Is it apparent to anyone reading my slew of toy reviews lately that I'm making a futile attempt to clean out my children's toy room to make room for Santa? The Fisher-Price Baby Playzone Baseball was a gift to my older son that has returned from the Mexican leagues and is currently batting 1.000 with my little Bug.

::: Baseball for the Ankle Biter Set :::

Fisher-Price Baby Playzone Baseball couldn't be a cuter concept for babies; it's t-ball without the frustrations for tiny ones. Included is the tee, a small bat, and a ball. The base is blue and has a rounded bottom so that it rocks. It takes three "AA" batteries (and you know the drill here, don't you? Battery door underneath...), and has an off setting and two volume settings. Yay Fisher-Price!! On the top of the base is a green diamond shape with white base lines, and each base is a colored light, with a smiley baseball at home plate.

The tee has two settings as well. With the top part pushed down, a pin holds the ball in place. Baby whacks away at the ball with the bat, the base rocks, and music plays (sounding like the organ at the ballpark), doing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame," another song I can't remember, and the lead up to "Charge!" while the lights flash. Change it to the second setting, and a toddler can actually whack the ball off the tee with a "whack" sound that plays along with a cartoonish voice saying "Yay" or "Woo!"

::: Training Up My Little George Brett Right :::

No, we don't allow any chew tobacco or pine tar in the house, but the boys have loved this toy as babies. Of course, they love to whack at anything with a bat, but the fact that this makes fun noises instead of crying and running to a mother who will undoubtedly point her finger and yell has it's merits in their eyes.

Battery life is excellent; this is a toy we've had for at least a year and a half, and I've never had to replace the batteries, which is a miracle. I'm sure that the off switch helps in that regard, but this is a great toy: durable, doesn't suck batteries, and a huge hit with little ones. Best of all, I'm never left hunting for the ball, because you can store it on the pin with the toy where it won't dislodge. I wish more toys had this design team!

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This has been a Kids & Family contribution to the Lean 'n Mean III W/O

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 14.99
Type of Toy: Baby Toy
Age Range of Child: 12 to 36 Months