Louisville Slugger’s monstrous baseball bat celebrates 30 years as city landmark
By Addie Meiners
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WLKY) — Louisville’s iconic Slugger bat celebrated its 30th birthday on Tuesday, marking three decades since the massive structure was installed downtown.
Tuesday’s celebration included a rendition of “Happy Birthday,” highlighting the bat’s significance to the community.
It was Oct. 21, 1995 when Louisville’s iconic baseball bat made its way through the streets of downtown to the Slugger Museum.
Andrew Soliday, with the museum, recounted the bat’s journey to its current location, “I think they were down on Preston, and they brought that down 12 miles. Shut down some of the roads. They had to take down a street light on Brook and Main, so it could make the turn. And it made it through. So it was really just an exciting time.”
The bat, which is hollow inside, but made of hand-painted steel on the outside, has become likely the most photographed bat in the world.
Soliday emphasized its social media appeal, saying, “I mean, you want to talk about Instagram worthy? Social media worthy? That’s it right there.”
Seventy million people have visited the bat over its 30-year lifespan, making it a major tourist destination.
Louisville residents Hope Zeller and Joe Desensi expressed their enthusiasm for the birthday.
“I mean, if you love Louisville, like, this is just one of those things that you like to be a part of,” Zeller said.
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