It was an overwhelming idea at first, but when we sat down and put it on paper, and then took the idea out on a field, the totality of the event began to come together.  This was something that we could pull off, something that anyone who had ever tried to choose a softball bat out of a catalogue or out of a sporting goods store could only dream of being able to do.  Telephone calls, preparations, anxiety attacks, unforeseen problems and sleepless nights became the norm during the last three weeks before Bat Wars.  But it all proved worth it as Bat Wars participants came to the swinging area with their eyes popping out as they saw aaaallllll those brand new top of the line softball bats laid out along the fence.


Was Bat Wars ‘97 a success?  Absolutely.  Thanks to the combined commitment of the product manufacturers, our wonderful volunteers whose only pay was a little extra swinging time with the product, our subscribers and the fantastic softball folks.  

Bat Wars was one of those ideas that from its inception demanded to become a reality.  The idea of being able to amass all of the best softball products that there is in one spot on one day, where folks from all over could get together and pick up those bats and swing their brains out all day if they wanted, was just too appealing.  To think of having all the newest product available side by side, to actually get to swing and compare before buying was just too much.  

All there just for them, just for the day.  The ability to make their purchase decisions by swinging the products themselves, one right after the other, head to head.  To be able to share the pros and cons of each product with other softball enthusiasts.  To be able to evaluate the product for the manufacturers.  We, the people that race home from work to play league ball, or those of us who save up our money for travel expenses and keep the weekends open for tournament ball. The young girls whose eyes shine with the future of women’s softball.  

Bat Wars ‘98

On August 15, 1998, Softball Magazine presented Bat Wars ‘98.  Bat Wars ‘98 was very different in many respects than Bat Wars ‘97, but the one most important ingredients of Bat Wars ‘97 was the same as in Bat Wars ‘98.  Without the friends and the volunteers that came out to help us there would be no Bat Wars.

Bat Wars is for every person who loves the game of Softball.  Bat Wars isn’t about which bat is the best bat, because as we always argue to others, there is no such thing as a “best bat”.  Bat Wars is about a group of softballers getting together to test the latest products that manufacturers have to offer, to see what suits their particular needs and likes before they spend a hundred plus hard earned bucks on a high end bat.  The chance to discuss likes and dislikes of the products, work things out on their own, side by side with all of the products.  It is not scientific, it is not controlled, we used no blindfolds and all product maintain their original graphics, so as you can see, choice of what a batter may pick up is highly influenced by the sight, the aesthetics of the bat.  This can be because the graphics are hot and attract attention, or because it has a new look, or because it has a company name on it that has been around for a long time and has a good reputation. This is what Bat Wars is about. For the softballer, it is the ability to make a well educated purchase decision, for the manufacturer, feedback from the people who buy the product. 

Bat Wars ‘98 was much more than Bat Wars ‘97, and we intend Bat Wars ‘99 to be even better. With a year and two Bat Wars under our belts, we feel the changes that we made this year were extremely significant and we are already making changes as to how things will run for Bat Wars ‘99.  

Thanks again to everyone who came out to Bat Wars ‘98 .  It is the love of the game, your love of the game and your support that makes us want to give you as much of softball as we can.

 See you next year at Bat Wars ‘99.