From Bombas to Bamboo in the Absence of Baseball

The short and boring answer would be “not much.” While that would free me up to spend more actual time with bamboo it probably wouldn’t suffice for an article.

Where am I going with all this? I’m not entirely sure, but the current state of the world and lack of baseball has meant that many of us have more time on our hands and have acquired new hobbies. I’m settling on bamboo.

It all started a few years back when my wife and I bought the land we’re currently building our new house on and I decided to plant some golden bamboo. Most bamboo is green but I fell in love when I stumbled upon a small pond surrounded by the golden variety while I was hiking in the jungle. I found some for sale and currently have three clusters growing (It grows really tall really fast).

Anyway, I’ve been spending more time at the land as our house is nearing completion and recently planted more bamboo (and I have some seeds of the giant bamboo variety currently burning a hole in my pocket). I decided I should learn more about bamboo, specifically how to make my own cuttings so I could plant even more golden bamboo. It’s a pretty simple yet interesting process that I quickly learned about through the miracle of YouTube (where I also discovered black bamboo!).

So I’ve found my new hobby (along with planting trees), but I have yet to tie it to baseball or better yet the Twins. A quick google search didn’t lead to any interesting stories about bamboo and baseball but it did lead to bamboo baseball bats!

Bamboo is not only flexible but also really strong, which makes it ideal for bats. Although bamboo is technically a grass it sure acts and feels like a wood and is cut into strips and then formed together to make a bat. Bamboo bats are much stronger than traditional wooden bats so they are less prone to break and are relatively inexpensive. They’re also light-weight so they can help to quicken a swing.

Unfortunately we’re unlikely to see Nelson Cruz (or any other big leaguers) swinging bamboo anytime soon. They’re fine for practice but are not allowed in games as all bats must be made from a single piece of wood. I’m not even sure if a solid bamboo culm would be allowed since it’s technically grass but it definitely seems like something Detroit should try come September.

Bamboo bats are allowed by the NCAA and most high school leagues but are mostly used for practice as they are cost-efficient and rarely break.

Baseball-related bamboo products don’t end with the bat. You can truly be the coolest kid in school with your very own bamboo baseball cap! Players Weekend 2020? Make it happen Manfred.

That brings us to the Twins. While I would love nothing more than to be able to relate a story about Tony Oliva swinging bamboo poles as a kid, no such luck (maybe Dick Bremer has fished with a bamboo rod?). However, if you happen to be looking for Twins-themed bamboo products the list is endless: Bathroom sets, salt & pepper grinders, coaster sets, phone cases, even unisex serving trays!

While I’d love to understand what exactly makes a serving tray unisex, my next bamboo related purchase will not be licensed by the MLB. Black bamboo here I come!

What non-baseball related hobbies have you picked up while at home? Do you have an affinity for bamboo? Have you ever owned or operated a unisex serving tray? Please leave your comments below!

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