It's often said that "the guy with the biggest bat always wins", and it's safe to assume so in baseball, being Since the bat is the most vital aspect of the game since it embodies its sole objective, hitting the ball. The excitement of baseball and what attracts fans the most is the batting action. This relationship is established by the batter and the pitcher; their constant rivalry makes the game interesting since one tries to hit the ball and the other tries to make it miss. The history of baseball is much like that of other sports; it was born from a group of people, quickly became popular, and over time grew into a multi-million dollar industry. As baseball became more popular and more people became interested in the game, competition caused investors to look for ways to gain some advantage over their opponents, hence the need for better equipment. With the evolution of technology came the development of materials that allowed the development of more efficient and effective bats. Wood was the starting material for racquets, but then came the development of aluminum and, in recent years, composite racquets hit the field. Although the sport relies primarily on talent or how well the athlete uses these tools, equipment is essential to the athlete's performance. Athletes are looking for bats that will increase their likelihood of hitting a home run, maximize their hitting power, decrease the amount of energy loss on collision for greater ball speed, and allow for a faster swing, given that these factors are crucial to the success of their careers. Decades and decades of testing and experimentation have gotten the baseball bat to where it is. It all started as a simple board, but with the growing popularity of the sport in the middle of paper, companies and businesses are constantly looking for ways to include technology to improve their equipment. Again, the development of computers, industrial equipment, measuring devices, testing equipment, and smarter engineers all contributed to the evolution of the baseball bat. Works Cited Smith, Lloyd. "Engineering Our Favorite PastimeAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers". 132. 4 (2010), 44-48, http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.fiu.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=67982c92-ca09-414f-afff-430401e834cf%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=104 . (accessed March 22, 2011). Braham, James. "Keep an eye on the bat of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers". 69. 13 (1997), 1-3, http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=46cabc6b-475f-4fa3-8712-92f0739b70d4%40 Salt 3D%3D#dB =a9h&AN=9708224665. (accessed March 23, 2011).