RAWLINGS WARNS WALL STREET: EXPECT LOSSES DUE TO BAT SPAT

          Rawlings Sporting Goods "warned Tuesday that it would
     post a bigger-than-expected quarterly loss" because it
     discontinued some bat lines to prepare for new NCAA rules,
     according to Christopher Carey of the ST. LOUIS POST-
     DISPATCH.  The discontinuation of the bat line and "other
     factors, including slower sales of other baseball products,
     will cause Rawlings to post a loss" of between $1.8M and
     $2.2M for the fourth quarter, which ended August 31. 
     Rawlings said its loss will amount to between $.23 and $.28
     a share, compared to projected losses of "about" $.09 a
     share.  Rawlings Interim CEO Howard Keene: "While the
     results for the fourth quarter are disappointing, we are
     extremely encouraged by the continued resurgence of baseball
     in general and the anticipated impact of the Mark McGwire
     home run record on our business" (POST-DISPATCH, 9/16).