How to Maintain Your Home Plates

With proper and regular maintenance, you can reduce the time and money spent on home plate care. Used by batters during practice as well as games, it is one of the most used areas of your baseball field. Neglect increases the risk of injury, impacts the gaming experience and reflects poorly on your sports facility. The sports specialists at Richardson Athletics have provided a step-by-step maintenance guide below.

 

Homeplate Area Maintenance Guide

  • Remove the loose material from the area (catcher’s and batter’s boxes) with a field rake.
  • Lightly water the exposed ground as well as the loose material.
  • Let it sit for a few minutes to absorb the moisture.
  • Rake the moistened material back to fill the holes.
  • Pack the dirt/clay in with a hand tamper, roller or the back of the rake.
  • Use a drag (or a rake) to smooth the entire area taking care to avoid a buildup at the edge of the grass.
  • Water the area.
  • Cover it with a tarp to maintain the proper moisture level.

 

In situations where it has completely deteriorated, reconstruction may be required. When purchasing new home plates, select products that are easy to set up, safe to step on with cleats, and long-lasting. Here is an overview of our most popular ones to help with your selection. 

 

Home Plates On Sale

  • 5-Spike: This one has rubber construction with removable spikes. We also offer the Pro 5-Spike Stanchion which comes with a steel bottom base and stanchion as well as an anchor.
  • Bolco 300 AS In-Ground 3″: This one is 3″ thick with a heavy-duty vinyl cover and a hardwood core.
  • In-Ground 3″ Wood:  The solid wood construction enhances durability while the UV-treated rubber shell cushions players’ feet.
  • Hollywood MLB Pro Style: One of our most-sold bases, this budget-friendly option is suitable for temporary or portable installation. The molded rubber construction offers maximum strength.  The base is 11/2-inch-thick, plus it includes a 7” stanchion, 5 zinc plated spikes, 1 anchor and 1 plug.
  • Stanchion Mount: Features a heavy-duty bottom steel plate with a stanchion for easy removal.  Also comes with an anchor.
  • In-Ground 3″ All-Rubber: Heavy duty all-rubber construction with a waffle bottom.
  • Waffle Throw Down: Made with a suction waffle bottom to prevent sliding on floors.
  • Hollywood Triple Crown Package: Includes a Hollywood Bury-All (HP3H), Hollywood 4-Sided Professional Pitching Rubber (PR4WPH) and set of 3 Hollywood Jack Corbett Bases (BHJC) with Base Anchors (ANHB).
  • Champion Triple Crown Package: Includes a Champion In-Ground 3″ (HP3I), Champion 4-Way Pitching Rubber (PR4WIO) and a set of Pro-Hollywood Bases with Base Anchors(BIPHS).

 

At Richardson Athletics, we have a complete range of baseball equipment to meet your needs. Parents, coaches and facility managers count on us for quality sporting gear.

 

Need help selecting the right product? Call our specialists at 800-895-2902 to discuss your requirements and get useful suggestions before making your purchase. Browse through our inventory of baseball home plates to find what you need and place an order online through our secure site.