I just know it from some american movies. Like for example, a person in a house hears some noises and he is worried there is a burglar in the house. Then suddenly he picks up a baseball bat from somewhere and goes looking for the noises.

Which makes me wonder: how prevalent is it for americans to have a baseball bat at home? Is it common? Is it unusual and just kind of a movie thing?


42 comments

  1. Oh sure, but for a lot of us its just because we like to hit baseballs, or its a souvenir from a big game. Mine is a signed bat from a Padres player I was distantly related to.

  2. Not in my experience. I was a police officer and I responded to tons of burglaries, home invasions etc. People have guns here and they are not afraid to use them. Even when they’re not legally justified LOL.

    I worked a home invasion many years ago and the guy had a machete. He tried to attack the family but the machete was dull. Still pretty nasty wounds. The neighbor came over with a 357 Magnum and she was a small girl. He was a very large dude. When she put that 357 in his face, he stopped. She was holding him at gunpoint when we arrived.

  3. No I would say any home that has kids or has had kids has a bat laying around. It’s like asking if soccer balls are laying around at homes in Brazil

  4. The “grabbing the bat” thing is more of a movie trope, but plenty of people will have bats around if they or their kids played baseball.

  5. I guess I don’t have one at home, I have one in the trunk of my car though 😅

    My family while growing up did not have a bat in the home, we had guns. 🙃

  6. In my area it’s probably common, lots of weekend recreation leagues and teams. I’m in one

  7. I do keep one in my house and one under the driver’s seat in my car. I never know when I’m going to need them for a pick-up game of baseball.

  8. I think people who have baseball bats at home play baseball (or have kids who do). I don’t think it’s super common for home defense only. That’s what dogs and guns are for

  9. I’ve unironically seen more golf clubs being used as improvised household weapons, than baseball bats.

  10. I do and I haven’t played baseball since middle school 45 years ago. I think it is my wife’s though, not really sure where it came from to be honest.

  11. I’m going to say yes in my area, little league and travel ball is super popular so most of our kids have multiple bats.

  13. I think it’s more common if you have kids and they play baseball or softball. Despite what the media portrays the majority of Americans don’t really worry about home burglaries.

  14. Most people have a baseball bat anyway, so it’s an obvious impromptu weapon. Personally, before I decided to buy firearms, I had a spare ax handle near the bedside as I wasn’t a baseball guy. 

  15. Yep. Several… spread around in a few rooms. Also have one in my car. Not that I’d ever even think about using it as a self defense weapon. That would be ridiculous. I just have it in there cause of my kid’s little league… officer.

  16. Adult American male here: I have a baseball bat in the home. Commemorative item that doubles as something to hold when thinking deeply and triples as home security.

  17. I read this as baseball hat at first and I’m like “yeah I got several what about it”

  19. You’re describing an intentionally tense scene that’s written to bring two characters into close physical contact.

    I haven’t had a baseball bat in my house for over two decades. I don’t play and I have other weapons to use if I needed them.

    I don’t know how prevalent actually using a bat for home defense is, but: 1) My first choice would not be a close-quarters weapon that requires direct contact, and 2) I would not put myself at a disadvantage by seeking out the intruder.

  21. I was about to say no until I remembered I have a Louisville Slugger next to my door

  24. I’d say it’s fairly common to own a bat but not common to have it specifically for self-defense or have it by the bed for the possibility of defense.

    Mine is in our laundry room which also doubles as a storage space. It’s on a shelf with baseball gloves, a basketball, a soccer ball and shin guards, a football, a bag of tennis rackets….like all my sports stuff lol. Which I would posit accurate for most people that like to spend time outside or play amateur sports. If not in a storage room, people often keep their sports gear in a garage or hallway closet.

    So, yeah. Bats are totally common in the home but they’re usually going to be located in a storage space, not by the bed.

  25. I kept my childhood baseball bats for self defense. So yes I am like the movie stereotype 

  27. I have two softball bats. Does that count? I used to play softball and it’s not like the bats go bad or something.

  28. I keep my old softball bat in the garage so it’s available when I open the car door.

  29. We’ve always had them in my house. When I was younger it was the result of a house full of kids active in sports.

    I have one now that was given out at a game several years ago. I will admit to having dragged it out at possible self defense times as a bit of a threat. It’s been effective and gone unused, thankfully.

  30. I’ve seen some posts from people who live in countries that associate bats with weapons. That is not how we think of it, it’s something for sports. It’s about as common as a football in Colombian homes

  33. I have 2 baseball bats and have never played a game of baseball in my life. I have no idea where I got 2 baseball bats but I’ve had them for at least 15 years

  34. I do not have a baseball bat at home.

    I do, however, have an assortment of other suitable weapons.

  35. Fairly common, but it’s also kind of a TV/movie trope like the chef knife that’s always conveniently left on the kitchen counter at arm’s reach

  36. I literally have a baseball bat next to my bed for defense. Never played baseball in my life.

    ~ 40 y/o woman

  37. I have a baseball bat near my bed in my bedroom. I found it in the front yard of a home that got evicted. Its only purpose is to defend myself. I’ll prob never use it, but it’s helps me have peace of mind. I don’t play baseball.

    I used to play baseball as a kid and so did my siblings (and softball). So my childhood home had like 6 baseball bats in the attic and a bunch of baseball/softball gear.

    My favorite baseball bat weapon on TV is from the show Shameless. They were able to drill a hole in the handle, and have a small piece of rope tied into a loop. And that bat just hangs on the wall by the front door lol. They were not fucking around.

  38. Many people do, but ime it’s mostly a thing you see in movies – like how every time someone goes grocery shopping, they buy a French baguette that’s sticking out.

  40. I don’t have a baseball bat at my house for sports or self defense.

    People who have baseball bats probably have someone in their house who plays baseball or collects baseball stuff. Some people have them but I would not say everyone has a baseball bat or keeps it in their bedroom.

  41. Hollywood definitely doesn’t like to promote that Americans are much more likely to have a gun for self defense than a bat.

  42. I have several mini ones, an old timey nightstick and lots of heavy things I am quite prepared to pick up and swing. I live alone.

    Dad once told me to never hit the hard parts with my hand, only the soft parts. “Other than that, you pick something up and hit the motherf@cker with it”.

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