There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer
Description:
The Louisville Slugger is the most popular and longest running made bat in baseball history. It is said to be the “greatest American product ever made in the USA.” The Louisville Slugger is made by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company, Inc., in Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1859, the company began as a woodworking business, turning out products such as bedposts, bowling pins, bowling balls, handrails and porch columns. In 1884, the “Falls City Slugger” was introduced by a 17 year old, John Hillerich. While watching one of his favorite baseball players break his bat in a game, Hillerich offered to make him a new one. With that an industry was born. In 1884 the name was changed to “Louisville Slugger” and was registered as an official trademark. The company began making bats for everyone in baseball and soon established an extensive catalog of pattern bats. These were bats made to a player’s certain specifications and the formulas were kept in Hillerich & Bradsby’s vaults for future use. The bats made from these “patterns” were branded with the player’s name and signature. The pattern bat shown here is for Hank Aaron, who used a bat similar in shape to Babe Ruth’s but was 35 inches long and weighed only 33 ounces. Ruth’s bat was only an inch longer but was 9 ounces heavier than Aarons.
Date Made: 1975
Thru Person: Williams, Billy B.Associated Person: Aaron, HankMaker: Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
Location: Currently not on view
Place Made: United States: Kentucky, Louisville
Name Of Sport: BaseballLevel Of Sport: ProfessionalWeb Subject: Sports
Subject:
See more items in: Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
Exhibition:
Exhibition Location:
Credit Line: Hillerich & Bradsby Company Incorporated
Data Source: National Museum of American History
Id Number: 1992.0145.03Catalog Number: 1992.0145.03Accession Number: 1992.0145
Object Name: bat, baseball
Physical Description: wood, ash (overall material)Measurements: overall: 35 in x 2 1/2 in; 88.9 cm x 6.35 cm
Metadata Usage: CC0
Guid: http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746ac-2cf5-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
Record Id: nmah_1120871
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach tosharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian'sTerms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visitRights and Reproductions.