Louisville Slugger Omaha 517 BBCOR Baseball Bat: BBO5173
Features
Free Shipping!
2 5/8 Inch Barrel Diameter
-3 Length to Weight Ratio
31/32 Inch Tapered Handle
BBCOR Certified - Approved for High School & Collegiate Play
Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty
One-Piece, Alloy Construction
Custom Lizard Skin Grip - Enhanced Comfort With Decreased Vibration
NEW ST 7U1+ Alloy - Delivers Huge Sweet Spot & Stiff Feel On Contact
Exceptional Durability
Legal For Play In Intermediate (50-70) & Junior League Divisions Of Little League
Description
The Louisville Slugger Omaha 517 has baseball bat lovers drooling at the mouth. Ball players get the best of nearly 130-plus years of innovation all rolled into this one-piece alloy construction. Louisville Slugger, a name associated with only the best bats in baseball, has elegantly designed and carefully crafted the newest Omaha model into a masterpiece that helps players step up to the plate with confidence. Constructed of Louisville Slugger's brand new ST 7U1+ alloy, the Omaha 517 delivers a huge sweet spot, a much more stiff feel on contact, and exceptional durability. This also results in reliable power, championship performance, and consistency throughout the season. Furthermore, with a balanced swing weight, a noticeable increase in bat speed and control will take place. As a bonus, slick new graphics and a custom Lizard Skin premium performance bat grip add comfort and style while decreasing vibration and sting. Last, but not least, Louisville Slugger is backing the Omaha 517 with a full twelve (12) month manufacturer's warranty. Louisville Slugger: Power In Numbers!
This Louisville Slugger Omaha 517 BBCOR Baseball Bat: BBO517 features a -3 length to weight ratio, a 2 5/8 inch barrel diameter, and a 31/32 inch tapered handle for an unbeatable feel. Additionally, this model has the BBCOR Certification making it legal for play at the high school and collegiate level. Pick up yours today with free shipping right here at JustBats.com. We're here for you from Click to Hit!
Reviews
Average Ratings Based on 50 Customer Reviews
Great Bat Proud Mother parent
Pros: My son says it's dingerz as it's an amazing bat. It has a great sweet spot. His first hit with it on his 14th birthday it flew over left field with bases loaded. Now I understand why he wanted it so much
Cons: None
Best bat ever Scott player
Pros: Great pop great sweet spot .first swing with it I hit the ball 320 and it was deep
Cons: None
Amazing Bat!!!! Phillie Baseball player
Pros: This bat has amazing pop,everything about this bat is great. The first day i used it i went 4 for 4. This bat is just wow!!!!!
Cons: None
Excellent BBCOR Bat !!!!! Bucky24 parent
Pros: Great pop. My son is 13 years old and he loves this bat. Ball flies off the barrel. Nice sounds with solid contact. Lighter feel than most BBCOR bats. Felt good when dad took a swing with it. Looking for excellent bat at a great price, get this bat.
Cons: Nothing at this time.
Not Impressed Not a Rawlings fan now parent
Pros: Looks sweet
Cons: Sounded dead, no pop at all out of the wrapper. Literally sounded like a wood bat. My son had the same model but not a BBCOR and was a great bat. Very disappointing in the bat. But i do have to commend Justbats for their customer service. They told me to ship it back and pick another bat and credited my account back in full.
Great Bat Eddie Mattocks player
Pros: It was very light and I felt like I had more control in the box. It is a one piece alloy design but when I made solid compact it felt and sounded like a composite bat. I love it
Cons: none
Great Bat Butler player
Pros: Stiff. Powerful. Great looking. I can't say enough good things about this bbcor bat. It is exactly what most players who are looking for balance need.
Cons: slight sting on mishits
Great Bat CodyD22 player
Pros: This is my fav. one piece alloy. Great sound, great pop. Better distance than 5150 (not a fan of that bat as it was dead from the start).
