Warstic Designs Classic Wooden Baseball Bats for Color Lovers
|Here’s a home run of a product design that’s for athletes and aesthetes! I don’t think I’ve ever called a piece of sporting equipment beautiful before, but these color-stained wood bats from Warstic definitely fit the description.
Warstic makes the bats in Texas, using high-quality wood. The choice of “good wood” is part of founder Ben Jenkins’ personal belief that metal bats are outmoded. I can’t speak to that practically, but designwise, I’m kind of in love with this green Half Dip bat. (Warstics also come in Signature Warstic Wartip (with unfinished handle) and traditional Full Dip.
I’m pretty sure there’s a handful of hardcore baseball fans out there who would look upon a purple bat as if it was imbued with hues of blasphemy. [These are likely the same folks who insisted that Tinky Winky (the Teletubby) was a “covert gay role model”.] However, with our current obesity epidemic, should we really be at odds about what motivates us to get up off our asses and partake in a heart-pumping classic American pastime?
In addition to the ‘pop of color,’ there are other reasons to buy Warstic. First, they’re made in the USA (which should at least pacify the purple-haters). Second, it’s supporting someone’s dream. It’s proof–amid a recession–that if you work hard enough, you can make your dreams come true. Quoth Jenkins: “The only two things I have ever done for a living are baseball and design. Warstic Bat Co is about bringing those two loves together.”
Here’s another good quote from Jenkins. It’s a point I tried to articulate in my critique of the recent PLAYSAM 500 custom toy show.
Good design is something that should be a part of the process of making anything. As far as the design appreciation our bats have received, I attribute this to my choices as a designer about just letting the natural beauty and form of a baseball bat and the wood not be overpowered by graphics. I just decided the bats should have a timeless simplicity and simple trademark that complimented the tool itself.
Warstics are on sale at Fab.com for the next 72 hours. After that, you can find them here. Click through for more sports-design eye candy.
All of my role models are covertly gay, especially Kozik.
I was looking to get a custom American flag wood baseball bat that I could use in games. I was thinking the barrel would be navy blue with stars and the handle would be red and white stripes. I would appreciate it if you could get back to me soon. Thank you.