The Beginning
Hillerich & Bradsby's Louisville Slugger took shape from the splinters of Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning's bat.
Over a century ago, Browning was a star player with Louisville's Eclipse team of the old American Association (the forerunner of what is now the National League). During his career, he achieved a .341 batting average, the 12th highest career average in Major League history.
But in 1884, Browning was fighting a slump, one that appeared to deepen when he broke his favorite bat. John Andrew "Bud" Hillerich happened to be watching the game that day. He was actually playing hookey from the woodworking shop of his father, J. Frederich Hillerich (pronounced Hill-rick), a German immigrant who rose from an apprentice wood turner to a master craftsman.
After the game, Bud Hillerich invited the despondent Browning to the shop where he said he'd create a new bat. Browning and Hillerich picked out a piece of white ash. Young Hillerich then began fashioning the new bat according to Browning's direction. They worked through the night, Hillerich periodically letting Browning take practice swings. Finally, Browning pronounced the bat just right.
Next day, Browning used the Hillerich bat to go three-for-three. The bat pulled Browning out of his slump and put the Hillerichs in the bat business. Today, it is the oldest and largest such business in the world.
The Story Continues:Elder Hillerich Cool to Bat Making
