National Museum of American History | Batter Up! Juan Baret Designs Iconic Bats Inspired by Family and Community @SmithsonianAmHistory | Uploaded October 2021 | Updated October 2024, 21 hours ago.
Juan Baret’s passion for baseball spans his entire life, from his childhood in the Dominican Republic, to cheering for the Yankees when he migrated to the Bronx as a young man, to his time in the United States military. Juan channeled his love of the game into the craftsmanship of bat making when physical limitations from his time in the service left him unable to play the sport. Watch Juan share his inspirational story and love for the game. This and many other stories are featured in our exhibition ¡Pleibol! In the Barrios and the Big Leagues / En los barrios y las grandes ligas.

Check out the ¡Pleibol! online exhibition: https://americanhistory.si.edu/pleibol

Explore more about the artistry behind Baret's bat by reading this blog: https://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/bat-artistry