Cons: none so far
517 Omaha LS 2017 Jake other
Pros: Pros -Not too expensive -Good quality Cons -Gets marked up easily The 517 Slugger was made for players who don't want a top shelf super expensive bat but still with good value for legit performance.The 517 isn't for everyone though.And the company doesn't suggest that as well.There are a handful of bats and categories for players who don't think the bat is a good fit. I personally received the bat for my birthday.The bat I got is a 33 -5 despite me having the same bat just an inch shorter.I've only been using the bat for 4 months now and I really like the fit of the bat and how it feels.?The major upgrade from the 2016 516 are an improved alloy for a lighter swing speed.The bat does come at a price of $200-$250 which is a pretty good price for a high quality bat that'll last you around 2 seasons instead of purchasing a $400 bat that'll last 1 season.Even though I just recently got this bat I've had good experience and can say it has quite a bit of pop to it from practices every Saturda
Cons: Gets Marked up
Great Bat Tanner Greer player
Pros: Great bat overall, good pop and great sound
Cons: None
great bat jordan player
Pros: i use this bat for highschool baseball games and it is the best bat ive ever had. great feel in your hands and lots of pop. i would recomenf this bat to anybody who is looking for a nice balenced bat
Cons: slight sting on balls on the hands
Amazing Bat Darrell Hastings parent
Pros: Has amazing pop. Well balanced and my son loves it. He is a lil fellow and he can clear a 250 fence with it.
Cons: Didn;t get it sooner.
great bat, nice quality baseball mom parent
Pros: Bought bat for my 14 year old son and he loves it. You could tell a difference between the pop and sound of the bat. his hits have a greater distance also!
Cons: nothing yet
great bat Tyler player
Pros: great pop and very loud ping sounds great. also looks amazing
Cons: if you make bad contact it can hurt but otherwise its great
good/bad Player23 player
Pros: Got this bat shortly after Christmas. I hit around 2000 balls or more with it, and the feel and pop on the bat were great at that pont and time! It was evenly distributed weight wise.
Cons: About a 3 weeks ago (3-03-17), I noticed the end cap starting to slowly come off and dent. Soon after that the cap came off hitting BP. Through the process of this the bat slowly started to loose its pop. Waiting now (3-26-17) to hear back from Louisville, just sent the bat back in
Great bat! Gavin M player
Pros: This bat is amazing! Hot bat straight out the package. I just hit a home run recently with this bat, it was my 3rd plate appearance.
Cons: Little vibration on mishits
High School Baseball Bowling Boss coach
Pros: This -3 bat was perfect for my son. He creates great speed through the zone. It's been fun to watch.
Cons: Not yet...
Best Bat I've Ever Had Mike Trout LOL player
Pros: Best bat out there in my opinion not only is it cheaper than most but it also hits just as well one of my teamates who has a new mako that cost more. People say it has vibration when it gets to the inside of the bat but name another bat that doesn't. In my opinon Louisville Slugger is the way to go bot only with the 517 but the 617 and the 916 as well. Ball comes off the bat very, very well also
Cons: Not a single thing
SAVE YOUR MONEY AND TIME RC parent
Pros: None
Cons: Bat broke at knob. Turned in to LS. On April 11th told new bat to arrive by April 26th-27th. Really? Over two weeks? Bat was okay LS customer service horrible. Bought kid 5150 loves it and performs better with the 5150.
Awesome Bat Jason Chiotti player
Pros: Amazing bat. Hit my first home run with this bat. I've used this bat all high school season dropping bombs. I batted .444 and most of my hits went over the outfielders head.
Cons: Cap is starting to come off.
quality for price bat johnny bsbl player
Pros: feels amazing off sweet spot. lizard skin is great feel. most balanced bat on the market. stiff strong player feel
Cons: vibration when not sweet spot isnt the best. when hit off the end of the bat it wont go far
2017 Season Ryan Wardwell player
Pros: great bat, ball flies off of it. the grip when you get the bat is very good, on the smaller side. stiff feel for the bat. love the design and the look of the bat.
