Hartland introduced a series of baseball players that were sold very well at the concession stands. These ball players made from plastic that would endure and become the benchmark that all other sports figurines would be compared to. The figurines were approximately 8" high and were made from acetate plastic and were painted with acetate based paint that left no "skin". Thus the figurines were able to keep a very high definition and superior quality. The first group of players introduced were: Eddie Mathews, Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth.
Customers raved about them. They had excellent detail and superb painting qualities.
A feared left-handed slugger, Eddie Mathews became the seventh player in major league history to hit 500 home runs, finishing his career with 512. He walloped more than 30 round-trippers nine years in a row. In 1953, his 47 homers for the Milwaukee Braves led the National League and established a single-season record for third basemen that would last 27 years. A member of two World Championship teams, Mathews was the first athlete featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated.
Offered here is a nice action pose of third sacker Eddie Mathews preparing to throw. Body is slightly yellowed. Paint of head, cap, hands, glove, and jersey is in near mint condition.