Bats, baseball and a bit of history

Louisville, Kentucky is known for its bourbon and for running the Kentucky Derby every year at Churchill Downs. But it is also the home of the Louisville Slugger company. For 140 years, almost all major league players get their bats made here to exacting specifications.

The building itself is easy to spot by the enormous, incredibly realistic bat standing outside. That’s, me, standing in front of it!

The Big Bat is the world’s largest baseball bat. Made of steel, it weighs 68,000 pounds and towers 120 feet into the sky. It is an exact-scale replica of Babe Ruth’s 34-inch Louisville Slugger bat. It was constructed across the river and moving it into place was quite an operation.

Once inside, there is a gallery of famous ball players and information about the bats they used. Ball players are incredibly particular (some might say superstitious) about their bats and they want them made to their exact specifications.

Ted Williams, arguably one of the greatest hitters of all time, once returned an order of bats to the factory. He said the handles “didn’t feel right.” So they remeasured them. Sure enough, the handles were off. By 5/1000 of an inch. 😳 Ted was a perfectionist…he even handpicked his own bat lumber during visits to the factory.

There was an exhibit of bats used by different players and you were allowed to choose one to “pose” with. I choose Babe Ruth. His actual bat, one that he used in an actual game! It was very heavy and apparently is the heaviest bat the museum has. I was ridiculously excited when the docent handed me the bat. I tried to do Ruth proud. 🤣🙄

Then we went into the actual factory. The tour started with a brief video about the forests they own and maintain, and the kinds of wood used to make a bat. We were taken through the process from start to finish. Even though the initial carving is now done by machine (a computerized process that cuts the basic shape in 48 seconds!) there is still lots of hand-work involved.

At the end of the tour, we each got a little “mini-bat” as a souvenir. There was more to the museum, including a short video (narrated by the late, great James Earl Jones) about famous batters and the feeling when that bat connects with the ball. There is nothing that sounds quite like it.

When I was done at the museum, I wanted to see a bit more of Louisville before heading to St. Louis but it was too hot and humid for a long walk. I noticed a sign advertising a 90-minute “trolley tour.” Perfect, I thought. It started just a few blocks from the museum and the timing was perfect.

The tour was fun and informative. We went by numerous incredible mansions, in what used to be called “millionaire’s row.”

There’s “Central Park” designed by none other than Frederick Olmsted!

We made a stop at Churchill Downs, where they hold the Kentucky Derby.

Many other interesting sites …

Then it was on to St Louis. I had booked an AirBnB in the “trendy” Central West End. However, in a senior moment, I apparently had also booked a swank hotel near the Arch…months before. 😳 Luckily I was alerted in time to cancel the hotel! The Air BnB was exactly what I needed.

The next day, I went to the Cardinals game at Busch Stadium. I took the Metro Link to the stadium early enough so I could walk by the river before the game. (I was joined on the train by a number of Cardinal’s employees.) I sat for a while by the mighty Mississippi and contemplated life.

Then, on to the game! I loved the stadium and the vibe. I sat up behind home plate, high enough so I could see all the action. Cards won, 6-1. One player got his first major-league hit and the Jumbotron showed us his proud father in the stands…and the young player grinning at his Dad after he reached first base. Baseball always has great moments.

My grandmother grew up in St. Louis…and I had another adventure related to that. But I’ll save that for another post.

Little boy in a baseball hat stands in the field with his ball and bat
Says, “I am the greatest player of them all”
Puts his bat in his shoulder and he tosses up his ball.
And the ball goes up and the ball comes down,
Swings his bat all the way around