Louisville Slugger TPX Z-1000 BBCOR Baseball Bat: BB12Z
Features
-3 Length to Weight Ratio
Free Shipping!
Full Twelve (12) Month Manufacturer's Warranty
31/32 Inch Tapered Handle
2 5/8 Inch Barrel Diameter
BBCOR Certified - Approved for H.S. and Collegiate Play
LS-2X Composite
One-Piece Design
SWING 1 inner Disc (S1 iD) Technology - No Break-In Required!
Thinner Walls
Synthetic Grip
Balanced Swing Weight
Louisville Slugger End Cap
Description
Reviews
Average Ratings Based on 76 Customer Reviews
Jeremy
Pros: This bat is amazing! Light swing weight, huge sweet spot, awesome performance. Feels like BESR bat.
Cons: Pretty expensive but way worth it
FSU round tripper
Pros: Swung this bat in spring ball after my college bought some. Bat feels great. Very balanced. Having swung other BBCOR bats I would say this is the closest any have felt to a BESR bat. Very good pop. When you square the ball up bat feels great. I don't know if these will break in like old comp bats, but if it does watch out.
Cons: $369.99 is a little steep, but so far I feel it has been worth every penny.
ron
Pros: if you have to swing a bbcor bat,this is the one you should choose. by far the best. if you like the tpx exo's then you will like this.
Cons: none
FB
Pros: Best out of the wrapper bat I have used. Even weighted where most bbcor bats are end loaded.
Cons: pricey for bbcor
Zach
Pros: This bat is amazing. sweet spot is huge and the pop in this bat is great.
Cons: Pricey but oh so worth it
jj
Pros: Great bat, lots of pop, best bbcor bat ive tried out yet
Cons: makes a really bad noise, and it doesnt sound like youre making solid contact, but the ball still flies off the bat. A little pricy, but if your willing to pay the extra money,its great
D the Cupcake
Pros: Having used the DeMarini CF4 for so long and then purcased the New 2012 VooDoo Black... I can honestly say that the TPX has a bit more pop and the ball flys better than most, so far this is the top bat that I have swung and am very happy with the results
Cons:
The beast #6
Pros: Good balance is not top heavy or anything
Cons: For 369.99 the bat looks really cheap
bret n
Pros: ill actually give a good review because im an actual baseball player. and have actually used this bat. The z1000 is one of the better bbcor bats out there. the best in my eyes are the marucci, z1000, and voodoo. the surge and easton and cf5 are garbage. one piece bats will raise to the top it bbcors
Cons: small sweetspot like all bbcors
cdub-15
Pros: Very nice bat with great balance. My son has always used a DeMarini bat but liked this one a little better. Still uses the Demarini wood bbcor bat. As with all bbcor bats, you have to square up the ball to drive it. Good hitters will be rewarded with solid hits that mirror the besr bats. For those looking to the bat to provide the trampoline effect, this is not the bat.Hit the weight room.
Cons: My son is still getting used to the grip.
Lefty ownage
Pros: just tried this in a demo and loved the results, great sweet spot with amazing pop...really cant tell the difference between this and besr
Cons: NONE!
Batobsession
Pros: Great composite bat. It was in my top three favorites with the easton s1, and demarini cf5. No sting what so ever. Big sweet spot, and hardly any vibration if it was a jammer. Best tpx by far
Cons: Very end loaded, feels heavier then the weight listed. For 30 dollars more you can get a comp. bat the same as this but a two piece and way faster swing
pondobaseball
Pros: When I went to test all the bbcor bats this was my first choice in purchasing. It almost doesnt even feel like a bbcor bat.
Cons: None. Grip hurts after a while
RWH
Pros: Got this bat for christmas and went to swing it today. OMG this is the best bat i have ever swung. I hit better with this bat than i did with my 2010 demarini voodoo
Cons: Need batting gloves
hawn
Pros: what I like about this bat, is if you hit the ball in the small sweet spot area, ball travels far. Thats about it as far as pros on this bat.
