Louisville Sluggers

We left the Speedway and enjoyed a lovely picnic on our way to Louisville. The Indiana/Kentucky border is absolutely beautiful with the skyline of Louisville behind the river. We headed to the Louisville Slugger Museum and took a tour of how these popular bats are made. Owning 40% of the market of bats, it was awesome to walk down the line and see that they still brand and dip each bat by hand. We got to watch them making bats for Josh Hamilton of the Rangers and saw signatures of all of the famous players that have had their bats carved in Louisville. At the end of the tour we all got mini Louisville sluggers and the girls were in heaven. The girls also got to put on gloves and touch some of the most important bats in history. Grace chose Mickey Mantle’s bat. Emma, Cal Ripkin Jrs. (She liked that he had ‘perfect attendance’ just like her). Seeing the girls hold a little piece of history was incredible. We’re only a few hours into our trip and already they have learned so much!

Grace stepping up to the plate...she looks like a pro, right?!

Yep...that's really Micky Mantle's bat she's holding...hence the batting gloves.

Convincing Emma that these bats were priceless pieces of history and cannot be swung was daunting. She followed directions and handled them very carefully though!

Cal Ripkin Jr's signature.

Of course, what's a trip without a picture in front of the largest slugger in the world?