Cons: not much.
WOW Lance player
Pros: I have never been a fan of Louisville bats until I used my buddies. Wow is all I had to say, in practice I was hitting absolute bombs and was so excited I had to buy my own. This bat has great pop, and won't destroy your hands when you hit off the end of the bat. 10/10 excellent bat.
Cons: None that I am aware of.
Great Bat n/a parent
Pros: my sons swing has really improved tremendously!!!!
Cons: n/a
amazing bat! No name king player
Pros: Every hit felt like I used the most expensive bat ever! Amazing pop and great feel overall. The grip is great taking that it is from Lizard Skin. I have been using Louisville Slugger bats for awhile and this bat did not let me down.
Cons: Just normal scratches and marks on the bat. Very little sting, nothing to worry about. You can barley feel the sting.
the bat johnny baseball player
Pros: light wieght
Cons: the pop doesnt last long and the sweet spot is very small
Great bat Juan C player
Pros: This bat has great feel and amazing pop. Also it looks very nice.
Cons: Nothing
great bat connor eickhoff player
Pros: i could tell, from the first ball i hit with it, that it had pop. the feel of the bat reminds me of a wood bat.
Cons: it is too pretty. i dont want to throw it on the ground after i hit the ball.
13u killing it with this bat! Coach Chris coach
Pros: really nice bat for mid - above average hitters
Cons: none I can see yet
best bat for the money Happy Dad parent
Pros: Bought this at the end of the summer for my kid who is going into his senior year. He has been using a 5150 which he was happy with- and prefers a 1 piece bat even though i was willing to buy him any bat he wanted. 1st day of fall tryouts with the 517, he hits a bomb in a scrimmage for a HR. Next day, same thing. He hasn't hit a HR since he was on fields <300 ft. Now in BP he is hitting them regularly. I have no doubt that this 517 is a huge reason for the sudden flurry of HR bombs.
Cons: none so far
pleased kyle p player
Pros: overall youncant beatvthis bat for the price. good quality plenty of pop
Cons: stings a little when its cool
Solid Bat Poo Bear player
Pros: Overall solid bat and good value. lasted be about a season and a half with constant use. Doesn't have a crazy amount of pop, as it has a much stiffer feel, and doesn't create the same "trampoline" effect as a composite or hybrid. good durability as well, lasted about a year with nearly constant use. Also very affordable for a high end bat. Very little vibration, even when jammed, considering it's a one piece bat.
Cons: Coming off of using composite bats, doesn't have the same kind of pop as eastons or demarinis, but more than the solo 916 or prime 917. Also has a very stiff feel, and gets stiffer and stiffer with more use. After about a year or so of very heavy use, it's now virtually unresponsive, even when you get jammed, so it's hard to tell when you really squared it up. Doesn't have much pop now either, but it was still a great buy for a more advanced/stronger player.
Great 13U Starter Bat JAX Dad parent
Pros: Balanced Good Price Point Great 13U Starter Bat for new BBCOR user
Cons: None
Omaha Ronald coach
Pros: -Good pop, comes off the bat quick. Nice old school "ping" sound. Excellent feel. No Vibration at all
Cons: NONE
an ok bat bat has a small sweetspot player
Pros: not too expensive. comes with lizrd skin.
Cons: not much pop/small sweet spot
great mikey player
Pros: all around awesome bat if you cant handle a little sting you shouldnt be playing baseball anyway this thing is juiced!
Cons: people complaning about mis hitting balls amd it stinging if you want to go pro and hit one off a wood bat now thats stinging bone rattling sting suck it up this bats great
best bat roberto player
Pros: super light for small and not so strong players
Cons: gets marked but what bat doesnt
great bat coach jason coach
Pros: great balance, feel, pop
Cons: none
best BBCOR out there Luke P 44 parent
Pros: pop
Cons: none
amazing bat daniel player
Pros: Amazing pop. First day 3 for 3 with homers its just amazing!!!!!!