Cons: advertise as no sting is false, if not hit good, bat stings. I thought this bat would have a huge sweet spot, but was wrong, it has a small sweet spot. Price is also high, would have expected a lot more from this bat. :(
RJH22
Pros: Apparance
Cons: Bought a demo for my son mid way through the summer last year. Was not impressed. Sounds dead and the ball did not appear to have the speed coming off this bat that it does off either of his Maruccis or the Rip It that he's hit with. Does it require a lengthy break-in period?
bgg
Pros: Perfectly balanced feels like nothing. Great grip and a lot of pop compared to other BBCOR. The best bat out of the TPX series
Cons: 369.99 is very expensive
tpxWIZ1234
Pros: great pop ,large sweet spot,feels like besr.
Cons: pricey
Hawk Baseball
Pros: Great Pop out of the wrapper. Balanced weight when swinging. Bat feels very good, although grip wears very quickly.
Cons: 1st bat lasted about 600 hits, before cap came loose and I had to send it back. Louisville Slugger replaced the bat and the one I have now does not seem the same. Ball doesn't fly like with the other bat and if I don't hit right on the sweet spot, the bat sounds as though its cracked (eventhough it's not). Currently looking for a replacement because I do not think it will last much longer!
jloew19
Pros: very low swing weight with a larger sweet spot and is very easy to get through the hittting zone. looks nice and has a ton of pop
Cons: expensive
B-RAD
Pros: Great bat with lots of pop. Built for your power hitters.
Cons:
memphis,TN
Pros: After trying the CF5 and Exo the cf5 wasn't my favorite but the Exo felt good and hit solid, it went farther. when i hit Z-1000, it feels like it flexes when hit in the (HUGE) sweet spot. this is the bat i went with and so far i don't regret it.
Cons: painting scratches easily
bradwell#6
Pros: this bat by far has the best balence of any bat i ive ever hit with has massive pop and perfect sized sweet spot and is worth every last penny!
Cons: no cons once so ever!!!
sjm
Pros: This bat has far more pop then any other bbcor bat iv'e seen used. Including the new cf4 and voodoo, if you like well balanced bats with large sweet spots and crazy pop, this may be the bat you want to get.
Cons: none!
JJS
Pros: This bat is absolutely AMAZING! I am mostly a contact hitter, so my bat had to be balanced for swing speed. This Bat...WOW....not onlyl is it incredibly balanced the Huge sweetspot has increased my distance and ball exit speed considerably. It is very forgiving and gives you great performance over a very large surface. Grip is very good to.
Cons: I dont have any cons, the sound is....unique i guess. It isnt a ping at all, sort of a wood sound, it takes some getting used to but i really have no problem with it.
Lefty boy
Pros: This is an awesome i have only hit two homeruns in my life as a 18 year old i have used this bat in four games and i have already hit two out with it awesome pop and a good sweet spot.
Cons: it does have some sting to it but if you are to much of a baby to not use it cause of that then dont consider yourself a baseball player
slugger
Pros: Balance of weight is great. Has a nice pop and sweet spot
Cons: Only had the bat for 5 weeks and have to send it back because it lost it's pop and pings when the ball is hit.
bradwell#6
Pros: this is by far the best bat i have ever hit with it has an endless amout of pop and it sounds sweet when hit with.
Cons: none i do not care about the price.....it is worth it i do not care about the "looks".....its not made to be mounted over a fire place!
Disappointed
Pros: This bat had a ton of pop off the start, and sounded like a wooden bat. It seemed to be alright.
Cons: After one season's use, my 33' 30" bat cracked while in the cage. All the pop was gone and now i'm out $350. Not worth the buy.
B busty
Pros: well ballanced felt good
Cons: broke the first time i used it in SOFT TOSS!!! and made different sounds threw out the sweet spot while rotating
Coovs
Pros: Great balance, super sweet spot, deep triple first at bat with it. Awesome
Cons: Everyone wants to use it
Bomber Kid
Pros: Tried this bat in the caged and thought it was and ok bat, liked the omaha better.
Cons: Not worth the money and dont like the grip but i like thick handle bats anyway.
BB
Pros: Are you kidding? This bats Rocks. The sounds is cool much like a wood bat. The ball jump off the bats. I have used Easton, RIP IT, Rawling, Combat, nothing comes close to this Bat.
Cons: Everyone want to use. That kind of stinks. But no wonder, use it and you get on...
Viking25
Pros: This bat feels so good coming off. Best bbcor out there without a doubt.
