Ace's Baseball Bat

Ace's baseball bat is a quintessential prop from the classic era of Doctor Who, introduced alongside the character Dorothy 'Ace' McShane in the 1987 serial Dragonfire. The prop was established as a core element of her persona, reflecting the character's rebellious, street-smart 1980s aesthetic and her penchant for tackling monsters directly. It was frequently employed to reinforce her role as an action-oriented companion who preferred physical confrontation to the Doctor's typical reliance on intellect or diplomacy.

The bat, often marked with an Ace of Spades motif, became an iconic symbol of the Seventh Doctor's tenure. Designer and prop artisans within the BBC's production department sought to create a rugged look that contrasted with the more traditional companions of the time. The item's enduring popularity among fans is due to its representation of a shifting tone in the series, signaling a departure toward more confrontational and character-driven science fiction that solidified Ace as a fan-favorite figure.