BASEBALL
ENDORSEMENTS
(The following article is similar to that that appeared
in the September, 1998 "Bullpen" published by Babe Ruth
League, Inc.,)
Babe Ruth League Baseball Approves True Pitch® Mounds
for Game Use
On May 1,
1998, Babe Ruth League, Inc. entered into an agreement
with True Pitch®, Inc. of Altoona, Iowa that allows for
fiberglass pitching mounds manufactured by True Pitch to
be used in official Babe Ruth League baseball games. The
agreement was reached after several years of study and
negotiation by the two organizations. With the
agreement, Babe Ruth League, Inc. joins Little League
Baseball and Pony League Baseball in sanctioning the use
of True Pitch Mounds for games.
History of True Pitch Mounds
The birth of
True Pitch®, Inc. as a manufacturer of portable pitching
mounds dates back to 1962 when John Goeders of Altoona,
Iowa began searching for a way for his son's youth
league baseball team's pitchers to practice and play
from a pitching mound rather than from a flat surface.
He had just witnessed his son's team pitch from a mound
for the first time and all the pitchers were wild.
Goeders decided he'd build a mound. He consequently
learned that portable pitching mounds had not yet been
invented.
Goeders
invested a great deal of time and money developing
several models of fiberglass pitching mounds and used
several area high schools and colleges in Iowa to test
the various models. He didn't have enough money to apply
for a patent until 1966 and since the first patent was
issued that year, True Pitch has secured a number of
additional pitching mound patents and patents on an
amazing new manufactured clay product for use on
baseball and softball diamonds called Flex-a-Clay®.
He continued to refine his mounds into the 1970s,
designing several new models and adding a covering of
artificial turf to accommodate all types of footwear.
Also in the 1970s, Goeders received an endorsement from
Little League Baseball to allow for the use of the
mounds in Little League games. This endorsement was
followed by approval from Pony League Baseball and now
approval by Babe Ruth League, Inc.
True Pitch Mound Features
True Pitch
Mounds are constructed of a reinforced lifetime
fiberglass base and covered with Stadium Astroturf®. A
regulation pitching rubber is attached to all models and
is easily replaceable if it becomes worn. Models are
available for all age groups of Babe Ruth League
Baseball with differing height, length and width
measurements for each group.
The pitching mounds are built with the safety and
comfort of the pitcher in mind and allow for pitchers to
practice and play from the same mound. The consistency
of the practice and game surface provides for more rapid
development of proper pitching fundamentals in young
pitchers. In addition, the uniformity of the pitching
mound is the same on the last day of the season as it
was on the first day of practice with a minimum of
maintenance.
Portable, Multiple Diamond Use
True Pitch®
pitching mounds vary in weight from 180# to 340# and are
fully portable and need no special installation. Just
carry the mound on the field and you are ready to play.
The portability of the mounds allows for multiple,
regulation uses of the same diamond. A Babe Ruth League
Baseball game can be played, followed by a Babe Ruth
League Softball game with a minimum of diamond
preparation.
True Pitch®, Inc. and Babe Ruth League, Inc.
True Pitch ®,
Inc. is proud and excited to become a part of the Babe
Ruth League family and is looking forward to providing
local Babe Ruth leagues and organizations with a quality
addition to their programs. True Pitch® pitching mounds
are a sound investment for any youth league baseball
program. |
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