Medical Imaging Technology Pops Corked Bats.

The article focuses on the use of radiographic technology in Major League Baseball (MLB) nearly 40 years ago to detect illegal cork and rubber cores in bats. In 1987, the MLB Commissioner's Office enlisted the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop a method for identifying these altered bats, which were banned due to their potential to unfairly enhance performance. NIST researchers used computed tomography (CT) scans and radiographs to successfully reveal corked boreholes, finding radiographs to be the most efficient detection method compared to ultrasound. The article also notes the potential for radiographic technology to assist in assessing player injuries if MLB stadiums were equipped accordingly.