Louisville-Louisville Slugger Factory (Part 4 of 4)

I’m not a baseball person. It’s not terrible, or anything. I simply prefer football and basketball.

Baseball games take too long. Too much wandering around. Too must talking. Too much scratching. I don’t have the patience.

I’m not a statistics person. Batting averages and ERA’s don’t do a thing for me.

On the other hand…

I respect the tradition. I think the World Series is terrific, but I wish they’d play a day game once in a while. West coast late games are too late for me.

I have a bat autographed by Pete Rose. I loved Tommy Lasorda. Willie Stargell and the Pittsburgh Pirates were a lot of fun.

Nannie, my grandmother, said there were two teams in baseball: the Dodgers and the Yankees.

“We’re for the Dodgers and we’re not for the Yankees.”

Got it. Yay Dodgers. Boo Yankees.

My grandmother ran a boarding house in Thomasville. Many players on the Hi-Toms lived with Blanche and Barney during their minor league playing days.

One such boarder was Eddie Matthews. 500 home runs. 12 all-star games. Cooperstown. Before he hit the big leagues, he played in the yard with my mama while my grandmother cooked in the kitchen.

I’m not completely baseball ignorant.

Vikki and I sat on the first base line to watch the Yankees and the Mets.

My mama took me to more than a few games at Ernie Shore Field.

I work for the Chicago White Sox. For me, baseball is work.

I was searching for an adventure to fill out our Louisville expedition.

The Louisville Slugger Factory. Okey dokey. That might be fun.

Was it? Oh boy!

I was immediately pleased when the parking deck elevator deposited us in the lobby of the bat factory. No lines. No waiting. We were in it to win it less than sixty seconds after parking the car.

Sophia and Miles each selected a bat to be engraved with their name. We submitted the order and headed for the factory tour.

The tour is splendid. You are literally in “the” bat factory. Wood chips flying. It smells like a forest. Numerous video screens and an excellent sound system allow every member of the touring party hear the Hillerich & Bradsby story.

One of the neatest facts we learned: the company owns huge tracts of woodland to sustain the supply of trees necessary to manufacture a gabillion Louisville Sluggers each year. The company plants more trees than they harvest. Impressive.

We each took batting practice. For the sake of family harmony, I’ll say nothing more about this, EXCEPT… everybody made contact with the ball. At least once.

The most unexpected and thrilling moment was the opportunity to hold a game-used bat from a legendary player.

Sophia held one of Willie Mays’ bats.

Miles posed with one of Hank Aaron’s thunder sticks.

Willie Mays. Hank Aaron. It was enough to make me cry.

Normally, we let the kids do the stuff. We watch and cheer and take pictures. (If we remember to take the camera.)

I couldn’t help myself. I stepped forward and pointed to a bat in the display case. I was certain the answer would be, “no, not that one.” The attendant smiled and handed me the bat.

One of Babe Ruth’s bats. Good. Gracious. It happened.

We returned to the store and got Sophia’s and Miles’ bats. They are beautiful. It’s the perfect souvenir. Really.

So you know: seating options are practically non-existent. There might be room for ten people to take a seat. Prepare to be on your feet.

No concessions are available, but there is a Subway one block down the street.

The store offerings are limited. It’s 99% shirts and bats with a few hats tossed in for good measure. That’s pretty much it.

All in all, a fun time and well worth the visit. Get tickets online in advance.