This is the story behind the world-famous Louisville Slugger baseball bat, and the family-owned company that has created it since 1884.
J. Frederick Hillerich emigrated with his family from Baden-Baden, Germany to the United States in 1842. Eight years before, the 1834 Book of Sports had made its debut as the nation's first publication covering baseball. But when he arrived in Baltimore, J. Frederick Hillerich would never have dreamed of the future impact his family would have on America's favorite pastime.
After a short while, the Hillerichs moved to Louisville, where J. Fred started a woodworking shop in 1856. By 1864 "J.F. Hillerich, Job Turning" was in operation and filled orders for businesses by custom-turning everything from balusters to bedposts. His eldest son, John Andrew "Bud" Hillerich, was born in Louisville in 1866.
The firm thrived and by 1875 the little woodworking shop employed about 20 people. In 1880 Bud Hillerich, who was an amateur baseball player, became an apprentice in his father's shop. Young Bud made his own baseball bats along with bats for several of his teammates.
There is debate over the origins of the company's first bat for a professional player, but Bud most certainly played a key role in getting his father's business involved with what would become the company's signature item.
According to company legend, the first pro bat was turned by Bud for Pete Browning in 1884. Browning was a star on Louisville's professional American Association team - the Eclipse. On a spring afternoon Bud, then seventeen, witnessed Browning break his favorite bat. Bud offered to make a bat for his hero and Browning accepted. According to the story, after the young wood shop apprentice lathed a quality stick from white ash Browning got three hits with it in the next game. One of Browning's nicknames was, "The Louisville Slugger."
However, the company's version of the story has been subject to challenges from baseball scholars for many years. One of the earliest references to the first bat appeared in a 1914 Louisville Herald article that included an interview with Bud Hillerich. In that interview, Bud indicated that he had only carved a ring in a Browning bat to ensure hitting success for the superstitious slugger. In fact, some claim that Bud did not make the first bat. They believe his father did and Bud then showed it to some professional players who requested that his father make more bats for the team. The elder Hillerich agreed only after getting a promise from the players that they would request no more bats. As word of mouth spread about the quality bats, other teams began sending in orders.
There is one other story about the origins of the first Louisville Slugger. In a 1937 interview for Baseball Magazine , 77-year-old Arlie Latham claimed that the first bat was made for him. Latham, a third baseman for the St. Louis Browns of the American Association, said that he had broken a bat in Louisville in 1883 or 1884 and was unable to find another one. He stopped into the Hillerich wood-turning shop located near his hotel and asked J. Fred to have Bud turn a bat for him. Latham's tale, considered as questionable as the Browning version, was supported by a 1942 letter in which Bud Hillerich verified the authenticity of the story. Experts continue to debate each version.
We do know that J. Fred wanted nothing to do with making bats. His business thrived on making roller skids, bed posts, tenpins, wooden bowling balls and a very popular, patented, swinging butter churn. However, Bud Hillerich continued to improve the manufacturing processes of the new bat business, inventing a centering device for a lathe and an automatic sander. Their baseball bat business grew. The bat was first known as the Falls City Slugger, (a reference to Louisville's location at the Falls of the Ohio River), but the brand name was changed to Louisville Slugger and registered as a trademark in 1894. Bud Hillerich became a partner with his father in 1897 and the name of the firm was changed to J.F. Hillerich and Son.
The success of the growing bat company was further enhanced in 1905 when Honus "The Flying Dutchman" Wagner, a star for the Pittsburgh Pirates, signed a contract as the first player ever to endorse a bat. His autograph was also the first to be used on a bat and the first time a professional athlete endorsed an athletic product. 
A fire severely damaged the bat factory in 1910 but rebuilding began quickly. In 1911, Frank Bradsby, a successful salesman for one of Hillerich's largest buyers, joined J.F. Hillerich and Son. He brought sales and marketing expertise and drive to the company. In 1916 he became a full partner, and the company name was changed, for the last time, to Hillerich & Bradsby Co. Seeking to diversify products Bradsby propelled the firm into producing golf clubs, eventually creating the PowerBilt brand.
The success of the Louisville Slugger bat was due in part to the fact that amateur baseball players across the country could purchase the bat model of their favorite big-league player. In 1915 the Louisville Slugger first appeared in a youth-size model. In 1919 the company launched its first national advertising campaign and in just four years was producing one million bats a year. The success, however, was marred the next year by the death of J. Frederick Hillerich. His son, Bud, became the boss.
A disastrous flood along the Ohio River in 1937 did significant damage to one of the factories and some of the offices. Working almost nonstop for weeks to repair the factory, Frank Bradsby was worn down. His efforts during this ordeal are believed to have led to his death later that year.
Hillerich & Bradsby Co. served its country during World War II by producing M-1 carbine stocks, tank pins and billy clubs for the armed forces. It also continued to make baseball and softball bats for the troops. Bud Hillerich died in 1946 and his son Ward took over. But after only three years as president, Ward died in 1949. His brother, John A. Hillerich Jr., succeeded him.
In 1954 the company purchased Larimer and Norton Inc., a lumber company in Pennsylvania, and created its own timber division. This expansion assured that the bat making operation would maintain an adequate supply of timber. The company also further diversified its products with the purchase of Wally Enterprises in Ontario, Canada which marked the firm’s entrance into the ice hockey stick business with Louisville Hockey, later known as TPS Hockey.
Hillerich & Bradsby Co. moved its offices to the Portland Federal Building in downtown Louisville in 1968. Within six years the company bought a building in Jeffersonville, Indiana, and Louisville Slugger bat production moved across the river. The corporate offices always remained in Louisville.
In 1969, John Hillerich Jr. died and his son, John A. “Jack” Hillerich III, at 29 years old, was named company president.
In 1970, the company began producing aluminum bats. Louisville Slugger aluminum and composite bats, are available in adult baseball, youth baseball, and softball models. Today, the TPX and TPS brands are huge hits and are the top selling models in the business.The first line of Louisville Slugger baseball and softball gloves was introduced in 1975.
In 1996 Hillerich & Bradsby Co. brought the wood bat factory back to Louisville, and moved into new headquarters at 800 West Main Street. Professional baseball players continue to have their bats custom made at the wood bat manufacturing facility, not far from where the very first bats were made back in the 1800s.
Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, one of the city's most popular attractions, is also housed with the corporate headquarters. The location is well-marked by the World's Biggest Baseball Bat that casually leans against the side of the building. Guests are invited to learn about the Official Bat of Major League Baseball – Louisville Slugger. Today, over 2-million peole have enjoyed the museum and factory tour experience.
In 2000, Hillerich & Bradsby Co. teamed up with a local hand surgeon to create H&B’s newest division – Bionic Gloves. The unique combination of a physician’s medical knowledge and H&B’s ability to create exceptional equipment resulted in revolutionary new gloves for hockey, baseball, golf, gardening, and more.
John A. “Jack” Hillerich III retired as CEO and President in 2001 but remains as Chairman of the Board. His son, John A. Hillerich IV succeeded him and currently serves as CEO and President. John is the great-grandson of Bud Hillerich, the baseball fan who introduced his father's company to the sport back in the 1800s.
Hillerich & Bradsby Co. celebrates 125 years of Louisville Slugger in 2009.