Legislature To Take Up Bats Battle

A debate over banning metal bats from youth baseball games is about to erupt in Albany, with matching bills that would banish non-wood bats from Little League play now in the Senate and the Assembly.

New York City's ban was put on the books last month; beginning in September, it bars metal baseball bats from public and private high school games. Mayor Bloomberg vetoed the legislation, saying he did not think it was the city's business to regulate baseball bats, but the City Council overrode the veto.

A group of baseball bat manufacturers, coaches, and parents are now suing the city in federal court, arguing that the ban in unconstitutional.

The Albany bills, introduced by Senator Andrew Lanza, a Republican of Staten Island, and Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg, a Democrat of Long Island, would prohibit players under age 16 from using metal bats in organized baseball games. Mr. Lanza introduced his bill earlier this week. Mr. Weisenberg introduced his bill in March.

Supporters of the bat ban say metal bats are more dangerous than wooden ones because they propel baseballs faster. Opponents have said there is no evidence proving one type of bat is more dangerous than the other.

The Republican leader of the City Council, James Oddo of Staten Island, introduced the bat bill in the city and said that the Legislature's imminent discussion of metal bats is good for ballplayers.

"When people in other cities and states across the country hear about this, it's further encouragement for them to engage in what was a very difficult fight," he said.

Opponents of the Albany bat bills have hired a powerful lobbyist, Patricia Lynch, to represent them, Mr. Oddo said.

An aluminum baseball bat manufacturer, Easton Sports, spent more than $134,000 lobbying against the city's bill through the end of 2006, according to official filings. Lobbying reports for 2007 were not available yesterday.