Our day at the Louisville Slugger Museum
After spending the weekend at Fan Fest in Cincinnati, we hopped in the car for the 80 mile drive south to Louisville, Kentucky. We wanted to check out the museum before heading back to town for that night’s Home Run Derby.
Once we made it to downtown, it was pretty easy to spot the museum.
The museum actually functions as the factory for the manufacturing of all Slugger bats. The tour takes you through the factory as the bats are made. Because of the equipment being used, OSHA regulations prohibited any photos in the factory. One neat feature was that they were making special bats for players in the next day’s All Star Game.
There were still a lot of other things to check out after completing the tour.
Main Exhibit Hall
The floating bats in the main hall were really cool.
We were able to see this Ken Griffey, Jr. before seeing the “other” Junior throw out the first pitch at the Home Run Derby later that day.
This is the most famous bat used by Babe Ruth. The notches lining the brand in the middle of the bat signify each of the home runs the Babe hit with that bat in 1927.
Also available for use were the actual bats used by various Hall of Famers throughout history. We had to wear special gloves in a roped off area. Mac chose a Derek Jeter bat.
Feeling the weight of history in his hands.
Mr. November waiting for this pitch.
I chose a Mickey Mantle model.
Taking a break.
Justin Upton’s bat.
This was pretty cool. The bats of each starting player from Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.
Naori Aoki’s signature was in his native Japanese.
Topps Exhibit
Featured were some of the most iconic and valuable cards in Topps lore. Mac and I were excited to discover that we a couple of these cards.
Note: The following cards are not actual size.
Posing for his own card.
Batting Cage
Because you can’t come all the way to Louisville and not take your cuts in the cage.
The Most Important Thing
If you are at the factory where they make the bats – it is probably a good idea to get one of those bats. Mac chose this really awesome All Star Edition that we had personalized with his name. I have to admit, he did choose an amazing bat.
