“We want a batter, not a broken ladder” is a baseball chant that has been popular in the Little League. The chant has been cited in print since at least 2000.
     
 
GameFAQs     
Backyard Baseball
REVIEW BY MATT91486
Reviewer’s Score: 8/10 | Originally Posted: 12/21/00, Updated 07/18/01
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The sound effects are superb. Except for one tiny problem. When you are batting, or in the field for that matter, the eight other players, besides the pitcher and the batter, will sing out various annoying versions of the phrases “Swing batta batta!” and “We want a batter, not a broken ladder!” You will go insane, there is no mistaking it.
 
Google Groups: alt.sports.baseball.texas-rangers
Grieve’s side kick
Rocky Ahmann
8/26/03
Yea, Josh is the guy.  I like him he makes some great comments that go over Grieve’s head.  Grieve really knows his baseball but he needs lighten up a little bit and not always be so monotone and serious.  Did you see the play last week where the Rangers were on the road and the Rangers were up to bat and a kid yelled, “we want a batter not a broken ladder.”  And Grieve made the comment that he had’nt heard that one in a long time.  Lewin had totally missed it and asked him what he was talking about.  Grieve must have mistakenly heard the kid because he answered, “we want a pitcher not a belly itcher.”  And then he continued, “But the home team is up to bat, why would they want a broken latter if their team is up to bat?”  Then he was silent for about 10 seconds like he was working this around in his head trying to figure it out and then Grieve added, “....unless maybe there are some Ranger fans in the stadium or maybe…” then more silence.  Fortunately Lewin jumped in and picked up the play by play right about then.  I think Grieve is still trying to solve that one.  The two of them together is like Dragnet.
     
Pittsburgh (PA) Tribune
He’s not a hitter, he’s a baby sitter!
By Tom Purcell
Sunday, May 27, 2007
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He’s not a batter, he’s a broken ladder!
Stop the game! Broken ladder! You’re suggesting the batter is skinny and gangly the way a ladder is• What’s worse, he’s like a broken ladder• The next kid who makes a ladder comment will be ejected from this game. Play ball!
 
Google Books
Revealed!
By Donald Lemke and Douglas Holgate
Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books
2009
Pg. ?:
We want a batter, not a broken ladder!
 
Facebook
Alex Prunka‎New Theory: Band
August 3, 2012 ·
We want a batter, not a broken ladder!
 
Twitter
steve steak
‏@Mr_Mischief24
“We want a batter not a broken ladder” when would you ever have to choose between those two things?
2:51 PM - 21 Jun 2015