Fisher-Price Baseball Training Center

CPSC Recall #95-141 — July 6, 1995

Recall Summary

Recall Number95-141
Recall DateJuly 6, 1995
Remedy TypeRepair
Units AffectedApproximately 100,000

Product

Fisher-Price Baseball Training Center

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - CPSC, Fisher-Price Inc. of East Aurora, N.Y., is announcing a repair program for approximately 100,000 Baseball Training Centers. Fisher-Price is aware of five incidents in which batteries used in its No. 2875 Baseball Training Center overheated and exploded. Although only one minor injury has resulted, serious injury could occur if caustic battery contents come in contact with skin or eyes. The Baseball Training Center can be used by children three years old and older for pitching, hitting, and fielding practice. Children hit or throw baseballs into a large net, and the balls are thrown back out by a machine located in the toy's base. In some cases, the batteries that power the mechanism that throws balls can overheat and explode. The Baseball Training Center has a blue plastic base and a white mesh net that is attached to a large semicircle by yellow synthetic fabric. The toy, measuring 3 feet wide, 3 feet high and 15 inches deep, is sold with a brown plastic bat and five white plastic baseballs. The Baseball Training Center was sold nationwide through large toy stores and other retail outlets for approximately $35.00. Consumers who own the Baseball Training Center should turn off the toy and should not use the product until they repair it. Consumers should call Fisher-Price Consumer Affairs at 800-233-4004 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, or 10 a.m. through 5 p.m., Saturday, to request a free repair kit. The kit will contain a part for consumers to install in the training center's battery compartment to prevent battery overheating. Consumers should not return the product to retail outlets. Fisher-Price has instructed retailers to remove the product from their shelves and will immediately replace it with an improved product.

Hazard

Fisher-Price is aware of five incidents in which batteries used in its No. 2875 Baseball Training Center overheated and exploded.

Incidents & Injuries

Although only one minor injury has resulted, serious injury could occur if caustic battery contents come in contact with skin or eyes.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers who own the Baseball Training Center should turn off the toy and should not use the product until they repair it. Consumers should call Fisher-Price Consumer Affairs at 800-233-4004 to request a free repair kit. The kit will contain a part for consumers to install in the training center's battery compartment to prevent battery overheating. Consumers should not return the product to retail outlets.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Repair 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 (Repair) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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.