RUBBING MUD

For the last seventy five years, umpires have used Lena Blackburne rubbing mud to break in brand new baseballs before every major league and minor league game. This New Jersey mud takes the shine off game balls and creates enough friction to give pitchers a firm grip on everything from sliders to knuckleballs.

Now you can buy a small package of Lena Blackburne rubbing mud with just enough dirt to break in your new baseball wallet. After being rubbed down, the white leather becomes softer and darker (see photos). Or you can buy an 8 oz. container to use on your team's new balls. For more history and to see a video of how major league umpires prepare game balls, go to Lena Blackburne's rubbing mud web site.