insightsports

The Calgary Vipers of the Northern League had a problem. One of their pitchers, an American named John Odom, was having trouble crossing the border into Canada. Don’t know why. But the Vipers came up with an interesting solution. They traded Odom to the Laredo Broncos of the United Baseball League for 10 bats. Not just any old bats, these were custom maple bats known as Prairie Sticks. Manufactured by Prairie Sticks Bat Company of Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, these hard maple bats are gaining in popularity among professional baseball players. The ones involved in the trade for Odom were the 34-inch double-dipped black C243. They are made from rock maple grown in eastern Canada. The company only sold 1,500 bats last year, but when word hit the Internet about the trade of 10 bats for a professional pitcher, the phones in Red Deer started ringing off the hook. According to an Associated Press account, players from California to Connecticut wanted Prairie Sticks bats. Where it all goes from here is anyone’s guess, and my guess is that things in Red Deer are going to continue to get better and better. And for Odom, originally from Atlanta, Laredo, Texas is a lot closer to home. This trade is one of those win, win, win situations.

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