How to read the stamps on a baseball bat
The stamp on the bat decides where it's legal, more than the brand, the price or the drop. Leagues check it before games, so it's the first thing to look at on any bat, new or used.
The four marks you'll see
| Mark on the bat | What it is | Where it's legal |
|---|---|---|
| USA Baseball (USABat) | The youth bat standard since January 1, 2018 (USA Baseball). The bat must carry the USA Baseball logo. | USA Baseball lists the divisions: Little League Tee Ball through Junior League, Cal Ripken and Babe Ruth 13-15 (Babe Ruth now calls it 13-16), PONY up to 14U, NABF up to 14U, Diamond Youth (formerly Dixie Youth) and Dixie Boys, AABC's youth tournaments, and Dizzy Dean 6 to 12 (USA Baseball). Older divisions aren't on the list; each league's page on the bat finder has its own rule. USSSA also accepts it within its drop limits: no lighter than -8 at 13U, and BBCOR or wood is the standard at 14U (USSSA by-laws 7.01.C and 7.01.D). See USA Baseball bats. |
| USSSA 1.15 BPF | USSSA's travel-ball mark. USSSA's divisions through 13U accept bats with it (no lighter than -8 at 13U), as well as BBCOR, USA Baseball and licensed wood bats (USSSA by-laws 7.01.C and 7.01.D). At 14U, USSSA's national rule is BBCOR or wood, with -5 bats only in states that opted in. | USSSA play up to 13U, and at 14U only where the event's state allows -5 bats. Little League prohibits BPF 1.15 bats in Majors and below, Intermediate and Junior (Little League). See USSSA bats. |
| BBCOR .50 | The high school and college standard: a -3 drop, a barrel no wider than 2 5/8 in, and a bat no longer than 36 in (USA Baseball). Little League wants the mark rectangular, at least 1/2 in per side, on the barrel (Little League). | High school, college, Little League Intermediate, Junior and Senior, and USSSA. See BBCOR bats. |
| USA BBCOR | A new category of USA Baseball's bat program, now that it runs the BBCOR standard; the mark reads "USA Baseball BBCOR" (NFHS). USA BBCOR bats reach stores from July 1, 2027 (USA Baseball). | High school and college from 2028. Today's BBCOR .50 bats stay legal in high school indefinitely; colleges accept them through the 2028 season (USA Baseball). |
Tee Ball bats have their own mark
In Little League, certified Tee Ball bats are 26 in or shorter and carry the USA Baseball mark with the words "ONLY FOR USE WITH APPROVED TEE BALLS" (Little League).
The numbers next to the stamp
Most bats print the length in inches, the weight in ounces and the drop. The drop is the weight minus the length: a 30 in, 20 oz bat is a -10. Some leagues limit the drop, for example -8 at 13U in USSSA (13U USSSA rules) and -3 for BBCOR.
Little League also wants alloy and composite bats in its Intermediate, Junior and Senior divisions marked with their material (Little League).
A stamp isn't the whole story: decertified bats
A governing body can withdraw a bat after it's sold. USA Baseball has decertified the 30 in (-10) Easton Ghost X, model numbers YBB18GX10 and LL18GHX; other lengths and drops stay approved (USA Baseball). USSSA keeps its own list of withdrawn bats (USSSA). In June 2020 the NCAA and NFHS removed the 33 in, 30 oz 2020 Louisville Slugger Meta BBCOR from their approved lists, and USSSA followed (USSSA), so a withdrawal can reach high school and college too. When you buy used, check the exact model and size on our list of withdrawn bats.
Before you buy
- Find your league and age on the bat finder: it lists which marks are allowed and any drop or length limit.
- On a used bat, ask for a clear photo of the stamp: it's what your league will check.
- Confirm with your league: local leagues and tournaments can set their own rules, stricter or looser than the national ones.
Checked Oct 26, 2026 against the sources linked above. Rules change: confirm with your league before you buy.