I don’t like to think about baseball and weddings at the same time. At least not often. Usually they’re separate, and I’m OK with that. But baseball season and wedding season start around the same time, so a few connections are natural.
Heather Travaglini, a wedding planner in Baltimore, had a lot of clever ideas if you want to incorporate a little baseball in your wedding. I know for some the idea of proposing on the scoreboard is a little much (it is for me). But I did like the idea of subbing baseball bats or baseballs for the guestbook. It’s unique without being too distracting, and it makes for a cool keepsake to display. Subtle, but special.
Get ready, vintage baseball bat fans, Major League Baseball is taking steps to make sure that our favorite relics are the real deal. Whether they’re hanging in the Hall of Fame or up for auction to hang in our display cases, the new authentication program is designed to be sure that every prized item is legitimate. It’s not just vintage bats and game-used bats. Balls and bases, uniforms, even sometimes the dirt on the field, is being rigorously monitored. Over the last few years we’ve noticed how extreme fraud has become, so for the serious collector, this new program will be very welcome news.
Yesterday Grandpa Bud opened his attic, to the delight of fans of classic baseball and vintage bats. No, this isn’t Bud Selig’s latest publicity stunt, it’s a new feature of the newly re-opened Louisville Slugger Museum.
Grandpa Bud’s Attic, named for company founder Bud Hillerich, has one-of-a-kind relics like original player contracts from the early days of Louisville Slugger. Grandpa Bud’s Attic isn’t the only hit of their 125th anniversary celebration; visitors can also take part in Hold a Piece of History and hold bats used by Hall of Famers Rod Carew and Mickey Mantle.
All in all, it sounds like the museum, already an incredible collection of baseball history, is solidifying itself as a must-visit for baseball fans. My last visit was about five years ago—I think it’s time to head back.
Last year, Major League Baseball started its investigation into the abundance of broken bats in recent years. At the time, a three-week count of broken bats in Major-League games showed about one shattered bat per game. After this first week of the regular season, it doesn’t look like the rate is coming down. Sure, maybe it’s the cold weather, but it seems like bats are breaking everywhere again. We’ve pretty much accepted it as part of the game. But just because we’re used to it doesn’t mean it’s safe.
Recalling last year’s incidents of fans and professionals getting hit in the head (Pittsburgh Pirate coach Don Long, umpire Brian O’Nora, and Dodger fan Susan Rhodes, who recovered from severe injuries after she was hit by a broken bat off Todd Helton), Ward Dill found a solution: the Radial Bat. It takes twelve wedges of wood and an adhesive, and it’s not likely to be adopted by pro ball. But it’s a step toward safety, clamped under 36,000 pounds of pressure. At $100 to $150 each, Dill’s Radial Bat is still pricey. The good news is, that if smart inventors’ minds like Dill’s are on the job, baseball may get the solution it needs for the broken bat blues.
The last few months felt like the winter of the Wii, but now Opening Day is around the corner and Geekdad has his eye on the spring weather. He’s glad, like many parents are, that kids are putting down the Wii remote and picking up the real, old-fashioned baseball bats. It’s great, of course, that the Wii, and especially the Wii fit, combine video games and physical activity. But still nothing beats the real thing. Kudos to GeekDad for taking the kids out to the ball game…and to all the kids (and kids-at-heart) picking up their baseball bats this spring. With the regular season about part, let’s get ready to play ball!
I’m not sure what made him pick up a wood lathe an auction, but I’m glad that Michael Dean did. It made for a great story. Since he had the lathe, when his son Matt asked him to make him a new baseball bat, he gave it a try. The short version of the story: Matt loved the bat. Matt’s baseball team loved the bats. And now, just two years later, Michael has a full-fledged company. Michael’s bat manufacturing company, Silver Creek Baseball Bats, produces all of their bats by hand, and they’re expected to sell 1500 this year!
Of course one of the biggest factors in choosing a baseball bat is finding a comfortable bat. But even once you’ve found your size and made a decision that fits your budget, you still want to feel good when you get to the plate. More importantly, you want to feel good when you make contact. Batting gloves are the best way to cut back on sting. But how much have you thought about why making good contact stings so much? A researcher for Cornell’s “Ask a Scientist” series makes it easy to understand why bats sting your hands.
A giant is turning 125 this year. All season long, Louisville Slugger celebrates its 125 anniversary. Ingrained in baseball’s history, Louisville Slugger has always been family-owned, and the company stands as a great part of baseball’s legacy. From their first baseball bat (made for Pete Browning in 1884) to becoming the first company to sign a player to a promotional endorsement contract (Honus Wagner in 1905) to today, making bats for more than 8,500 professional baseball players, Louisville Slugger still remains connected to the individual fan. Their factory are second-to-none, and a tour of their facilities is a walk through baseball history.
You don’t need to be a Hall of Famer to appreciate the quality of a Louisville Slugger bat. Whether you’re looking for aluminum bats or wood bats, they’ll have the product to the fit your budget. But always one for a personal touch, you can also get customized bats, which make great gifts.
They’ll be celebrating all season long, but you can learn more about the 125th anniversary celebration at Louisville Slugger’s official site.