Cons: i like hearing a good noise off the bat.. but theres nothing, no big deal though
swaggabay2267
Pros: Balanced with a good swing weight. The sweet spot has the most pop of any bat.
Cons: Its really pricey and the sweet spot is probably the smallest of any bat. most hits will be soft grounders.
Gatlabayan
Pros: Great Pop, First hit was a double in the gap
Cons: Sounds Weird
DB
Pros: I always used Louisville Slugger bats and this is the first one that has disappointed me.
Cons: I can't believe I paid $369 for this, didn't even last a season and it sounds dead from normal use, not sure I even want a replacement but I will send it back
fastfreddie
Pros: just bought the z1000 and cf5 demarini, my 14yr old swings the z1000 and loves it! my 15yr swings the cf5, omg! most incredibly balanced drop 3 we have had! compared to the exogrid which seems to be more end loaded the cf5 and z1000 are comparable but the cf5 has a noticeably more balanced feel. i don't think there is a better bat out there right now than the cf5, my kids have 5 more years of high school baseball and we will be using the cf5 for many years to come! and furthermore, justbats has been awesome to buy from i will and have recommended just bats to all my friends!
Cons: i wish these bats were on the market years ago!
26
Pros: Great Pop, Huge Sweet spot, Middle Weighted, Nice Grip,When i hit the ball off of the end of the bat or off of the handle the ball is still hit hard.
Cons: none
Daddy Rat
Pros: Great Feel Excellent Pop
Cons: Grip is not adequate for a 369.00 bat. Take it off and replace it with a Combat Grip.
Bomb Squad
Pros: Amazing bat. Lightweight, durable, AWESOME POP. Love everything about this bat. sweet spot is huge also. Feels like a BESR bat. This is definitely the best bat i have ever used before. I have used the CF5, 2012 vexxum, exogrid 2, machine, 5150. dont waste your money with another bat. GET IT WHILE IT IS STILL $250!
Cons: grip is too skinny for me, but its easily fixed.
CWILLY
Pros: Nice feel, balanced
Cons: Son used this for his varsity team and was ok out of the wrapper but not much pop even for a BBCOR. Cracked in 2 months from personal use and there were 2 others on the team that broke as well. Seems to go go dead after limited use. Must be better options out there.
Cman7bad
Pros: Very Balanced
Cons: Has the sweet spot of a lemon. Breaks if it takes like 2 off the handle or even less. feels like wood when it comes of the bat. And has even less pop. i would recommend the cat 5 or any other bat than this one!!!
T-Bone
Pros: looks good, evenly weighted
Cons: Dead no pop, returning the bat
hrevfffffffffvedfv
Pros: no sting
Cons: nothig
wolfe
Pros: had good pop toll 8 th swing and busted at top handle was replaced 2nd bat had no pop sent back was replaced returned to store
Cons: lots of mproblems for the price
D-#1
Pros: This bat has an extremely nice wood/composite sound to it. Amazing pop off the bat.
Cons: Bat started chipping towards the top and now just after less than two months has cracks around the bat
BB14
Pros: The bat is a monster. You are nuts if you buy anything else. The bat sounds like wood and hits like a rocket laucher.
Cons: It paid 369. the bat is now 199. Price went down because they are selling like crazy.
BigMac
Pros: Great pop and feels great in your hands. Feels smooth.
Cons: Sounds like you are hitting with tinfoil. And it sounds like it is broken even though you just bought. A joke on my team was that it was a K-Mart Bluelight special
baseball slugger
Pros: best bat out of the wrapper, for a bbcor bat it has a ton of pop. it also has a huge barrel
Cons: none
honeybadger21
Pros: nice pop
Cons: breaks very easily. my travel team played a team where a z1000 broke in half. about a week later we saw them with another cracked z1000. the second cracked bat was new and it was his 1st game using it
John
Pros: Ball jumped off the bat when new.
Cons: The first bat only lasted 2 months before developing a rattle/vibration and lost the pop. Tried to return it but we had lost the receipt. Bought a second bat in March. Lasted one high school season before having the same problem. I am sending this back tomorrowe
craiger
Pros: not any, was replacement for broken Triton
Cons: had no pop out of wrapper, used less than 3 games and broke in half, poor quality
A Baseball Guy
Pros: This bat has so much pop. Very comfortable grip and a nice sweet spot. My first BBCOR bat was the DeMarini Versus. I said that bat was great but now having this bat, the Versus can't compete with this bat.
