Louisville Slugger Slowpitch history

Even so, Bud continued producing his bats, which came to be known as "Falls City Sluggers." Soon, there was a demand for Hillerich's bats even outside the professional leagues, and in 1890, a hardware company in St Louis agreed to handle all bat sales except those to professional players.

In 1897, the 31-year-old Bud Hillerich became a partner in his father's business, and the company's name was changed to J.F. Hillerich & Son to reflect the new ownership structure.

Business continued to thrive, and in 1901 the Hillerichs had to move to a larger facility.

Shortly after signing Wagner, Hillerich got the rights to use another baseball superstar's signature: Ty Cobb signed an agreement with the company in 1908.

The Hillerichs faced a serious setback in 1910, when their bat factory caught fire.

1911: Frank Bradsby joins the company.

In 1919, Babe Ruth becomes the first player to order a Louisville Slugger bat with a knob at the end of the handle.

By 1923, Louisville Slugger was selling more bats than any other bat maker in the country.

In 1924, Hillerich & Bradsby lost its founder when J. Frederich Hillerich died from a fall on an icy street.

In 1925, demand for its clubs had grown to such an extent that H & B was forced to expand.

Famous Slugger Year Book cover, 1930.

1933: H & B starts using the brand name "PowerBilt" on its golf clubs.

Honus Wagner (left) examines a freshly cut Louisville Slugger while touring the factory with Larry French (right) in 1934.

Hillerich & Bradsby suffered, as did many others, during the Louisville flood of 1937, when weeks of unusually heavy winter rains caused the Ohio River to overrun its banks and flood much of the city.

Bud Hillerich died in 1946 at the age of 80, and his son, Ward, assumed the presidency of Hillerich & Bradsby.

Famous Slugger Year Book cover, 1950.

In 1954, the company purchased Larimer and Norton, Inc., a Pennsylvania lumber company to ensure a supply of hardwood for their products.

New York Yankee Mickey Mantle and Detroit Tiger Al Kaline display their Louisville Slugger award in June, 1957.

Junie Hillerich (son of Bud Hillerich) goes over the finer points of measuring a billet with his sons Jack (left) and Hart (right). August 1958.

In 1960, copies of Louisville Slugger big league bats sold in retail outlets for $4.60 apiece.

Floyd Robinson, of the Chicago White Sox, is in handpicking timber for his personal bats at the Louisville Slugger factory, in April 1965.

1966: The company acquires Wally Enterprises, making an entry into the hockey stick market.

Although the company contracted with an outside aluminum company to manufacture the first H & B aluminum bat as early as 1970, it felt that replacing wood with aluminum would detract from the game of baseball.

In 1971, the aluminum bat was approved for Little League play and, four years later, it was approved for college play.

In 1973, the company moved its golf products operation to the new complex--named "Slugger Park." The following year, the baseball bat production also was moved to Jeffersonville.

Continuing to churn out literally millions of wooden bats each year in its new facility, H & B further penetrated the baseball market when it introduced a line of Louisville Slugger baseball and softball gloves in 1975.

1978: The company purchases the California aluminum bat company with whom it had originally contracted.

Johnny Bench weighing a bat during his tour of the H&B Indiana factory in 1982.

In a July 1983 game against the New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals star George Brett hits a game-winning home run with a Louisville Slugger in his hands – only to have it nullified due to having too much pine tar on the bat.

In 1993, single-walled titanium softball bats were introduced.

Then in 1995, manufacturers Louisville Slugger and Easton developed the strongest, lightest grade of aluminum bats to date.

1996: H & B moves its headquarters and bat factory back to Louisville.

In a 1998 interview with the Seattle Times, Jack Hillerich had hinted that the company might get out of the golf equipment business altogether.

In 2000, composite bats made a major entrance into the market, and it wasn’t long before composite softball bats were competing with the leading aluminum bats.

As the 21st century got under way, Hillerich & Bradsby installed its sixth Hillerich as CEO. In November of 2001, Jack Hillerich resigned, leaving the company's operations to his son, John A. Hillerich, IV, who had previously served as president of H & B's PowerBilt division.

Advancements in the scientific development of bats prompted the ASA to adopt a new bat performance standard in January 2004, which takes into account the batter’s swing speed.

In 2006, Louisville Slugger seeks and receives permission from Major League Baseball to make pink bats for players to use in games on Mother’s Day.

In 2013, Louisville Slugger changes its logo for the first time in 33 years.

In 2015, Hillerich and Bradsby sold its Louisville Slugger division to Wilson Sporting Goods, an arm of Amer Sports which itself is an arm of the Chinese company Anta Sports.

In 2016, Hillerich & Bradsby sold its PowerBilt golf club division to Hilco Streambank, an arm of Hilco Global.