Hey batter, batter! With baseball season in full swing, celebrating a home run would be much different if it weren’t for oil and natural gas. Putting on a little league baseball game takes a lot of energy, not to mention the amount required for the major leagues. From stadium lights to fertilizers, here is what it takes to fuel America’s favorite pastime:
Transportation
Perhaps you live within walking distance of a stadium, but most of us need a vehicle to get to the big game. Rubber tires, faux leather seats, polyester seatbelts, nylon airbags, and plastic vehicle parts all help ensure travelers arrive safely to the game.
Stadium
Those bright lights and scoreboards require a significant amount of electricity. With the assistance of natural gas-fueled power plants, electricity is easily routed directly to the stadiums.
Field
Who doesn’t love a home run?! Natural gas is used as a raw material as well as fuel to produce nitrogen-rich fertilizer. It’s composition aids in the various physiological processes that create the lush outfields, creating optimal conditions for those epic moments.
Uniforms
Since the 1970s, uniforms have been made of a double-knit polyester material. This man-made synthetic fabric is derived from petroleum-based polymers. Batting gloves are often made of nylon, neoprene, and elastane to create synthetic leather, while catcher’s mitts require plastic reinforcements to hold the leather together. Additionally, helmets are made of strong carbon-fiber layers and a polystyrene lining – all derived from oil and natural gas byproducts.
Bats
Traditional baseball bats are made of wood. However, harvesting the trees requires gasoline-powered vehicles and wood-working facilities that rely on natural gas-fueled power generation. Final stages of production include dipping the bat in a water-based lacquer derived from natural gas.
Food
Food is a key player in the gameday experience! Ballpark menu items such as corndogs and french fries require the use of natural gas-powered kitchens to cook our fan-favorite foods.
No matter who you are rooting for, baseball relies on oil and natural gas. As a proud partner of the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, and Oklahoma City Dodgers, we’re happy to help knock each season out of the park!
#ItTakesEnergy
