# Law 3: Equipment (Official Baseball Rules)

Baseball · Law 3: Equipment · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/baseball/laws/law-3-equipment/)

The ball and its penalty for tampering, the bat and the approved wooden bats, uniforms and what may be worn under and over them, gloves and mitts, helmets and the other protective equipment.

## 3.31 Ball and Bat

The size, weight and cover of the ball, tampering with it, and the length, diameter, grip and material of the bat.

### Test 1: The ball and the bat

- The ball weighs not less than 5 and not more than 5 1/4 ounces. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.1)
- The ball is no less than 9 and no more than 9 1/4 inches round. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.1)
- Yarn is wound round a small cork or rubber core and covered with two tightly stitched strips of white horsehide or cowhide. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.1)
- Damaging or discolouring the ball with any foreign substance costs the offender the game and an automatic 10-game suspension. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.1)
- A bat may be no more than 42 inches long. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.2.1.4)
- The bat's diameter may be no more than 2 5/8 inches and no less than 2 1/4 inches. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.2.1.5)
- Only one-piece wooden bats from the current WBSC approved list may be used; a wood bat wrapped in other material counts as composite. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.2.2, 3.2.3)
- A first violation brings a warning to the manager of the offensive team; a second one gets that manager ejected. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.2)
- A straight line runs from the centre of the knob to the centre of the large end, where an end plug may be fixed. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.2.1.2, 3.2.1.3)
- Grip material may run no more than 18 inches from the end; beyond that the bat is removed, but this alone is no reason to call the batter out or eject him. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.2.1.6)

## 3.32 Uniforms

Matching uniforms and contrasting jerseys, numbers, shoes, undershirts, jackets and the pitcher's helmet.

### Test 1: Uniforms and what players may wear

- Every player, coach and the manager of a team must wear uniforms of the same colour and style. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.1)
- Each team needs two sets of jerseys in contrasting colours, so a clash can always be avoided. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.2)
- It is the visiting team's responsibility to wear a colour that contrasts with the home team's jerseys. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.2)
- Back numbers must be at least 6 inches high, in a solid contrasting colour that is clearly visible. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.3)
- Nothing may be attached to the sole or heel except the standard shoe plate or toe plate; pointed metal spikes like golf or track shoes are out. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.4)
- Any visible part of an undershirt must be one solid colour, and that colour may not be white. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.6)
- Polished metal or glass buttons are not allowed on a uniform, and a pitcher's helmet, if worn, must have a non-glossy finish. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.5)
- 6 inches for a number, 10 inches for an elbow pad, 18 inches for grip material and 42 inches for a bat. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.3, 3.5.5, 3.2.1)
- A pitcher's compression sleeve must be covered by an undershirt, and while batting he may wear a jacket under the uniform top. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.6, 3.3.7)
- Only a pitcher may wear a jacket as an outer garment while he is a base runner, and it must be buttoned or zipped. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.3.7)

## 3.33 Gloves and Protective Equipment

Glove and mitt sizes, the pitcher's glove, batting helmets, the catcher's gear, bat boys and elbow pads.

### Test 1: Gloves, helmets and protective gear

- The catcher may wear a glove or mitt of any dimension; every other glove has a size limit. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.4.1)
- The first baseman's mitt may be no more than 13 inches long and 8 inches wide, and its web may not form a net-like trap. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.4.2)
- A pitcher's glove may not be white or grey, nor distracting in any way in the umpire's judgement. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.4.4)
- Double ear flap helmets are mandatory for hitters and base runners; skull caps for base coaches are only recommended. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.5.1)
- The single ear flap is acceptable at U-23 level, the Premier12 and the Olympic Games. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.5.4)
- All catchers must wear a protective helmet and face mask while catching, warm-up and bullpen catchers included. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.5.2)
- A player may wear one elbow pad, no more than 10 inches long when it lies flat. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.5.5)
- The crotch may be 3 1/2 inches wide at its base and 4 1/2 at its top, and 5 inches long; the mitt itself up to 8 inches wide. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.4.2)
- The umpire removes a glove that breaks Rule 3.4.4 on his own initiative, on another umpire's advice or on a complaint he agrees with. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.4.4.2)
- All bat and ball boys must wear a double ear flap protective helmet. (Source: WBSC ORB 2025-2026, Rule 3.5.3)

Sources: WBSC Official Rules of Baseball 2025-2026, Rule 3 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Rules, not reproduced)

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