Cons:
baseball guy 11
Pros: nice pop dont have to break it in grip it good
Cons: none
mike
Pros: excellent pop. first time in the batters box i hit it off the wall in left center. 390 feet.
Cons: i dont know but i was told the pop does not last very long. if it pops for a year the money is well spent.
Expecting...
Pros: The Z-1000 was great for the first 2 weeks, had good pop and made a wood bat sound off the bat. Seemed like every other Louisville slugger bat, awesome.
Cons: After that it started making a different sound on different points of the bat. The pop dissapeared.
sportslover
Pros: Very good bat. Lots of pop and cool design. Composite so i recommend not using it in cold weather.
Cons: Some problems are that on the 30/18 design the barrel, (lengthwise) is fairly small. Also, on the same design the bat that i got was shorter than 30 in. not huge problem but can sometimes affect hitting on the outside pitches. Like i said, the cold weather could make the bat sting a little in your hands.
who cares
Pros: WOW! sounds like a woody,has tons of pop. Not a team bat. Its a 1 player bat
Cons: dont let other people use it
Papa bear
Pros: The weight difference is great, evenly distributed, the design is sweet by the way and the barrel has a huge sweet spot go with this bat over any other tpx model this bat is better than the Voodoo go with this
Cons: Grip stinks but just tape it up
therealcollinquinn
Pros: this bat has exceptional pop and a huge sweet spot. it needed no breaking in and has been exceeding my expectations. ill definatly stick with TPX for my next bat because of their unmatched performance and durability.
Cons: lil pricey but worth it
Rene
Pros: Very Balanced, good pop and wicked sound when it comes off the bat
Cons: None!
gamer
Pros: swung this bat and got use to it the lightest swing i have pops the ball so high
Cons: I BOUGHT THIS BAT PRICE IS 370.00$ BUT GOT IT FOR 100.00$ AT SPORTS AUTHORITY
Toje
Pros: Looks nice, good balance.
Cons: After a short period of time it developed a rattle. Turned out is was broken and I got a new one. If you don't hit it on the small sweet spot it's tough to drive the ball. Now my new one has developed the same rattle.
Zach
Pros: I am a High School Senior and played for a long time and had many bats. i love wood but i cant use it during games, i got this one and i love it so far... i havnt got up to that two month period yet that everyone says it will break but i got jamed last night with a solid 80 mph cutter on the hands and the bat didnt break so i think i will be fine for the up coming season
Cons: i can't get the little mlb baseball sticker off
tpx
Pros: This is by far the best bat I've ever owned. It has great pop and it is great for a power hitter like myself. I recommend the 33" 30oz.
Cons: None.
Nuke
Pros: Big time pop for a BBCOR after 500+ hits in the cage to break in.
Cons: Sounds like a wood bat so you can't fully appreciate how much pop this bat has.
Jgrey3
Pros: I love this bat. Ive swung quite a few BBCOR and wood bats but this is by far my favorite. I love the ping. It has tons of pop and i havent even broke it in good yet.
Cons: None it is great.
WakullaWildcat#12
Pros: This bat feels amazing. The weight is so evenly distributed throughout the bat that it makes it the most balanced BBCOR bat I've ever had. It can be used for power hitters or contact hitters, so it makes it a bat for almost any type of hitter. If you're looking for a great BBCOR bat that can fit any type of hitter, this is the bat for you!!
Cons: The paint chips off pretty easy but no other problems!!
jbohan6
Pros: Absolutely love this bat. Came home from practice and took swings on it off the hit away, and immediately loved the pop and sound of the bat. Sweet design, the grip feels nice and i don't expect to apply a new grip soon. Very well balanced and has a large sweet spot, good for a power hitter or a solid single/double hitter.
Cons: None at all, however the paint can chip off if you beat it up or throw it around.
Roach
Pros: Terrible bat. Inside broke in a week.
Cons:
Jimmy C
Pros: Best bat I ever had. Makes my game even better.
