Pitching Machines
CPSC Recall #77-078 - July 20, 1977
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 77-078 |
| Recall Date | July 20, 1977 |
| Remedy Type | No Remedy Available |
| Units Affected | About 5,000 |
Where It Was Sold
| About 5 |
| 000 of these machines have been distributed throughout the United States to schools |
| colleges |
| clubs |
| recreation departments |
| and other athletic organizations. |
Product
Pitching Machines
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 21) -- The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today issued an urgent warning to purchasers and users of certain automatic baseball pitching machines of the potential for severe bodily injury which the machines present. The machines are labeled as follows: "Blazer (Champ)," the "Professional," "Range, " "Pro-Trainer (Olympia)," and/or the "Dudley Automatic Pitching Machine." They were manufactured by Commercial Mechanisms, Inc., of Spring Park, Minnesota, and Kansas City, Missouri. The Commission has two reports of permanent and severe brain damage resulting from these machines. There are about 18 other injuries including brain concussions, severe lacerations and severe facial disfigurement. The Commission has authorized its staff to prepare the necessary papers for filing a complaint in U.S. District Court seeking recall of the machines and a declaration that they are an imminent hazard. About 5,000 of these machines have been distributed throughout the United States to schools, colleges, clubs, recreation departments, and other athletic organizations. They were manufactured from 1963 to 1975. The Commission is asking consumers who have access to or know the location of a machine to call tie U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free hotline 800/638-2772. The pitching machines have rotary pitching arms propelled by a gasoline engine or electric motor which powers a gear, pulley and tension spring mechanism. The revolving pitching arm which has no guard retains sufficient energy to "pitch" even though the machines are unplugged or disconnected. This energy can release the pitching arm after only slight vibration of the machine. The downward rotation of the pitching arm at high velocity has resulted in serious injuries to persons in its path. The pitching arm may also separate from the machine during operation, becoming an uncontrolled and potentially lethal missile. The machines may also fire pitches erratically in unintended directions. Consumers are alerted to follow these important safety precautions: 1 - Avoid placing any portion of the body within the arc or path through which the pitching arm revolves, unless the machine is disconnected from its power source and the coil spring is disengaged from the spring holder. 2 - Disengage the coil spring from the spring holder after use, and lock the machine in a location that will restrict unauthorized or unsupervised access. 3 - If the machine must be moved, disconnect the machine from its power source and disengage the coil spring from the spring holder before moving. 4 - Never store the pitching machine with the pitching arm in the 10:00 o'clock position. An Example of A Pitching Machine With An Unguarded Arm (Blazer "Little Champ" Model) Guardless
Hazard
The revolving pitching arm which has no guard retains sufficient energy to "pitch" even though the machines are unplugged or disconnected. This creates the potential for severe bodily injury which the machines present.
Incidents & Injuries
The Commission has two reports of permanent and severe brain damage resulting from these machines. There are about 18 other injuries including brain concussions, severe lacerations and severe facial disfigurement.
Remedy Instructions
The Commission is asking consumers who have access to or know the location of a machine to call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's toll-free hotline 800/638-2772.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a No Remedy Available 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 (No Remedy Available) 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.