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Matchbook from Johnny Sproatt's "The
Bat Rack" Steak House located at 2454
Wilshire Blvd. Santa Monica, Calif.
Baseball enthusiast, restaurateur,
owner and general host decorated the
interior of his nameless establishment
with baseball memorabilia. The trophy
case was filled with mementoes, and
baseballs autographed by many famous
baseball players. The Umpire room
included 500 personally autographed
pictures of athletes.
A Bat Rack on
display built by Cleveland Indians
Coach Red Kress, displayed the personal
bats of six of the then living greatest
major league hitters: Ty Cobb, Joe
DiMaggio, Roger Hornsby, Ted Williams,
Ralph Kiner, and Stan Musial.
After Johnny Sproatt proudly surveyed his handy work, accompanied by his
young son Jimmy Sproatt, who exclaimed
"Dad! Why don't we name our new
restaurant The Bat Rack" Thus the
hitherto nameless little restaurant on
Wilshire Boulevard became The Bat Rack.
The back cover features the 6 facsimile
autographs of the 6 greatest hitters;
Rogers Hornsby, Ted Williams, Stan
Musial, Lefty O'Doul, Joe DiMaggio, and
Ty Cobb. The 30 strike Ambassador
matchbook, was manufactured by Diamond
National Corporation, Diamond Match
Div. New York, NY. The inside cover
features head shots of the " 6 Greatest
Hitters... 1952" The name, lifetime
batting average, playing time, team,
and position is listed to the side of
each player.
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