Cons: No cons about it!
amazing bat batman player
Pros: very balanced great pop
Cons: vibrations rarely happen but it will sting every now and then, but its not a proble,
100 1948 player
Pros: greatest bat ever
Cons: none
1 1 player
Pros: has good pop. doesn't even feel like a BBCOR bat. balanced real well
Cons: ive had the bat 2 weeks and the barrel rattled like crazy. i guess its the disc inside if it to help it flex. i sent it back and they gave me the same one! i was thinking they would give me a new model but the didnt. i now have had it for 2 months and every team i play think its illegal. do not get this bat in a 31 inch
Great Bat! But Discontinued? Get 1 if you can Tiger player
Pros: The bat has great pop in the sweet spot and good pop out of the sweet spot! It feels good when you hit it and it lasts very long.
Cons: If you hit it off the handle or very end, it vibrates a lot and sounds almost like wood.
Questions and Answers
Have a question about the Louisville Slugger TPX Z-1000 BBCOR Baseball Bat: BB12Z? Ask our team of experts and they will respond within 24 hours.
When is the release date? DLT
Is the barrel of the bat composite? slugger101
Is this bat for power hitters or contact hitters? I've been told that top heavy bats are better for power hitters, and that "even feeling" composite bats are more for contact hitters. I would like to know what the optimum bat, or type of bat, is for a power hitter Joe
Why is this bat made for a power hitter if it is a stiff, one-piece? Also, what is the best bat for a contact hitter? Thanks! Robthepitcher
I am looking for a fairly well balanced bat with a decent sized sweet spot. The main bats I have been looking at are the z1000, Baum Bats, Exo, Demarinis Voodoo and CF5, and the Omen. I am 5'7" and swing a 33 TK
What sound does the bat make when ball makes contact on the bat? THE PLAYA
how well balanced is this bat compared to the TPX Exogrid or TPX Omaha? Robtheoitcher19
What is the difference between the Z-1000 and the newest BBCOR Exo-Grid. Rob
could you rank which you think personally which is best out of these z 1000, exogrid, cat 5, rawlings 5150 hi
Which one of these bats have the least amount of flex and is not end heavy? The TPX Z1000, CF5 or exo JAB
does it meet ussaa rules for high school ball. i looked on the list by the nfhs list and didnt see it rick
Whats the difference between the TPX Z-1000 and the Demarini CF5? DJ
i have heard people say you can hear a rattling sound in them like something is loose. why is that. jd
What temperature is too cold to hit with this bat? zz
I read that there is no break in required due to the technology, so will this bat keep it's "pop" longer than alloy so I can get 2 years use out of it? Jim
Is this bat more balanced in a 33/30 or a 32/29? kswizle
Was looking at the Z-1000 for my son, but he is more a contact hitter than power hitter. Seems a 2 piece bat makes more sense? Can you suggest a few options? BB
I understand that this bat is BBCOR but I play in a lot of USSSA travel tournaments and I was wondering if this bat was USSSA certified too. Thanks! nwterror43
Like other composite bats will there be a break in for this bat and will it continue to gain pop? JfID
Can the Z-1000 BB12Z be used in Junior baseball,ages 13-15? Matt
Is this legal in babe ruth 13-15 year old division? jack
Would you recommend the Z1000 or CF5 based on sweetspot pop and durability? Cj
I am 5'7" 127 pounds that can hit for both power and contact, which bat would you prefer, this one, the exo grid2 BBX12EX2, or the exo grid2 BB12EX2? Stevie Dog
Does the Z-1000 have the same ring problem as the Exogrid2? Hunsie
Would this bat be better, or the Easton Surge for a contact hitter with moderate power? #7
I'm 14 I use a 33in/30oz -3 bat and I'm a power hit should I use this bat? handyman
Is the 2012 z1000 bbcoe end loaded or balanced? Is it as balanced as the 2012 voodoo bbcor chadini
What happened to 33" 30 Oz option for TPX Z-1000? Shado
what would be a better bat for a powerhitter z-100 or exo2 big brad
Does Louisville Slugger make a 33.5in model of this bat? willy
Would the Easton XL3 be a better bat than the Z-1000 for a power hitter with good bat speed? DP
