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.

Even though ‘Louisville Slugger’ was officially registered with the United States Patent Office in 1894, Doc Adams still found his way into “The Louisville Slugger Story”. Although not ground-breaking, historical research, or literary excellence, it’s still reassuring to come across references to Doc Adams.

Baseball Rules – and equipment – continued to evolve with the help of Dr. Daniel Adams, a Harvard graduate. Adams was a contemporary of Cartwright, who in 1849 left the Knickerbockers for the California Gold Rush, a route followed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants a century or so later.

Adams added a ninth baseball position. The catcher stood 20 feet behind the batter, catching balls on the first bounce…

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According to Baseball – An Illustrated History, Doc Adams also gave the game another legacy – a better ball to hit. The Knickerbockers had used a ball so light; it couldn’t be thrown 200 feet – the original Wiffle Ball. The doctor said e made his own balls for years with several ounces of rubber cuttings with yarn and covered with leather. Then he found a saddle-maker who was able to stitch up the balls more tightly with horsehide, giving them more distance and durability.

Crack Of The Bat: The Louisville Slugger Story