Bacon Bat: A Beloved Tradition for Academy Girls

Bacon Bat is one of the oldest and most beloved events at Academy, an Albany Academy for Girls tradition dating back to the early 1910s. The event began when the school’s newly formed Athletic Association, led by Ruth Miner, Class of 1911, and supported by Principal Esther Louise Camp, organized a picnic to promote school spirit and female participation in athletics, which at the time included baseball and basketball. Students traveled by trolley to Holmes’s Woods, near the Albany Country Club, where they cooked bacon over open fires, drank coffee, and played baseball and other outdoor games.

The name “Bacon Bat” originated from early 20th-century slang. “Bacon” referred to the food cooked at the picnic, while “bat” was a common term for a “spree” or “good time.” Together, the phrase described a social, outdoor gathering. Over time, the name took on a double meaning, as baseball games became a key part of the day’s activities.

Bacon Bat was first mentioned in the December 1911 issue of The Academe and quickly became a defining event for students. It represented student independence, leadership, and the growing emphasis on outdoor education for girls. Alumnae, such as Thelma Wade Holding Class of 1926, later described it as a carefree student outing “just to have a ‘bat,’ or a good time.”

Today, Bacon Bat continues as one of the most anticipated school traditions. The event has evolved into a full-day celebration of creativity, collaboration, and school spirit. Upper School students plan class themes, design custom t-shirts and costumes, and write original songs to perform in front of the school. The day features friendly competition in activities such as tug-of-war, dodgeball, and trivia, along with music, cheering, and spirited displays of class pride.

The tradition now includes girls from all divisions, with Lower and Middle School students wearing their sister class colors and participating in age-appropriate versions of the activities. Although it has changed over the years, Bacon Bat remains a symbol of connection, leadership, and unity—values that have defined Albany Academy for Girls for generations.