Twenty-First-Century Bat

Compared with the mushroom handle bat, typical bats have a dramatically tapered barrel for a better grip, which can be enhanced with pine tar and textured tape. The knob-like end is flat, as seen here, or angled. Red Sox left fielder Jonny Gomes hit a three-run homer with this bat in Game 4 of the 2013 World Series as Boston defeated the St. Louis Cardinals and later went on to win the title.