Sportcraft And Wilson Batting Tee Games Recalled

PRODUCT: General Sportcraft Ltd. and Foremost "Batting Tees" sold nationwide since January 1991. The General Sportcraft product was sold under the "Sportcraft" name and the Foremost product was sold under the "Wilson" name. The Batting Tee is a ball on an elastic cord anchored to a base. The base is attached to a weighted stand that holds the ball during use.

PROBLEM: The washer that holds the cord may suddenly fly out of the slit when a child pulls on the ball or cord during normal use, striking a nearby player.

WHAT TO DO: Discontinue using the Batting Tees immediately and return them to the stores where purchased for a cash refund.

WASHINGTON, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), General Sportcraft Ltd. and Foremost Sports Company, both of Bergenfield, NJ, are recalling a children's baseball practice stand called the "Batting Tee." The General Sportcraft labeled product was sold under the "Sportcraft" name and the Foremost labeled product was sold under the "Wilson" name.

The Batting Tee game consists of a plastic batting stand that fits into a rubber base. A ball is tethered to an elastic cord. Attached to the other end of the cord is a 1-1/4-inch metal washer. The elastic cord passes through a slit in the rubber base and the washer fits into a recess in the underside of the base.

The washer that holds the cord to the base may suddenly fly out of the slit when a child pulls on the ball or cord during normal use, striking a nearby player. CPSC has one report that a child was rendered legally blind in one eye after being struck by the washer from a Batting Tee.

Batting Tee sets were sold nationwide since January 1991 in various department and athletic stores. Approximately 153,000 sets were sold under both the Sportcraft and Wilson labels.

The recalled games have the word "Sportcraft" or "Wilson" embossed on the top of the base.

Consumers are urged to discontinue using the Batting Tees with metal washers bearing Wilson model number 96010 or Sportcraft model number 06650 and return the tethered ball, with washer attached, to the stores where purchased for a refund. Consumers can also return Batting Tees to: Batting Tee Recall, General Sportcraft/Foremost, 140 Woodbine Street, Bergenfield, NJ 07621. Consumers will receive $5.00 for the return of each item. For additional information, consumers may call Monday through Friday 1-800-526-0244, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET. New Jersey residents may call (201) 384- 4242.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's mission is to reduce the estimated 28.6 million injuries and 21,700 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under the CPSC's jurisdiction.