Warrior aluminum bats are made by the company Louisville Slugger, which has been making bats for more than 120 years. The company that began in the 1800s is now one of the most popular maker of bats, producing more than one million each year. Originally the bats were made of wood but as technology improved aluminum bats were then introduced in the 1970s.
First Louisville Bat
In the 1800s in Louisville, Kentucky, 17-year-old John "Bud" Hillerich joined the family business at a woodworking shop and worked for his father J.F. Hillerich. Bud, who was a baseball player himself, went to watch the Eclipse's play, who was in Louisville's team in the major leagues. During this game in 1884, with Bud watching in the sidelines, star player Pete Browning broke his favorite wooden bat. After the game Bud invited Browning to their woodworking shop and with the help of his father, created a new wooden bat, which was the beginning of their successful business.
Beginning of Business
Originally J.F Hillerich did not see himself an owner and creator of baseball bats. His intentions with his woodworking business were to create bowling balls, porches and butter churns However, after that first bat was made for Browning, word spread fast and baseball players were coming to the shop. With the encouragement of his son Bud, Hillerich changed directions of his company and began to produce baseball bats.
Growth of the Company
With baseball stars such as Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig using Louisville Slugger bats, the company was growing in popularity. In 1884, Louisville Slugger officially began as a company and by 1923 had sold more bats than any other company in the U.S. Today the company has now sold more than 100 million bats and is the most popular brand of wooden and aluminum baseball bats. The Louisville Slugger museum is located in downtown Kentucky where visitors can tour the baseball bat factory.
Louisville Sluggers Success
Today Louisville Slugger is also the maker of a variety of other baseball products such as bags, helmets, batting gloves and other accessories. With the help of advanced technology, the Louisville Slugger company now makes a variety of other bats, such as the Warrior Aluminum bat. Made in a variety of lengths and weights, the Warrior series has bats for tee ball, youth, senior and high school leagues.
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