For all the sport's complex strategies and mind games, there is a visceral appeal in seeing a piece of wood propel a leather ball 400 feet over a fence and watching the batter trot confidently around the bases.

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The hurler, who is usually protected by a designated hitter, may be forced to step up to bat because of inter-league rules--giving Mets pitchers their own opportunity to launch a leather ball and, perhaps, a piece of wood at him.

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The patina of a worn brown-leather soccer ball in one photo inspired the leather-wrapped door handles on the upcoming Mini Paceman, a three-door crossover coupe that goes into production next year.

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Saracens seemed determined to kick the leather off the ball, and a lengthy period of aerial ping-pong drew a response of jeers, whistles and slow handclaps from their own supporters.

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His tools, notably a three-pound ball-peen hammer, clanked in a greasy leather bag suspended from the handlebars.

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There's also a sturdy 12-pound medicine ball, a collaboration with Chicago's Horween Leather and Context, a retailer in Madison, Wis.

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However, in one-day internationals a mandatory ball change is now enforced after 34 overs because the white titanium dioxide dye rubs off the leather.

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