Recall: Softball Bats Recalled by Rawlings Sporting Goods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 20, 1999 Release # 99-113

Company Phone Number: (636) 349-3500 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Yolanda Fultz-Morris, (301) 504-7066

CPSC, Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc. Announce Recall of Softball Bats

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc., of St. Louis, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 45,000 slow-pitch softball bats. The tops of the bats can shear off during use, posing an injury hazard to batters and bystanders.

CPSC and Rawlings have received 16 reports of the top of the bats shearing off. No injuries have been reported.

The bats subject to this recall are Rawlings slow-pitch aluminum softball bats with model numbers SBZ2, SBZ3, SBZ4, SBB3, SBB4, SBB5, SBB6, SBB7, SPT-PK2, and DUAL-E. "Rawlings" and the model numbers can be found on the barrel of each bat. The bats are adult sized, and come in various colors.

Major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Target and Kmart, and sporting goods stores nationwide sold the bats from September 1997 through May 1999 for between $40 and $200.

Consumers should stop using the recalled bats immediately and call Rawlings at (636) 349-3500 between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday for instructions on returning the bats for a refund. Consumers also can write to Rawlings at P.O. Box 22000, St. Louis, Mo., 63126.