What is a baseball cork?

Answer 1

Cork Ball, as it was played in the southend of Columbus, Oh. after WWll consisted of simply a fishing cork and a cutoff broomstick handle. The cork was normally wrapped in in any electrical tape we could scrounge from our parents. Our game consisted of 3 strikes and you were out of the inning. We used street curbs on each side of the street plus and other areas between the sidewalks on each side to mark our singels, doubles, etc. The uniqueness of our game the way the cork was pitched.It was gripped between the thumb and the index and middle fingers and released underhanded. Depending on the angle of release, the cork would dive, drop, curve(dramatically) or rise in and out. The batter never knew what was coming. The cork ball pitcher's motion was similar to a fastpitch softball pitcher. In the seventies and eighties I taught my sons the game. Now the grandsons are learning. One thing about this game; You need good eyes! Old timers like me need not apply.

Answer 2

Some players, against the rules, used to, and perhaps still do, have their bats made with a cork centre(same material as any other cork), because they believe it benefits their hitting, however, it does not help at all, and perhaps slightly hurts them. Sammy Sosa is the most notable player to do this.