Baseball Striker and Softball Striker batting aids

CPSC Recall #98-100 — April 26, 1998

Recall Summary

Recall Number98-100
Recall DateApril 26, 1998
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 12,000
ManufacturerSchutt Manufacturing Co., of Litchfield, Ill.

Where It Was Sold

Large sporting goods chains and small sporting goods stores nationwide sold the Baseball Striker and Softball Striker from January 1994 to April 1998 for approximately $50 to $70.

Product

Baseball Striker and Softball Striker batting aids

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Schutt Manufacturing Co., of Litchfield, Ill., is announcing the recall of about 12,000 Baseball Striker and Softball Striker batting aids. During normal use, the ball can become separated from its cable when struck with a bat, and cause serious injuries to users and bystanders. Schutt Manufacturing Co. has received three reports of injuries, including one serious eye injury. The Baseball Striker and Softball Striker are hitting training devices which are used for a batter's warm-up. It is made up of an metal extending arm with a cable that has a molded polyurethane baseball or softball hanging from the end. The device is mounted to a chain-link fence. When the batter hits the ball, it is designed to rotate in a circle on the cable around the extending arm. The Baseball Strikers and Softball Striker were produced by Hollywood Bases during January 1994 through September 1996 and produced by Schutt Manufacturing Co. during September 1996 through April 1998. Both versions look similar, except the Hollywood Bases models have painted rather than plated extending arms and the different company names are identified on the products. Large sporting goods chains and small sporting goods stores nationwide sold the Baseball Striker and Softball Striker from January 1994 to April 1998 for approximately $50 to $70. Consumers should immediately stop using the Baseball Striker and Softball Striker and return them to the sporting goods store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call Schutt Manufacturing Co. at (800) 426-9784 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday, or write the company at Schutt Manufacturing Company, 610 South Industrial Drive, Litchfield, IL 62056.

Hazard

During normal use, the ball can become separated from its cable when struck with a bat, and cause serious injuries to users and bystanders.

Incidents & Injuries

Schutt Manufacturing Co. has received three reports of injuries, including one serious eye injury.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop using the Baseball Striker and Softball Striker and return them to the sporting goods store where purchased for a refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product — whether recalled or not — you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.