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Dynamics of a Baseball field

Bill Camp

When approaching a baseball or softball field to metal detect, how do you go about it? Most of us start walking the base lines, circling the pitching mound, or head straight for the outfield following the natural arc of the infield. These approaches are perfectly acceptable and given enough time, will net some goodies; but are they the best way to search a ball field? Let’s take a moment and explore some dynamics of baseball - the game, not the hot dogs! Let’s see if we can focus our search patterns a bit more, and cut down on the time required to find the good stuff.

The Golden Circle

In baseball, the bases are where most of the action is. Uh-oh, now you’re worried. You have read this far only to be told something you already know – great? Well consider this twist, indeed the bases are hotbeds of activity, but are they the right kind of activity which lead to good metal detecting recoveries? Probably not, and here’s why. Infields are often bare dirt and therefore easily reveal lost jewelry or coins as compared to a grass outfield. Infields are often groomed, which literally turns coins and small pieces of jewelry on edge and buries them deep into hard packed clay, making them harder to detect. Further, infield play is primarily directed towards home plate and is controlled in a large part by the pitcher. This means that most of what’s thrown, including jewelry, is thrown within a 65 foot diameter circle encompassing the pitching mound to the back stop behind the batter. Although some potential for finds exist along base lines, it is far more productive to focus infield searches in this area which I have affectionately named the ‘Golden Circle’. (See Figure 1)

Baseball players have the “right stuff”

A significant majority of the populace is right handed and this fact plays into our strategy when looking for the best way to search a ball field. On average this means that a majority of the batters will be right handed too, and a high percentage of them will hit the ball naturally to the left of center field. Therefore, on average, more balls will be fielded in the Left Field and marginally more in Center field. More fielding equates to more activity, which in turn leads to more opportunity for players leaving behind a ring, sports pin, or memento! If you have limited time, after the Golden Circle, choose left field first, you won’t be sorry, even if you are left handed!

The right handers vs. the left handers statistic plays less importance in the outfield. This is primarily due to the fact that all fielders eventually become batters and funnel towards the infield. (See Figure 2) Outfielders repeatedly remove and replace their gloves when trotting back and forth between the respective team bench and their fielding position. This repetitive activity of putting on, and taking off baseball gloves, leads to increased opportunity for losing rings. Although not true for all players, if you watch them, most players will remove and replace their gloves when in close proximity to the dugout, not in the outfield. Conduct an extra thorough search of the area immediately in front of the team benches and the radials that lead to the respective fielding positions. Outfielders are most often throwing on radials forward, toward the closest base or the pitcher. Concentrate your searches near the forward half of the outfield, along these radials and you’ll be in-line with the big-time treasures.

Don’t forget the spectators

I am sure it goes without saying that if you are searching a field with spectator stands, by all means search under and around them. This may require turning down the sensitivity of your detector quite a bit so as to get close in on the metal structures. Don’t count on lot’s of jewelry but you should pick up quite a few coins. Even if they don’t have formal spectator areas, you need to thoroughly search five to ten feet outside both the 1st and 3rd base lines. As spectators take up temporary residence along the grass, pockets full, they are sure to leave a few clad portraits of presidents for your discovery and subsequent retrieval. If you are lucky you’ll pull an earring, charm, or maybe even a ring, but plan on digging some trash too. While spectators can provide great rewards, they also supply a seemingly endless pouch of soda cans, pull tabs, and foil mementos for your detecting pleasure. Where did all of that trash come from – well the concession stand of course?(See Figure 3) Depending on the size of a field and the regularity of play, it may have a permanent food stand or simply a cooler rolled to the sidelines. Regardless of size, most fields have some medium for selling snacks and sodas. Look for grass depressions or burn marks where trash cans and carts may have recently resided to service the concession stand clientele. Again, focus your searches along the obvious paths between the concession and spectator areas. You can always count on clad, and a few obligatory tabs, around the concessions stand and the radials from the stands that got you there.

Focus on “People Patterns”

Sports, and all activities for that matter, have dynamics which establish a set of rules and patterns to follow. When metal detecting, focus on the activity in question, learn its distinct characteristics, and you are guaranteed to find most of the good stuff. Practice looking for “people patterns” and your treasure hunting experiences will result in better finds, faster retrievals, and more fun than ever. Who knows, with a little luck, you’ll dig enough extra cash to afford a pricey foot-long ‘dog’ at the ballpark – but just in case, you better bring your checkbook? Happy Hunting.

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