Cons: It can give you a couple stingers on mishits, but that is it.
Not the same as the demo we tried Scott parent
Pros: Grips are great and the bat looks good in warm ups. Also haven't noticed any scratches or dents, even with many mishits.
Cons: WE demoed one a couple of different times and thoughts this must be the next bat for my son. But the new one we got just doesn't have the same pop. A lot of mishits off the end, nothing like what he was hitting with the demo bat. Can't figure out why, other than did we just get a poor bat. he has even borrowed the same bat from other boys and hits their bat similar to demo bat, can't figure this one out, we must have gotten a lemon.
Amazing M player
Pros: This thing is pretty solid, all BBCOR bats to me seem around the same pop but the weighting if this is unreal, feels as light as a 31, went 17/38 this season with it and highly recommend if you cannot afford the $450 bats.
Cons: Lizard skin is great but gets ripped way too easily, get some replacement lizard skin ready on standby.
Light Swing weight NCCY parent
Pros: My son is smaller and needed a light swinging BBCOR bat. Orig bought the Easton beast X Speed. The Louisville slugger has a lighter swing weight than the Easton.
Cons: None so far.
JCole John Cole parent
Pros: Surprised by how much pop the bat has. Great price. First BBCOR bat for my 13 year old.
Cons: Non yet
Omaha 517 Richard Coach
Pros: Good all around bat. The more we use it the more we like it. May adjust rating after a few more games.
Cons: Have not used it enough.
Nice bat Bill Dalton Coach
Pros: Way more pop than USA bat of similar price. Looks great Sounds great
Cons: None
Nice Bat Everett Coach
Pros: Easy to swing with great pop!
Cons: Got a ding in it pretty early. How it stays durable!
Great bat Tim Coach
Pros: Good pop! Son loves it. 12 year old using it for junior high. This size 29/26 fits him well.
Cons: Nothing yet.
nice bat hhh Parent
Pros: It looks nice big sweet spot and with good contact goes far
Cons: Stings on mis hit breaks easy
Personal favorite (bbcor review) Baseball Bats Are Cool Player
Pros: Overall a great bat, has a lot of pop, and a big sweet spot. Feel wise, it is about average, as while some people call it light and some call it heavy, it is really about average in weight distribution. It is certainly heavier than the Solo, Meta, or Voodoo One, but is lighter than the new Omaha or The Goods. It has good durability, I’ve never heard of one breaking more than once. It has a great sound, and if you hit it on the sweet spot is really satisfying.
Cons: When you get jammed or hit it off the end, it will hurt. I’ve had bruises last for a week or more from getting jammed with this thing, but it is certainly better than some other bats.
Questions and Answers
Have a question about the Louisville Slugger Omaha 517 BBCOR Baseball Bat: BBO5173? Ask our team of experts and they will respond within 24 hours.
