Family-Run Bat Business

" Start up most of the -- just mentioned. Were these bats Louisville sluggers. George Brett claims he never used anything else have a story of how the Louisville slugger. Came to be almost as old and -- baseball itself joining us now David -- he's the author of a new book called sweet spot. 125 years of baseball Louisville slugger which chronicles the history of the great piece of Americana. And from Louisville the man himself. John Hillary. The fourth president and CEO of the family owned company has been making the bats for major leaguers for over a century guys. Great to have you both here. Hey John I want to talk about somebody that's in David's book and that person. Yeah I I I doubt whether you ever met him but -- want your ancestors the guys who who actually started going to John Hillary. He was founder of and I think we got a picture album from page five of the book tell us a little bit about this guy. John but -- he was my grandfather. And he just loved baseball fact he's a pretty good ball player himself did you ever made -- Diddy -- passed away before durable he he passed away before thwarted authorities believe it or not I'm a little younger OK Aaron. So let's say you didn't mean -- he started -- and we've got another picture if you can take a picture of the way this thing was made. Back when your grandfather was around I think it's from picture there you go there's a picture of the process. How different is a process of making these bats now from it was back when your Graham."

" I was running. It's truly a lot different in fact they use steam back there department powered power the ladies. Now of course we use automatic ways in fact we use something policy and simulate. And -- doing it by hand we actually have put it put suspects in the computer and the bad comes out as much. I guess more to the special ball player than they did they were back a hundred years ago."

" Now David you know were business -- would like to focus on a business some I didn't realize from your book by the way to hone his Wagner. One of the guys who use the Louisville slugger while was was a guy the first guy who actually used. That Louisville slugger as as an endorser of his playing baseball right. Yes."

" You know remarkable when when you look at what is happened. With the shaping of sports and brands and licensing and global slugger create."

" This. And and how exactly was -- because back when Wagner was playing baseball I mean they were paid peanuts compared to what. Players are paid even when you factor inflation and so he really needed that kind of endorsement or to help them survive right David."

" There's no question and and in just think about the leadership of the company you know I mean have a net vision of we want to put these bats. In the best players hands and then all these kids across the land are going to want to swing this bad then so. You know they they created that the whole sports licensing of the best players using their product."

" Now we're looking at the late evening had GI -- that goes on in making these. Are there some old divers that work for you still want to do things sort of the old way rather than newfangled way -- computers."

" Absolutely there's a felony -- who's been with us over forty years. And we we have incurred a bad -- hand occasionally they just love to do it. Figured I'd rather be doing that and then now working on one of the modern machines that's for sure."

" I think we've got a picture of but but we also have a picture Ted Williams with a bad Ted Williams and people like that either real legends. Of baseball. Is it did date. Did they do an exclusive deal with Louisville slugger where they free to use any bad they want. Whether."

" We're freely using that they want to that they did do an exclusive. They did use our -- exclusively because. They really thought that we gave the best would in fact Ted would come in our factory at the beginning of the season -- report started. And he would slip to guys forty bucks each and say you if you pick out the best foot of the backing to be more money next year."

" now so it is it is cash right is that they exclusively would that you use. We actually use that as ten maple and it's about 5050 right now -- which one is better -- does it depend on the player."

" Yeah well you know maple of course has been in the news a lot lately you know what this thing -- been fascinated with about -- worker bred to be in the global slugger brand. They focus on the rules of the game in delivering the best product they can then there's been a lot of debate about that. They just played by the rules and try to deliver the best product hey you know I think right now they're all good -- depends on the player well."

" Let's take Joe DiMaggio for example I think we're got a picture him what do with a Louisville slugger what do you know what. Had a bad -- desired what kind of would you like to use job. Yes he he used about 34 inch that he liked his green narrow on his on his bat. The fact we have one of the men -- museum that he used his 56 game hitting streak that. And he actually use three during that season. Lot of guys today go through Bo -- bats and I got to ask my favorite of all time number seven making now. The -- what what kinda use. He also used Nash -- and he liked his bets wolf heavier effect if you don't tour museum today you can actually. Prove one of his game his bets were handed take a swing with a look like it's his property and -- is pretty incredible that's right the Louisville right. Right I date the main right done in the middle little eighth and main job Hillary thank you so much the Louisville slugger man whose families -- for a hundred years and David -- the book is called sweet spot 125 years of baseball in the Louisville slugger gentlemen thank you very much. They did you."