Best Baseballs In 2022

You wouldn’t throw children learning to swim right into the deep end of the pool and you shouldn’t subject kids just learning how to play ball to the risk of injury that comes with official Major League style baseballs. Those balls are nearly rock hard and when thrown at speed they can and do cause serious injury if they contact the player. Even big, strong MLB players. A much better idea is to acclimate your budding Major Leaguer to the game using Soft Cushioned Safety balls from SKLZ.

These balls have the look and size of official baseballs but have a more forgiving feel that prevents injuries when kids take one on the shoulder or the leg. They’re perfect for teaching kids the fundamentals of the game because they remove the fear of injury. That way your youngster can concentrate on things like the mechanics of their baseball bat swing and positioning themselves properly to field.

If you’re playing pickup baseball in the park with your friends having a single ball is pretty much SOP. Lengthy stoppages of play are the norm as the outfielder chases the ball down the street where it disappears under a car. If you play in a company league or coach Little League however, you know that isn’t going to cut it. You need to keep the flow of playing going and the number 1 way of doing that is to have plenty of balls available in case one goes over the fence.

Enter the Rawlings Recreational Grade Baseballs Bucket of 24. These are regulation size and weight baseballs with a durable faux leather exterior, raised stitching to promote better grip and more accurate throwing and a tough plastic bucket that makes transporting them to and from the field a breeze. They have a solid cork and rubber center that ensures they pop off the bat and they’ll withstand hundreds of home run smashes without giving in. Be sure to combine this with a cool pitching machine from our list.

Rawlings has been the manufacturer of official Major League baseballs for decades now. So it only makes sense that they would be the company to create what amounts to the ultimate autograph collection vehicle. And that’s what this is. It’s a genuine Major League baseball, complete with the mile of wool and synthetic cord spun around the cork and rubber core and the genuine cowhide cover.

The only difference is that it hasn’t been mud-rubbed. What’s mud-rubbing? Well, before each game the balls to be used are rubbed down with a very specific type of mud in order to make them easier to handle. This makes the surface a little less slippery and also adds just a hint of color. This collector’s ball has not been mud-rubbed. And so it’s white as white can be. Which is great if you’re using it to collect autographs. The clear display case is compact and handsome and will allow your youngster to display their autographed ball on the mantel or the dresser in their room with pride. For more must-have gear for baseball players, check out our guide to the best baseball helmets.

By now you’re probably starting to notice a trend. That being the Rawlings name attached to a lot of these items. That’s because Rawlings is the exclusive manufacturer of Official Major League baseballs and spends a lot of time and energy and money developing related products. Like this bag of 12 Official League Recreational Baseballs. They’re perfect for Little League games, school games and company league games.

These are regulation size baseballs with a faux cowhide finish that’s hard to distinguish from the real thing. They have a cork and rubber center that provides plenty of heft and pop and they’re easy to grip without having to subject them to mud-rubbing (see above). The one giveaway that the internal construction is not up to Major League standards is the designation “Official League”, which is essentially meaningless but is supposed to provide an aura of authenticity. Still, they’re great baseballs for recreational use, with an affordable price and a realistic feel. Don’t forget to also check our guide to the best baseball gloves.

While Rawlings holds the exclusive contract to manufacture official Major League baseballs there are other companies like Wilson that manufacture baseballs that conform to MLB standards. They supply the hundreds of minor league and college teams that don’t have exclusive contracts with Rawlings. But like all companies in all industries Wilson produces its fair share of rejects, which in this case they call “blems”. “Blems” being short for “blemished”.

But just because a ball has a single stitch out of place or a scratch on the surface doesn’t mean Wilson A1010s Blem Baseballs won’t still play like a real Major League ball. So the company gathers up these imperfect specimens and offers them at a discount to any interested parties. These blems are going to cost a bit more than standard recreational baseballs, but they’ve got the genuine cowhide cover and multi-layer spun wool interior recreational balls lack. If you like sports that include balls, check out our guide to the best basketballs.

This is another outstanding recreational baseball that provides the look and feel of official Major League baseballs without the expense. The Diamond Official League DBX baseballs have a cork and rubber core, a faux leather cover the company calls a “Duracover” and raised seams that enable better grip for both pitchers and fielders.

These are regulation size and weight baseballs that are great for Little League games, pick up games, amateur league games, company games and more. They come in a box of 12 and are ready to go in any conditions. Our handy guide to the best volley balls features more great products like this.

The final item on our list of best baseballs is one last offering from Rawlings. This OLB3 Recreational Play Baseball 2-Pack is going to be a bit of a stretch for some recreational players but there’s no denying the quality. This is about as close as you’re going to get to genuine Major League baseballs without actually getting the mile or so of spun wool inside and the genuine cowhide cover.

The OLB3 baseballs feel virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. They have a very satisfying heft to them and the faux leather cover and regulation stitching make for outstanding control and carry. Whether you’re slipping two-seamers past befuddled batters or slamming a fastball over the fence for a walk-off homer you’re going to appreciate the OLB3 from Rawlings. You may also be interested in some of the bocce ball sets from our list, so check them out.

If you’re coaching kids to play baseball or you’re training yourself, you need a lot of baseballs. You don’t want to spend 90% of your practice time running around after your only ball. That’s why this set of GoSports Weighted Training Baseballs is so popular. At 16 ounces each, these weighted baseballs are around three times heavier than a traditional baseball. The idea is that, by using a heavier ball, it improves your technique and increases the velocity at which you can throw and hit. They’re made from rubber, which makes them softer than an actual baseball, but they can still withstand thousands of hits, without showing any signs of damage. You get six in the pack, so you can get to work and practice your hitting without constantly searching for balls. 

For some amazing storage solutions for baseball players, check out our guide to the best baseball equipment bags.