Crack of the Bat: The Louisville Slugger Story (Hardcover)

~ Bob Hill (Author) "baseball bats-in various forms and fashions-have been evolving in this country since about the time the first settlers from England moved into what would become..." (more)
Key Phrases: aluminum hats, wooden hats, aluminum bats, Louisville Slugger, Crack of the Bat, Babe Ruth (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Crack of the Bat is a comprehensive and entertaining look at the most famous icon in the history of baseball, the "Louisville Slugger" bat. The story includes the evolution of bats from pioneer wagon tongues to the sleek aluminum models of today. It examines the amazing physics involved in hitting a baseball, where .007 second means the difference between a home run and a foul ball. It tells the fascinating history of the still family-owned Hillerich & Bradsby Company, which in just 80 years went from making butter churns to producing seven million bats a year. Reinforcing this tale are dozens of stories about the the idiosyncrasies of the most famous hitters in baseball history, including Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Cal Ripken Jr., and Derek Jeter. Illustrated with hundreds of archival photographs, baseball decals, and icons -- many in color -- this book will become as much a cherished keepsake as some of the bats it describes.

About the Author

Bob Hill has been an award-winning columnist for the The Louisville Courier-Journal for over 25 years. He has written books on gardening, basketball, the history of Louisville, and Double Jeopardy, a true crime book about a Louisville murder that was featured twice on NBCs "Dateline," and will be an Arts & Entertainment network feature with Bill Kurtis. Hill is a graduate of Rice University, where he played basketball.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Sports Masters (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1583820124
• ISBN-13: 978-1583820124
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,072,948 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading for every baseball fan, May 22, 2000

By	Michael J Woznicki "Michael J Woznicki" (Holland, MA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Did you know that Babe Ruth had a bat that weighed 54 ounces? Did you know that Edd Rousch has bats that weighed between 44 and 50 ounces? Imagine leading the league in Home runs with 11, Frank Baker did in 1911. So what's the big deal? They all used Louisville Sluggers made by the Hillerich and Bradsby company and Crack of the Bat is the story of the bat that made these guys famous.

From the early beginnings of the Hillerich family owned business through the fires that destroyed the buildings to the combining of resources with the Bradsby group, you'll follow more than baseball history, you'll follow the roots of the national pastimes and the men who names are forever emblazoned on the bat that made them household names.

Men like Honus Wagner, Paul and Lloyd Waner, Joe Dimaggio, Lou Gehrig. Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, Johnny Bench, Mike Schmidt and so many, many others have used the Louisville Slugger. Even Little League, softball and colleges are part of baseball's folklore.

The book is more than baseball history, it tells the story of several generation of a family and a business. It delves into the making of the bat, the people who design the bats, and the history of the name. Reading this book gives you insight into a part of out national pastime very few have ever known.

The book also gives you glimpse into the museum dedicated to the men who have given their name to the bat and each person has a plaque in the museum. Sports Publishing Inc. has a website with ordering information about this and many other books about sports. For a great gift for the sports or baseball fan in your life, Crack of the Bat would make an excellent choice.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not a home run, but a broken bat grounder to the mound, May 4, 2002

By	R. Riis "rriis" (NY) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A history of the Louisville Slugger bat that omits any mention of Pete Browning, the original "Louisville Slugger" who comissioned Hillerich and Bradsby to manufacture his bats in the 1880's, has to be considered somewhat flawed right off the bat (ouch). A jarring leap from 1870 to 1915, just the period when bats were developing from wagon tongues to modern bats, is unforgiveable. The tales of idiosyncratic bat habits and preferences of major league stars is interesting, but the book utterly fails in its titular premise -- the history -- and is graded accordingly.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Historic Bat, June 25, 2000

By	[e-mail] "mistermaxxx" (usa) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This Book is a Must for a Baseball fan.it covers so much&More on the History of the bat&The Many Great,Great Batters who have used it.it also does a Great job talking about the family Business.it's a Great Book from start to finish.It's Impact The Louisville SLugger is TImeless.