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Founded in 1941, Hartland
Plastics was known for making Plastic
western toys, such as Cowboys, Indians
and Horses. From 1958-1962 Hartland
Plastics produced 18 statues of star
Major League baseball players, a
Bat boy & Minor Leaguer. In 1958
the Wisconsin based company introduced
the baseball line of statues. Three
home state players were produced, Hank
Aaron, Warren Spahn, and Eddie Mathews.
In 1962 the
additional 15 players were added to the
series. The "Bat Boy" was originally
issued as the Little Leaguer but it was
changed because of licensing rights.
The statues were made available at souvenir stands at the ball park, mail
order, and sold in retail stores such
as Woolworths for $1.98. In 1963
Hartland was purchased by Revlon, and
stopped making the figures to make
cosmetic perfume cases and containers.
The statues came in one of two
different style boxes, neck tags,
brochures and removable bats for
statues in a batting pose. Roger Maris
did not come with a tag. Roger Maris &
Harmon Killebrew came with a home
plate, Don Dysdale a pitching rubber,
and Yogi Berra a catchers mask. In
1988, a 25th
anniversary series was issued.
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