It takes a special place to craft the Official Bat of Major League Baseball. Since 1884, Louisville Slugger has put prime lumber in the hands of the greatest players of the game. A visit to the museum shows you how the sport has changed a bit between then and now, but the "crack of the bat" remains one of the sporting world's most thrilling moments.

> LSM&F Shatters Attendance Record

July 2010 was a record-setting month for Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory with 48,424 guests, the highest single-month attendance in the museum's 14-year history.

With ongoing awarenes of the facility's 2009 renovation and a strong month of conventions and special events, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory eclipsed its previous single-month high by almost 13%. The previous record was 42,907 patrons in July 2007.

Thank you to everyone who helped us break this record.

Click here to read the entire press release announcing our record-breaking month.



> Featured Exhibit: The Story of Negro League Baseball 

Now through September 6, Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory hosts a very special temporary exhibition - The Story of Negro League Baseball. Based on the award-winning book WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball by author and artist Kadir Nelson, the exhibit is filled with stunning one-of-a-kind paintings and sketches. Along with Nelson's artwork, the exhibit features rare baseball artifacts from some of the Negro League's greatest players such as Satchel Paige, Roy Campanella and Willie Mays. Artifacts are on loan from the private collection of Ron and Mitchell Leff, 7mainstreet.com.

"This is a moving and brilliant tribute to contribution of African Americans to the game and our nation's culture," says Anne Jewell, Executive Director of Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. "We believe our visitors will be inspired by Kadir Nelson's exquisite storytelling, and the additional artifacts are rare historic pieces, some of them never before displayed publically."

For more information on The Story of Negro League Baseball, click here.



> Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory Renovations Complete!!!

Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is proud to announce the reopening of its main gallery and the debut of exciting renovations. Visitors to the museum will experience more hands-on exhibits, more baseball memorabilia, and more family fun.

Highlighting the renovations is the first public display of a Louisville Slugger bat used by Joe DiMaggio during his 56-game hitting streak of 1941 along with a special area where visitors can hold game-used bats from superstars - past and present. Among the other changes to the museum is an updated factory tour where visitors can see how world-famous Louisville Slugger bats are made and an expanded display showcasing a Louisville Slugger bat used by Babe Ruth during his 60 home run season of 1927.

To learn more about our revamped museum and factory tour experience, please visit our What's New section.    



> Hank Aaron Named 2009 Living Legend