As an early birthday present, Erik bought a wood lathe to continue the woodworking practices the Kirby men had instilled in him as a boy and young man. Being a baseball player, naturally his first project was (you guessed it) an old fashioned baseball bat. As he finished it, he realized his lifelong dream of being part of America’s most treasured pastime… baseball. Realizing the significance of ha
ving made his first bat on July 4th, Erik decided that the Baseball Gods would need to be paid homage to, in order to even be considered worthy of entering the realm of America’s most cherished pastime. So, he stored the baseball bat in his shop, and thought on how to pay homage in order to realize his worthiness. During this time Erik and fellow baseball nut and bat ju**ie Scott Toledo’s team, the Jersey Dirtbags, had their season in full swing. Towards the end of the season Erik realized what he needed to do. He spoke to Scott and the two decided to team up and create Power Bat LLC. But still, this wasn’t enough to please the Baseball Gods, and both Erik and Scott knew it. So they thought on it during the off season. All while the very first Power Bat ever made sat unused. A virgin of wood longing for leather. The New Year was in full swing. The cold spell still hung in the air and winter's last snow fall was upon them. One mid-February morning, Erik realized what needed to be done. So, Erik and Scott loaded the very first Power Bat into Scott’s car, and drove to hallowed grounds; the only place where the right juju could stirred up, the Baseball Gods summoned, and Power Bat recognized. The place where the brainchild of the New York Knickerbockers Baseball club had been born. The Elysian Field Marker in Hoboken NJ. The place where the very first baseball game was ever played. So, with virgin bat in hand, Erik tossed a baseball in the air and struck it. Watching his breath pass through the air as he listened to a soft version of that distinct sound of leather, cork, twine, and wood, he knew his years of honing the family woodworking skills were now duly recognized by the Baseball Gods. Scott repeated the process to ensure he would be recognized, and Power Bat’s homage was paid.