The debate over the safety of wood bats over metal bats is likely to reach the floor of the Chicago City Council.
An alderman is planning to introduce an ordinance that would ban metal bats from all youth baseball leagues in Chicago. Alderman Robert Fioretti says he agrees with advocates of the ban who argue metal bats are more dangerous than wood bats. Fioretti said statistics show a ball that comes off a wood bat goes at about 93 miles an hour but off a metal bat anywhere from 100 to 125 miles an hour. Similar legislation introduced in the Illinois General Assembly last year by state Representative Robert Molaro has not been approved. The state proposal would make it illegal for any coach, parent or teacher to allow aluminum bats in baseball or softball games involving players under 13 years old. ______ Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.