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MANUFACTURER
- Indiana Handle
Co. Inc.
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The Indiana Bat Co. baseball bats were
produced by the Indiana Handle Company.
Located at 1514 W Main St in Paoli,
Indiana, the company has been in the
business of manufacturing wood turnings
for furniture, hickory tool handles,
croquet sets, and baseball bats since
1932. Under contract by the U.S.
government, the Indiana Bat Co.
produced baseball bats for servicemen
during World War II.
The durable Indiana Bat Co. branded baseball bats were used at many of the
electronic batting machines set up
across the country in the 1960s. Heavy
southern Indiana ash used for the bats
prevented Major Leaguers from using
them, since they needed lighter bats
for more speed.
Indiana Bat Co. baseball bat models include; Daisy, Buddy Boys, Sure Hit,
Scouts Pride, Hoosier Pride, Home Run,
American, and National League.
There were two center brand styles used on the bats, but with no catalog
information available, dating can only
be speculated. The earliest center
brands (pictured below) feature an
outline of the state of Indiana, with
"Indiana Bat Co." inside, at the top,
and Paoli, IND" at the bottom, with the
model name in-between. A rare label
reads "Indiana Handle Co." at the top,
which might predate all the others.
Block letter endorsements include, Sure
Hit "Rogers Hornsby Model." Barrel
stampings on the "Sure Hit" include
"Famous Player Model" with the model
"No." below.
The second center brand (pictured above) is an oval with with "Indiana Bat
Co." inside, at the top, and Paoli,
IND" at the bottom, with the model name
an No. in the center. Block Letter
Player Style bats include Little League
No. 346 - Ruth, Famous Player No. 155
Ruth Style, and Famous Player No. 193
Waner Style. The 1958 price list below
lists three player styles, Williams,
Mays, and Mantle.
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Indiana Bat Company Baseball Bats |
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1934 Newspaper Ad |
1958 Indiana Bat Co.
Price List |
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KEYMAN COLLECTIBLES
RELATED RESOURCES |
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