My 16 yr old son loved the 2011 Voodoo (white) and is now looking at teh TPXZ-1000 or the the Exogrid. He is a gap to gap line drive hitter with power. Which bat would you recommend for him? Slash
Do you know if a 2013 version of this bat is coming out soon? joe
What bat would you prefer to a contact hitter? The TPX Z-1000 or the DeMarini Voodoo 2011? robster
When will the 2013 model come out at what will the price be? j
What does the 2013 model look like? j
Is this bat legal for use in Pony league. If not what would you recommend? Max
I am trying to decide on a bat for my son who will be going into High School this year and I need to get him a BBCOR bat. He is about 5'9" and 150 lbs and is a contact hitter. Trying to decide if I should get him a Z1000 or EXOGRID 2 or one of the other bats available. miller
I am 5'7 14 years old going into high school contact and power hitter. Should I get the Louisville Slugger TPX Z-1000 or 2012 DeMarini Vexxum? Hunter
Is this bat a 2012 model or 2013? If it is 2012, when do the 2013 bats come out? john50
My son used this bat this summer. Good bat. I notice now that there is a big vibration when he hits it near the end of the bat. Also when you tap the barrel on the dirt it vibrates something awful. The warranty is still in effect. I think there may be something wrong with the inside of the bat. Scott Johnson
I'm 5'9 135 lbs and I am a contact and power hitter. Even though a 32 inch Z-1000 is recommended, do you think a 31 inch would be good for me for a year or two? g
When does the Z1000 2013 model come out? 24
I am a freshmen in High school, I am 5'10 and I weigh in at 130 pounds. Do you think the 32/29 would be right fore me, and do you think this is a good bat to buy for a contact hitter. My Easton s3 broke in 3 months. Max
I am 5'10 and 167 pounds and I am wondering what length and weight should be good for me, also can i use this bat in usssa club baseball 15u? Gordo
When will the 2013 model come out? Eric
I am 13 playing 15u and I need a bbcor bat. Will this bat have a fast swing speed or is it top heavy? Eric
If I am 6' 7", what size bat should I use? Goon squad
I'm buying this bat for my brother. He is 5'7 and 145 lbs. What size should I get for him? t.j.
i am 5'4'' what bat size should i get? keegs
What will have a lighter swing weight the Z1000 or the 2013 Voodoo? fval25
My son is 15 and a freshman he is 5'10 185lbs, what bat size should i get him? lil tank 1
I'm looking for a 34"-28 oz., Do you have it on stock? Jose
This is our first year where BBCOR is required and I'm trying to decide between the EXOGRID and the Z-1000. My son is 14yrs old 6'0 165lbs. He used the TPX H2 31/26 last year and loved it. Which would you suggest? bill
My son weighs 180, is 5' 7'' benches 225. Has had the Voodoo 33'' and has batted .350. Will this bat be good for him? Bet
Compared to the 2012 Vexxum, is this bat better balanced? What about the S3? CARDSFAN
Why is it better for a power hitter to swing a one-piece design bat? Bb
My son has a Z-1000 33/30 and has hit OK with it, but I'm wondering how it compares to the 2013 Louisville Slugger -3 BBCOR line-up? Thanks! Joe
I have been looking at this bat as a possible option for my son. Are they discontinuing this model due to reliability issues? My son plays H.S. freshman ball and is a contact hitter. He's 5'11" 150 lbs. I read that the newer version of this bat is the Attack, and a two-piece design. Can you tell me which would be better for his style of hitting? Are there better options other than these two? Boomer
Does this bat require a break-in period? If it does, how many hits till it is broken in? jg3
You are saying that there is a break-in period and Lousiville Slugger says that there is no need to break it in. Which one do I go with? I'm a bit confused. Freshman Baseball Player
Why is this bat so cheap now? Swoop
I am currently using a 32" 29 oz. Easton Redline. I'm 5'6" 130 lbs. contact hitter. Do u think I could swing this bat good in a 33" 30 oz. for next season? Big O
What is the last year Louisville Slugger made the Z1000 BB12Z BBCOR Baseball Bat? Steve Maloy
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 Type | Baseball |
Deals | Closeout Bats Bundle and Save |
Length to Weight Ratio | - 3 |
Material | Composite |
Vendor | Louisville Slugger |
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