million people claiming that the ball they had was #62. My guess is that they're doing the same for ARod and Bonds.

Answer 3

The balls have special codes in ultraviolet-visible ink, for the purposes of validation of various milestone or record event balls, particularly home runs since most of those end up off the field.

MLB has been doing this at least since Murray's 500th back in 1996. I don't recall earlier instances (I vaguely recall something similar during Aaron's pursuit of Ruth) but it may go back further, and is a smart thing to do.

Answer 4

They are not "special" in the context of being made for them. They are marked to make sure that when/if a milestone is broken - MLB can authenticate that was the ball the record was broken with. I do believe it is a mark of some sort (they come up with and also change from game to game) that will be put under ultraviolet lights to verify it.

Answer 5

They have a printing on it of say, the date and place and person, so if A-Rod hits a homer it will be official.

Answer 6

the bonds* balls all have an official "*" on them.