How Much Does a MLB Baseball Cost?

A look at the cost of a Major League Baseball, from the price of a ticket to the cost of a baseball itself.

The Manufacturer’s Cost

Rawlings is the official baseball of Major League Baseball. A single baseball cost about $3 to manufacture, with the leather being the most expensive component. The Rawlings website sells baseballs for $10.99 per dozen.

The cost of the materials

The leather for a baseball is cut into circular panels and stitch together. It usually costs between $8 and $10. The corking for the baseball is taken from a tree in South America and it costs about $0.03 per baseball. The yarn for the baseball is wound around the corking and then stitched shut. The cost for the yarn is about $0.17 per baseball

The cost of the labor

While the cost of the materials used to make a baseball is relatively stable, the cost of labor can fluctuate quite a bit. For example, in 2007, the MLB was locked in a protracted contractual dispute with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) over how to divide revenues between owners and players. This led to a change in how baseballs were manufactured, with the production process shifting from Costa Rica to China.

When made in Costa Rica, each baseball required about two hours of labor to assemble. In China, that figure dropped to about 15 minutes per baseball. As a result, the cost of labor for one baseball decreased from $1.60 to just $0.12.

The Retailer’s Cost

A MLB baseball cost around $16 to $20 for a single rawlings baseball. The material cost for a single baseball is about $5 for the leather, cork, and yarn. The baseball stitching machine cost about $1,500. The machine operator is paid about $8 per hour. The baseball is then packaged and shipped to the retailers.

The cost of the advertising

The cost of advertising is usually a reflection of how popular the product is. If a product is extremely popular, the company will charge more for advertising because they know that people are more likely to buy it. If a product is not as popular, the company will charge less for advertising because they want to try to attract more customers.

The cost of the shipping

The cost of shipping a MLB baseball can vary depending on the retailer. For example, Amazon.com charges $4.49 for shipping a MLB baseball, while BaseballSavings.com charges $5.99 for shipping the same baseball. In addition, the cost of shipping a MLB baseball can also vary depending on the weight of the baseball and the shipping method used.

The Consumer’s Cost

A MLB baseball can cost anywhere from $9.99 to $19.99. The price of the baseball depends on where you purchase it and the quality of the baseball. If you purchase a baseball from a sporting goods store, you can expect to pay around $15.00 for a MLB baseball. If you purchase a baseball from a Wal-Mart, you can expect to pay around $9.99. The quality of the baseball also plays a role in the price.

The cost of the purchase

Assuming the consumer is buying a single baseball, the average cost of a MLB baseball is about $15. The price can range from $10-$30 depending on where it is purchased and what time of year it is bought. The variation in prices is due to differences in quality, as well as supply and demand. If the consumer is looking to purchase a baseball autographed by a specific player, the price will be much higher than an unautographed baseball.

The cost of the upkeep

After the cost of a new baseball, the next biggest expense for MLB is the cost of balls that have been used in games and need to be replaced. It costs an average of $2.48 per ball to replace a ball that has been used in a game, and MLB teams use an average of 950 balls per game. That means that it costs MLB teams approximately $2,392 per game to keep the balls in play, or about $172,000 per team per season just on baseballs.