Bat Day at Yankee Stadium

Photograph captures spectators in the crowded stands at Yankee Stadium with young fans waving their newly-acquired baseball bats in the air. Bat Day was a special promotion sponsored in collaboration with Hillerich & Bradsby Company, the manufacturers of Louisville Slugger bats, in which all ticket holders, 14 years old or younger, received a free Little League model bat as a souvenir. The first Bat Day at the stadium on June 20, 1963 (Fathers' Day) was so successful at increasing ticket sales that a second Bat Day, depicted here, was scheduled for the same season. It continued as regular promotion in subsequent years and was expanded to include other equipment such as caps and balls.

Forms part of the New York Herald Tribune collection at the National Baseball Hall of Fame Library.