I have the 2016 and love it. What is the 2017 tech detail, feel and swing weight difference? G
This bat can be used in high school, correct? bilybob
What is the difference in this and the 2016 Rawlings Velo? your mom
Is this bat balanced or end loaded? yebaseball
How many balls does the Omaha 517 need to break in? Armando
My son is 14 yrs old and in 8th grade. He currently using the 30 in, 21oz.-9, 2 5/8 barrel Louisville Slugger Vapor SLVA159. He is transitioning to the next level. He is 5' and 90 lbs. Is the 30 in, -3 the right size for this change? Is there other options? Rob
Does this bat have good durability? Moose
Is the Omaha or the MAKO BEAST better? Scott
What is difference between the 516 and 517? Michael
Is the Omaha 517 better than the Solo 617? Jack
Does this bat have to be broken in, or is it ready for game play? Jamie
Would this bat be for a contact hitter or a power hitter? Phillie Baseball
How does this bat compare to the DeMarini Voodoo One? Phillie Baseball
Does this bat have the same 30 day return policy as the 2016 version if unsatisfied? JERRY
Is this going to a be a stiff flex or a regular flex bat? Ryan
Would this bat be relatable to a 271 turn? easton
My son is 5'4" and approx 110 lbs. Do you think that a size 32 drop 3 would work well knowing that he is hitting his growth spurt? Rich
Which bat would be better for a home run type of guy? This or the 917? johnny baseballlll1
Having trouble deciding between the 517 and 617? What's your opinion? Jake
I am interested in purchasing this bat. I am 5'10" and 130 lbs (10th grade). I currently swing a 32". Would you recommend the 32.5" or 33"? Cole
My son is 13 yrs old and weighs 102 lbs, height is 5'4". What size bat does he need? John
I am considering this bat, but am interested in how it compares to the LS 916 bat? Lane
How is the 517 Louisville Slugger Omaha on your hands? My son hates to use a bat that stings his hands when he hits. Also, I have noticed some of the players on our high school team using a smaller bat than what they would normally use because they feel with a smaller/lighter bat they can achieve a faster swing, which in turn helps them a little bit since they are having to use these BBCOR bats. What is your opinion? William Redd
My son is 13, 5'6" and weighs 154 pounds. What size bat should we be looking at? Big A
How would this bat compare to last years 516 model? Is there any difference between the two bats? kylejlav
Does this bat outperform the Louisville Slugger Assault? Steve D
My son is 15 years old and is 5'9" & weighs 200 pounds. What bat size do you recommend for him? Coronado
Is this bat's weight balanced or end loaded? I am looking at getting my son the 31 inch 28 oz drop 3 size bat and want to know if this bat would fit his body size. He is about 5'5" and 105 pounds. Steve
My son is a freshman in high school. He is 5'7" tall and weighs 160 lbs. What model would you recommend for the 517? Brian S
My son is 15 years old and is 5'7" & weighs 190 pounds. What bat size do you recommend for him? E - Ponce
Is this bat good for power hitters? How much pop does it have? cole sells
Is it a big barrel? Ben
My son is 6'2" and weighs 205. What bat size is good for him? boydo
Is this bat balanced like the Omaha 516? miggy
Is this bat end heavy? And is it good for a power hitter? I have the Easton MAKO and its too balanced for me that I'm starting to not like it. I'm 230 pounds and 6'0" senior so I'm trying to find something that will make my last year in high school a blast. paul recardo jr
My son is 14 and has been swinging a 32" -11 composite bat. He's getting ready to turn 15 and starting his freshman year of baseball. With him having to go to a BBCOR bat what size would you recommend if he's 130 lbs and 5'7"? Chad
My son is 11, weighs 88 lbs. and is 4 foot 9. He wants a 30 inch Louisville Slugger. What do you recommend? Trey
I am a 13 year old baseball player who uses a 2016 Rawlings VELO. Kids have told me about Louisville Slugger and said I should get one. I told my dad I either want a 517 or a 617 but I was wondering which one was actually better. Bigbiy17
What bat would have better performance between the 617 and the 517? Hatqka
Which bat has a bigger sweet spot, the 2017 VELO or the Louisville Slugger 517? max
I am 5'8" and 160 lbs (junior). I tend to be more of a gap hitter than a power hitter. Would this bat be the best fit for me out of the Louisville 2017 lineup? johnnie
