CPSC Announces Provisional Acceptance Of Consent Agreement In Aluminum Bat Cases

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it has provisionally accepted a consent agreement, the terms of which are intended to remove a potential hazard associated with aluminum baseball bats and one piece rubber grip and knob components of the bats manufactured and distributed by six companies.

The provisionally accepted consent agreement was published today in the Federal Register. Comments received on or before March 29, 1976, will be considered by the Commission before final action is taken on the settlement agreement.

Certain aluminum bats and one piece rubber grip and knob components manufactured by the firms could pose a risk of injury, according to the CPSC staff. The staff said that the one piece rubber grips could deteriorate with normal use and separate from the handle of the bat, causing the bat to be propelled during a swinging motion and having the potential for striking a person in proximity to the batter.

Under the terms of the agreement, if made final, the six companies will offer modification kits for the bats. The companies that reached the tentative voluntary settlement with the Commission were Hillerich & Bradsby Co., Lannom Manufacturing Co., Reynolds Metals Company, Eaton Corporation, Wilson Sporting Goods, Inc., a division of Pepsico, Inc., and Alcoa Sport Products Company, a subsidiary of Alcoa.

The agreement was entered into after proceedings had begun under Section 15 of the Consumer Product Safety Act. This section of the Act is intended to protect consumers from substantial product hazards.

The bats covered in the consent agreement were sold under the following trade names : Adirondack, Easton, HGB/Louisville Slugger, Reynolds, AJD, Worth, Sears, Sunsmacker, Wilson, and Rawlings. After the provisionally accepted agreement is made final, consumers who may have purchased the type of bat involved may obtain a preaddressed post card from sporting goods dealers or sporting goods departments in general merchandising outlets. The agreement provides that the consumers will be invited to use the post card to supply the manufacturer's name, bat model number, length and color of the bat, dealer's name and address, and the date of purchase. Upon receipt of the post card by the manufacturer, a kit will be sent to the consumer at no charge. The offer will be available for one year, according to the terms of the agreement.

The agreement is entered into for settlement purposes only and it does not constitute an admission by the bat or grip manufacturers, or a finding by the Commission, that the law has been violated.

Comments on the agreement may be filed by mailing them to the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1750 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20207.

A copy of the agreement is available for examination at the Commission in Room 825, 1750 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.