Softball, originally referred to as indoor baseball, uses aluminum and alloy bats that withstand a variety of slow and fast-pitch plays. Although accustomed to metal bats, softball bats were no different than wooden baseball bats in the sport's early years. Invented in 1887, when a boxing glove was hit with a regular stick during the announcement of the winner of Yale-Harvard football game, softball became a sport played year round, taking shape in baseball's off-season.
Early Years
As soon as softball began in 1887, rules for the game were being formed by its founder, George Hancock. In the early years, baseball players provided their own bats, making them by hand from the strongest wood they could find such as maple and oak. Because aluminum alloys and other metals were not yet perfected, wooden bats were used. Softballs were lighter and softer than baseballs, so stronger woods were not necessary until fast-pitch softball was invented.
Louisville Slugger
A humble woodworking shop specializing in bed pins and furniture manufacturing would soon become the leading manufacturer and distributor of wooden baseball and softball bats. J.F. Hillerich Job Turning was based in Louisville, Kentucky, owned and operated by J. Frederick Hillerich, a German immigrant. In 1880, Bud Hillerich, his son was playing amateur baseball and making bats for him and his fellow teammates. Starting out on the baseball circuit, both Hillerich men designed and manufactured bats for both sports, registering the name Louisville Slugger in 1894 as well as obtaining all rights to the name. Bats were specially designed as per player instruction and endorsed by many Major League Baseball and softball players throughout the years.
Types of Wood
Experimenting with wood types to fit standard softball game play may have not been as difficult since baseball bats were deemed sturdy and strong through years of personal testing. Softball bats are made of either bamboo, maple, oak or maple composite with hollow or filled barrels according to HRS Sporting Goods. Earlier bats followed baseball guidelines using oak, maple and ash to determine hitting distance and ease of handling.
Modern Day
In the 1970s, wooden softball bats were quickly replaced with aluminum alloys and composite metal bats that claimed to be more durable and improve the player's swing. For this reason, wooden softball bats fell by the wayside as fast and slow-pitch softball turned to the newer materials. According to HRS Sporting Goods, the late 1900s and early 2000s have seen a revival of wooden bats. With improved design, wooden softball bats are also coming with warranties that weren't offered in the early years of softball bat manufacturing.
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