What is the difference between this year's model and last year's model? max
How does the Omaha 517 BBCOR compare to the Exogrid 3 BBCOR? Ryan Car
I'm 6'2" and I'm 140 and 15 years old. Do you recommend a 33-30 or 32.5-29.5? I have a 32 and a 34 inch bat but the 34 is too big. What do you recommend? brennen
Does this bat say on it that it is approved for Little League? My son is 13 and plays on a youth team but they have that requirement for bats. Ron
My son is a high school senior. He is 6'0" tall and weighs around 185 lbs. What size do you recommend for the 2017 Louisville Slugger Omaha 517 BBCOR bat (BBO5173)? Lisa
Weight? Alex
What bat is recommended for a 13 year old? He's 5'3" and weighs approximately 110 lbs. Jen
Does this bat feature an end-loaded swing or balanced? danny
I need to have a -3 bat for my senior league but I need a 32 inch 22 or 23 oz and I can't find one that low of a weight in a -3. braydensneed
What is the difference between a 517 and 617 model? baseball fan
I am 6 foot and 133 pounds and am 13 years old. Would you recommend a 32.5 or 33? clay
I am a 14 year old who is 5'8" and needs a great BBCOR bat for high school. Do you have any recommendations? Luke
I'm 5'8" and weigh 115 and play for our school modified team and intermediate (50-70) and want to know which one of these bats would be the best for me. Jonathan
I am 14 years old, 5'10" and 125 lbs. and was wondering if the Louisville Slugger Omaha 517 BBCOR baseball bat would be a good bat and what size would be good? Austin
My son is 14 and entering high school. He's 6'2" and 145 lbs. Looking for a BBCOR bat recommendation and size. TM
I am 6 foot 4 and 180 lbs, what size should I get? michael
I am 17 years old 5'6 1/4" and 180 lbs, what size bat would be best for me? TC
Is this good for a 13 year old and for high school? Allan
My son is 5'8" and 180 lbs and 14 yrs old. Which bat would be best, 32 or 33"? warren hatton
I have a 16 yr old son who weighs 165 pounds and is 5'10", what size bat do you recommend? ty
I'm 14, 6 feet 220 lbs. I was wondering if this would be a good bat or is there something better? Andrew 5
Does the Omaha 517 or the Rawlings 5150 have a lower swing weight? alex
I am 5'2'' 120 lbs and 13 as a freshman in high school. What length and weight would you recommend? JJ
Is this bat more for a power hitter or a contact hitter? JJ SASSO
I'm a 13 year old who is 5'8" and weighs 145 pounds. Which size bat do you think I should have, a 32" or 33"? Ethan
Is this bat weighted similarly to Old Hickory's Trout model? DaddyHacks
Is the bat end loaded? hem
Is this bat end-loaded or balanced? napes
I purchased this bat for my son and it has a rattle inside the bat, is that normal? Sounds like there are pieces of metal inside the bat that are loose. fromthestands
I am 5'8" and weigh 110 lbs. I'm used to swinging a -10, but I'm going into high school. What size should I swing and am I going to feel my swing speed drop by the weight difference? Sam
I'm 5'5, 115 lbs and 13. In my league we either have to have an aluminum bat or a BBCOR. I would prefer a bat with just a little sting. So what would be a good bat for me? jet
Which bat is the lightest feeling -3 BBCOR bat today? bigpapi
Is this bat a good choice for a power hitter who likes to feel some weight in the barrel? swrhoads
Is it aluminum? batguy 5
Where is it manufactured? jim
How does this bat compare to the Prime 917 in terms of pop and performance? checking
(1) Which is more balanced: the 2017 or 2018 model? (2) Does one have a bigger sweet spot? kball
Will this bat be legal for Junior League baseball in 2018 with the new USA bat standards? JB
When will the price drop a little bit more? y not
Will this bat be legal in high school next year based on the new rules for bats? Bomber
Will this bat feel more like the Rawlings VELO or 5150? Sam
Could I use this bat in high school? oDarlyn
My son is a small 7th grader trying out for middle school team and needs to move up to a BBCOR bat. He is a pure contact hitter who could use a bit of power on the bigger field. Was looking at either BBCOR Easton Z Core Speed or LS Omaha 517. Can you recommend one over the other? Is there a better bat suited for him (30"/27) ($200 budget)? Drucks
