Whose Bat Do You Use?
By:
The Louisville
Slugger trademark on each bat led to the branding of player signatures on the
barrel of the bats. Until then, players carved their initials or in some other
way marked the knob or barrel of their bats. Baseball players using Louisville
slugger bats before the turn of the century included Willie Keeler, Hugh Duffy,
Pete Browning, John McGraw, Hugh Jennings, Honus Wagner and the Delaney
brothers, just to name a few.
"Bud" Hillerich earned a partnership in
his father's business in 1897 and the name of the company was then changed to "J.F.
Hillerich and Son". At the turn of the century, A.G. Spalding and
brothers, being in the sporting goods business, were advertising and selling
their very popular Mushroom and Gold Seal bats. Wright and Ditson were also
selling their Nap Lajole bats, featuring the new and unique double ring handle.
A.J. Reach baseball bats also added to the highly competitive business of
manufacturing bats.