2009 Baseball Season Marks 125 Years for Louisville Slugger®

LOUISVILLE, KY—The name is synonymous with baseball. It has icon status in American culture. It generates excitement among ball players; from tee ball to the Major Leagues. It’s a name that evokes nostalgia for anyone who ever picked up a bat.

That name is Louisville Slugger®, and the fifth-generation, family-owned company is celebrating its 125th anniversary during the 2009 baseball season.

“We’re humbled and honored to be a part of baseball’s rich and storied history,” said John A. Hillerich IV, president & CEO of Hillerich & Bradsby Co., manufacturers of Louisville Slugger, and a member of the Council on Competitiveness. “We’ve worked hard to design and manufacture the best baseball bats and other equipment since my great-grandfather Bud Hillerich made our first bat for Pete Browning in 1884.”

Since then, over the course of 125 years, Louisville Slugger has been the name associated with baseball equipment. It was the first company to sign a professional athlete to a product endorsement contract when it inked Honus Wagner in 1905. Louisville Slugger subsequently signed the great Ty Cobb and Babe Ruth to promote its products.

Today, more than 8,500 professional baseball players have been under contract with Louisville Slugger. The list is a who’s who of baseball. In addition to Wagner, Cobb and Ruth, it includes other Hall of Fame members such as Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Harmon Killebrew, George Brett, Robin Yount and Tony Gwynn to name a few. The great Ted Williams once said he’d have been a .290 hitter if it weren’t for Louisville Slugger. And stars of today like Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome, Ken Griffey, Jr., Evan Longoria, Dustin Pedroia and Prince Fielder are contract players for Louisville Slugger, the Official Bat of Major League Baseball.

Hillerich says the company’s longevity and success come from focusing on innovation and customers, a business model that has been enhanced over five generations of Hillerich family ownership. Players, from youth baseball to the Major Leagues, know that Louisville Slugger will provide them with the best equipment available.

“We’ve been around for 125 years because we’ve had great employees who work with and listen to our customers. They design and make innovative equipment to meet our customers’ needs and specifications. Louisville Slugger started as a family-owned, customer-driven business in 1884 and we’re still a family-owned, customer-driven business 125 years later.”

It’s this same customer service and dedication to innovation and manufacturing of outstanding products that has led the nation’s top collegiate programs and Olympians to also use Louisville Slugger TPX® and TPS® in baseball and softball. Seven of the last ten College World Series champions have used Louisville Slugger bats exclusively.

High-quality products, great employees, innovation, customer service, storied history and nostalgia have also helped immerse the name Louisville Slugger in American popular culture. Louisville Slugger has been noted in hit songs by Carrie Underwood, Dire Straits and Mary Chapin Carpenter, to name a few. The name and equipment have been used in countless Hollywood films and network TV shows. And the company’s bat factory has been visited by baseball’s greatest stars as well as by leaders and celebrities including U.S. Presidents, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali, Geena Davis, Jerry Seinfeld, The Dave Matthews Band and Hilary Duff, among others.

“We’re always amazed at the remarkable nostalgic feelings people have about our products and our brand,” Hillerich said. “We never want to take that for granted and pledge to our loyal customers that we’ll continue to innovate and provide outstanding service on their behalf.”