Bat Banks: Does anybody else collect these?
 

I recently came across a vintage plastic bat bank for the first time, and I couldn't resist adding it to my completely unfocused collection. The ones from the 1960s and beyond with plastic bats are quite easy to find, but the ones from the 1950s with wood bats seem to be much tougher. They were made by a company called Van Dine, which I believe was located in New Jersey. The earliest example I can find is a Baltimore Orioles bank from 1955. All the others I've seen are either all AL teams, all NL teams or "famous sluggers," which seem to be the highest in demand.

Does anybody else collect these or have some information to add?

I don't have any but I've always liked them. Does the "Famous Sluggers" have player name bats i.e Mantle, Mays, Aaron, etc.?

Yes it does. And the bats have the Hillerich & Bradsby stamp on each of them. It makes me wonder if the bat company was involved in some way with the production of these.

You would certainly think so...just like the pen and pencil sets you see in wood and, later, plastic.

Bat Banks
 

Here is mine. Similar to yours, Chris, but with a blue interior. This one is from the 1950’s with the eight American League teams plus an American League bat and a Hall Of Fame bat. Unfortunately, mine is missing the Yankees bat and I have not been able to find a replacement.

Woods bat rule!
 

Wood bat banks are really cool Chris.

I collect baseball shaped banks that were mostly premiums from banks around the country.

I do have a couple of 60s plastic bat banks - what attracted me to them was the condition and the fact that they came in their original sleeve and box.

Note - I've got one team and one player bat bank - and the "Mick" is right there!

https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads...fduuzm5d6b.jpg

https://us.v-cdn.net/6027503/uploads...2ayj2pamqm.jpg

The player bank has Mantle, Aaron, Bench, Clemente, Yaz, Frank Robinson, Rose... as top names.

Very cool, with the original packaging!

I’d show images of mine, but can no longer get photos to upload on this site. :confused:

I plucked this photo off the Google image gallery. The bat bank comes from 1955, which might have been the first year. I love how they used orange for the Orioles. Can you imagine how cool it would have been had they done all 16 teams?

Wow!
 

I have a couple of the banks and have seen them around - NEVER saw one in the original packaging before! Thanks for sharing those.

If I was an Orioles collector, that would be a “grail”!

I agree. I'm a Reds collector, and a bank done in red with Mr. Red's logo at the top and bats with signatures of Ted Kluszewski, Wally Post and others on them would qualify to me as a Holy Grail.

When I used to travel around the country I would pick up any I found, only these four. Never saw a team one nor a original packaging one before, thanks for sharing.

Sold at variety store and also the ball park. At the park you could get a National or American Team Bank and also your teams home team Bank with the Phillies etc bats. Wood bats in a plastic holder.

The Hall of Fame also sold a Hall of Famer Bank and also the Team Bats.

Mail Order was another way of getting them

I searched all over the internet for any information about these, but pretty much came up empty. The only example of an individual team bat bank I found was the Orioles, which must have been made in 1956, based on the players. It sold for $400 11 years ago. These must be real tough to find.

Those are neat.

That Orioles bank is awesome. Would love to see other teams if they exist. I had thought about picking up a bank just to use as a bat rack for pens/pencils, but got one of these stir stick caddies instead.

http://www.collectingbrooklyn.com/net54/BatPens.jpg

A great idea!! Thanks for sharing.

My Bat Bank
 

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Roberto Clemente
Carl Yastrzemski
Hank Aaron
Al Kaline
Mickey Mantle
Brooks Robinson
Ernie Banks
Johnny Bench
Pete Rose
Tommie Agee

Here is mine vintage wood bats Mantle Aaron Klu Colivito Kaline Ashburn Banks Mathews William's Fox. 2 of the bats Aaron and Colivito have black center brands the other 8 have red. So not sure it is 100%. But I have owned it for a few decades and enjoy it when I have room to display it. Sideways picture so you can read bats...

That’s a beauty!

From the H&B 1963 Famous Slugger Yearbook. I'm tempted to send them a dollar. :p

This beauty sold this morning on eBay ...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-Vintag...orig_cvip=true

Those ones with the wood bats are super cool. I have always wanted to get a center stand and then get the player/team bats i want to fill it up. Would cost way too much and then I would have a bunch of ruined complete sets so I have never even started that collection.