S & H Smash Hit Baseball Bat

The S & H Wood Products baseball bat company was located at the former Daniels Mill Work plant, at 900 Monroe Street in Jamestown, New York, from 1960 to 1962. Jamestown businessman Littner “Sody” Soderstrom, and Tommy Henrich, former New York Yankee star, formed the baseball bat company in 1959. Soderstrom was listed as the president and Henrich as vice-president.

“Sody” had been working the previous five years to perfect a bat different from the presently used models which will not sting upon impact with a ball. The bat which he and Henrich marketed used a new wood-treating process said to have a life expectancy of about twice that of the baseball bats in use.

An experimental model was used by several major leaguers and all responded graciously to its performance. Such major leaguers as Jackie Jensen, Harvey Kueen, Al Kaline, Sammy White, Frank Bolling, Joe DeMaestro, Hal Smith, Gene Woodling, Pete Reynolds, Frank House and Roger Maris used it during the 1959 season. After the testing they were convinced tht the solution will reduce breakage by 20 percent; the bats will last 20 percent longer without splintering; and most important of all, they will produce 20 percent greater distance.

The partners had plans to begin operations early in 1960. The mill opened in the spring and some samples were turned out in a few weeks. The pair bought the necessary machinery, mostly lathes, and planned to market the bats in the summer. It appears that Soderstrom and Henrich were unsuccessful with their business plan, and there are no records of the company after 1962.

The outer rim of the oval center brand reads "S & H Wood Prod" across the top, and "Jamestown N.Y." along the bottom. Inside reads "Smash Hit, 400" - This is the only know model in the market. There is a J.W. Edwards "Smash Hit 400 little League, Girard, PA, baseball bat, made with the same branding. Girard, Pennsylvania is about 63 miles west of Jamestown, N.Y. There is no information about J.W. Edwards outside of the 1947 "Articles for sale" newspaper listing shown in the left column below.

S & H Wood Products Company Jamestown N.Y. Baseball Bats

S & H Wood Prod. Smash Hit 400 Jamestown N.Y. Baseball Bat

J.W. Edwards Smash Hit 400 Girard, PA, little League baseball bat

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