Carleton Place company hits it big as Blue Jay swings hometown-made bat in World Series

As the Toronto Blue Jays’ Davis Schneider stepped up to the plate during the World Series, fans in Carleton Place had an extra special reason to cheer — the bat in his hands was made right here at home.

Sam Holman of Sam Bat Manufacturing in Carleton Place founded the first company to introduce maple bats to Major League Baseball in 1997, revolutionizing the game and setting a new standard for durability and performance around the world.

Decades later, the company continues to produce bats for professional players around the world — all from its workshop in Carleton Place. The now-famous Sam Bat has become a fixture in professional baseball, used by some of the sport’s biggest players.

Most notably, one of the Toronto Blue Jays’ top players, Davis Schneider, was spotted putting the bat into action while earning his now famous early home run during Game 6 of the World Series last week.

“It’s always great when we see our bat in the hands of the world’s best,” Kevin Rathwell, Director of Retail Sales at Sam Bat told Lanarkist. “It’s a thrill at Spring Training, but the World Series (with a home run to boot!) certainly adds another layer to the excitement!”

The Carleton Place & District Chamber of Commerce publicly celebrated the achievement this week, calling it a “home run moment” for the community.

“Seeing Sam Bat’s craftsmanship in the hands of top MLB talent is a powerful reminder that innovation, excellence, and hometown spirit can take you all the way to the big leagues,” the Chamber wrote on social media.

As the Blue Jays fought for first place on the world stage, Carleton Place residents were reminded of their hometown pride — knowing that every swing from Schneider represented a piece of their community.