In the past, we’ve put together in-depth guides on Diamond, Rawlings, and Wilson baseballs, giving you the lowdown on what’s what. Now, I get a lot of questions about the differences between the Rawlings 10U and Rawlings CROLB baseballs. If you’ve read my piece on Comparing the Rawlings 8U, 10U, and 12U baseballs, you’ll remember I mentioned there’s really not much to tell them apart—except for one key detail. Stick around, and I’ll fill you in on what makes the difference.
Which Age Group uses CROLB or 10U baseballs?
Rawlings markets these baseballs for inexperienced youth players aged 8 to 10. For competitive or tournament play, most opt for baseballs with a solid cork-and-rubber core, wrapped in multiple layers of wool or yarn.
Please note that as of March 2024, Rawlings appears to be producing more CROLB baseballs than 10U models.
Rawlings CROLB baseballs
The “C” in CROLB indicates that the baseball’s cover is made from “C” grade leather, which is typically split leather. The rest of the acronym, ROLB, stands for Rawlings Official League Baseball. Unlike standard baseballs, a CROLB is constructed from three components: a leather cover, a finishing layer made of poly thread, and a substantial core composed of rubber, cork, and glue.
Through my personal experiments with cutting and measuring my own CROLB baseballs, I’ve found that they are slightly larger, with a circumference of about 9.1 inches, and heavier, weighing 5.2 ounces or 148 grams, compared to regular baseballs. The large cork-and-rubber core is engineered to achieve a COR value of 0.52, indicating a “lively” or bouncy ball. When hit with a metal bat, CROLB baseballs produce a noticeable “thud” sound, as opposed to the “crack” typically heard with other baseballs.
Rawlings 10u baseballs
As I’ve mentioned previously, Rawlings R10U baseballs are identical to CROLB baseballs in terms of leather cover quality, seams, weight, and size. However, upon closely examining the dissected core of a small sample size (five cut baseballs), I noticed that the R10U appears to contain a slightly higher concentration of rubber bits compared to the CROLB baseballs.
Best Rawlings Baseball for 10U Players and Teams
Please note that Rawlings seems to have improved the quality of CROLB baseballs starting in 2019. While the cover still feels a bit waxy, it’s markedly better than earlier versions of both CROLB and R10U baseballs.
Nevertheless, Rawlings 10U and CROLB baseballs are suitable for beginners, and most coaches use them for batting practice and light fielding drills. However, as 10U players start to swing harder, these cork and rubber core baseballs may not hold up.
If you’re committed to purchasing Rawlings-branded baseballs, I recommend opting for “real” baseballs like the Rawlings Official League Baseball (ROLB1). These are also available branded for Little League (RLL1), Senior Little League (SRLL1), Pony (RPLB1), Dixie (RDYB1), and Cal Ripken (RCAL1) leagues.
They all come with a cork and rubber pill with a thick layer of winding.
For the latest prices and availability, check out my Reference Guide to All Rawlings Baseballs post.
In Closing
Please remember that Rawlings isn’t the only option out there. Diamond and Wilson also offer excellent quality baseballs! For more details, be sure to visit my “Buying Baseballs – Reference Articles” post.
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