The Big Bat: You are standing next to an exact-scale replica of the model R43, 34 wood bat designed to specifications requested by Babe Ruth in the early 1920s. The “Bud Hillerich” signature that appears with the famous oval logo is a tribute to John A. “Bud” Hillerich, who turned the company’s first bat in 1884. Height: 120 ft. Diameter: 9 ft. Composition: ASTM A36 carbon steel. Weight: 68,000 lbs. Installed October 21, 1995.
Louisville Slugger Walk of Fame. Babe Ruth Bat Model R43. Baseball’s first great slugger and the most celebrated athlete of his era from 1914 – 1935, hit 54 HRs in 1920, more than all but one A.L. and N.L. team. Led the A.L. in HRs 12 times, including a 154 game season record of 60 HRs in 1927. 714 career HRs and a 342 career batting average.
On the day after the wedding, we had breakfast and visited with everyone in the morning. Then Molly, Eric, Tristin, Kim, Dallas and I went and saw Blades of Glory. I think we all got really good ab workouts from all the giggling. It was really funny. Next we had lunch and then Dallas and I were off to Louisville to get ready for our flight.
We got to Louisville earlier than expected so we were just driving around when we came across the Louisville Slugger Factory & Museum. You can’t miss it because of the huge bat out front. Unfortunately, it had closed an hour before we got there, but there were still some things to look at outside. We also looked in the windows and could see some bats in the process of being made.
The last photo is a stadium next to the gas station we stopped at before dropping off the rental car.