I'm 14, 5'8" and 135 lbs. Winter training for my high school tryouts and open gym are coming up soon and I'd like to purchase my first BBCOR. I've been wondering if I should use a 32/29 or 31/28. I've been going to the gym for about a year now to prep for this and I've been using a 31 inch bat for a while now and I can for sure handle the weight of the bat but wondering if I should go with a 32/29 as if I feel that's what I need to do. Highschool player
How does it compare to the CAT 7? Robert
How does it compare to the Marucci F5? rob
I am 5"9" and 148 lbs. Is it good if I use a 33 inch of this bat? bombs
My son is 13 and he is 5'7 and 190 pounds. Should he be hitting the 32" or 33" in the Omaha BBCOR? This is his first BBCOR and is moving from hitting an Easton Mako last season Ryan
Is it legal for senior league, junior high ball and travel tournament baseball in 2018? Erick
My son is a 5'3" and 105 lbs freshman in high school. What weight bat is recommended for his size? Tim
I just bought this for my son. He is 13 and will be in high school next year. Does this bat meet the guidelines? Also for Babe Ruth 13 to 15 year? stelly7823
Do you know if this bat is okay for 14U Sandy Koufax League? stelly
I'm having trouble deciding which model of the Louisville Slugger lineup to choose from. I'm 6"1 210 lbs and typically hit for power. Money isn't an issue, which model would you recommend? noah
How does the Omaha 517 BBCOR bat compare to the 2017 Marucci CAT 7 BBCOR Baseball Bat: MCBC7? J
My son is 12 and weighs about 120. He is 5 ft tall. Is the 29/26 Omaha 517 BBCOR a good bat for him for middle school? G-Man
Is this bat aluminum? Does it have good pop? Kolton
Does a 33"/30 oz sound like too much for a 4'11" 7th grader? anonymous
Is this bat legal for leagues that require the USA stamp? Dan
Which Rawlings bat has the same feel for a left handed hitter comparing to the Louisville Omaha 517? The Velo or 5150? Christian Coipel
Do you have an Omaha 517 in a 34” drop 2? Elia Ceniceros
Is it USSSA approved? Brent adams
Is this a USA bat? Teresa Forbes
Looking at buying a 517 or a 519. I know with the 519, the 31 and 32 are balanced but the 33 and 34 are end loaded. Is this the same for the 517 model? Grant Bryan
About the Brand
In 1842, J. Frederick Hillerich emigrated with his family from Baden-Baden, Germany to the United States. Eight years before, the 1834 Book of Sports had made its debut as the nation's first publication covering baseball. But when he arrived in Baltimore, J. Frederick Hillerich would never have dreamed of the future impact his family would have on America's favorite pastime.
After a short while, the Hillerichs moved to Louisville, where J. Fred started a woodworking shop in 1856. Two of his sons, Adam and John Andrew "Bud" were born in the United States and would later join their father in his business. By 1864 "J.F. Hillerich, Job Turning" was in operation and filled orders for businesses by custom-turning everything from balusters to bedposts.
The firm thrived, and by 1875 the little woodworking shop employed about 20 people. In 1880 Bud Hillerich, who was an amateur baseball player, became an apprentice in his father's shop. Young Bud made his own baseball bats along with bats for several of his teammates.
The debate over the origins of the first bat continues to generate controversy among baseball enthusiasts, but the younger Hillerich was most certainly involved in getting his father's business involved with what would become the company's signature item. According to company legend, the first bat was turned by Bud for Pete "The Old Gladiator" Browning in 1884. Browning was a star on Louisville's professional American Association team - the Eclipse. On a spring afternoon Bud, then seventeen, witnessed Browning break his favorite bat. Bud offered to make a bat for his hero, and Browning accepted. After the young wood shop apprentice lathed a quality stick from white ash, according to the story, Browning got three hits with it in the next game.
Louisville Slugger gloves are worn by more pitchers in Major League Baseball than any other glove.
Bat Properties
Barrel Diameter | 2 5/8 |
---|---|
Baseball Bats | BBCOR |
Bat Construction | One-Piece |
Bat Type | Baseball |
Color | Red |
Deals | Closeout Bats Personalization Eligible Bundle and Save |
Length to Weight Ratio | - 3 |
Material | Aluminum |
Series | Omaha |
Swing Weight | Balanced |
Vendor | Louisville Slugger |
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