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THERE IS ANOTHER BASEBALL MUSEUM

Cooperstown isn't the only museum for baseball enthusiast. A trip to Kentucky and the working factory of the Louisville Slugger will delight fans of all ages
The Louisville Slugger Museum at the corner of 8th and Main Street in Louisville, Kentucky, can also be visited in any season. Just stop by at the world's largest baseball bat. You can't miss it. It stands 120 feet, weighs 68,000 pounds, and has a barrel measuring 9 feet. Slightly different than the regulation limits of 42 inches, 46 ounces and 2 inches of today.
The history of baseball is first told in a short film titled, "The Heart of the Game." The first documented game of baseball was played on June 19, 1846 in Hoboken, New Jersey. There were no regulations for the size or shape of the bats. From 1852 through 1858 players used bats with a larger barrel for a better hitting surface. They could use any size they could handle. They realized they could hit the ball more solid with a round bat. The flat surface bats were used for bunting.

The Professional National Association of Baseball Players Governing Committee made the first limitation in 1859. The bats could be no larger than 2 inches in diameter, but could be any length. Additional changes were not made until after the Civil War. In 1869, a limit on the length of bats was established. A maximum of 42 inches long was the rule. This rule is in today's rule book under Division 1.00, Rule 1.10A. Players were still experimenting with different types of wood, different weights and various designs.
In 1884 during a baseball game in Louisville, Kentucky, a star outfielder, Pete Browning broke his bat. John Hillerich, the son of a woodworker was watching. He told Pete he could make him a special bat. They picked a piece of white ash and began shaping it according to Browning's commands. They worked through the night with Browning taking several practice swings. Before dawn the bat was just right. The next day, with a new custom bat, Pete went three for three. This was the start of a wonderful relationship.
By 1887, bats were designed by individual players, much like they are today. The players knew the weights, length, style and selection of wood that was their preference. The workers at the Hillerich factory made the bats to order. They used wagon tongue, white ash or hickory. The player thought the hickory was too heavy, so it was eliminated. The wagon tongue was difficult to get

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