Hillerich & Bradsby
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sporting goods manufacturing |
| Founded | 1 January 1855 in Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
| Founder | J. F. Hillerich |
| Fate | Sold Louisville Slugger division to Wilson Sporting Goods in 2015 |
| Successor | Wilson Sporting Goods (for Louisville Slugger brand) |
| Headquarters | Louisville , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | John A. Hillerich IV (CEO) |
| Products | Baseball bats (Louisville Slugger), golf clubs (PowerBilt, formerly), gloves (Bionic Gloves) |
| Owner | Private family ownership (implied) |
| Website | www |
Hillerich & Bradsby Company (H&B) is a U.S.-based manufacturer located in Louisville, Kentucky, known for producing baseball bats under the "Louisville Slugger" label on behalf of Wilson Sporting Goods. The firm also runs the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in downtown Louisville and produces gloves for sports such as golf, cycling, and fitness through its "Bionic Gloves" brand.
Although H&B transferred ownership of the "Louisville Slugger" brand to Wilson in 2015, it continues to manufacture the bats at its Louisville facility.
History
The woodworking enterprise was founded by J. F. Hillerich in Louisville in 1855. During the 1880s, his son, John "Bud" Hillerich, joined the business and identified an opportunity in crafting baseball bats.
Legend has it that in 1884, Bud fashioned a personalized bat for Pete "Louisville Slugger" Browning, a star of the Louisville Eclipse, which helped Browning overcome a hitting slump. This story contributed to a surge in professional players seeking bats from the Hillerich workshop, though alternative narratives about the first bat's origin exist.
Initially specializing in wood products such as stair railings and porch columns, J. F. Hillerich was reluctant to enter the bat-making market. Eventually, Bud persuaded him to explore this new venture.
The bats were initially marketed under the name "Falls City Slugger" until Bud assumed control in 1894 and secured the "Louisville Slugger" trademark. In 1905, Honus Wagner became one of the earliest American athletes to endorse sports gear by partnering with the company.
In 1916, Frank Bradsby joined as a sales partner, leading to the company being renamed "The Hillerich and Bradsby Co." By 1923, H&B had established dominance in the bat industry, supplying iconic players like Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth (notably with the R-43 model), and Lou Gehrig.
Broadening its product range, Hillerich and Bradsby began producing golf clubs under the PowerBilt brand in 1916. This line earned acclaim through several Masters Tournament victories between 1967 and 1987.
During World War II, the company diversified into military manufacturing by producing wooden rifle stocks and billy clubs for the U.S. Army. To ensure steady access to raw materials, it acquired Pennsylvania lumber firm Larimer and Norton, Inc., in 1954.
In 1976, H&B shifted operations to Jeffersonville, Indiana, to benefit from improved rail logistics but returned its headquarters to Louisville two decades later in 1996.
21st century
In 2005, Hillerich & Bradsby divested its majority stake in Louisville TPS hockey equipment; TPS Hockey was subsequently purchased by Sher-Wood in 2008.
The Louisville Slugger division was sold to Wilson Sporting Goods—a subsidiary of Amer Sports owned by Chinese company Anta Sports—in 2015. Despite this sale, H&B continues producing Louisville Slugger bats at its Louisville plant under Wilson’s management. CEO John A. Hillerich IV attributed the sale to intensified competition from global corporations amid a gradual decline in Louisville Slugger’s Major League Baseball market share since 2001.
In 2016, Hillerich & Bradsby sold its PowerBilt golf club division to Hilco Streambank, part of Hilco Global.
Following these sales, the company retained ownership of its Bionic Gloves segment and maintains operation of the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory. The museum remains accessible to visitors with exhibits and factory tours while continuing bat production exclusively for Wilson Sporting Goods under the Louisville Slugger brand.
From 1997 through 2025, Louisville Slugger held the status of Official Bat of Major League Baseball (MLB), granting rights to use MLB trademarks and prominent visibility at events including the All-Star Game and World Series. This arrangement concluded when Marucci Bats became MLB’s official bat provider in 2025.
Threats to Timber Supplies
Historically, more than 90% of Hillerich & Bradsby’s bats have been crafted from Northern white ash harvested from their exclusive woodlands along the New York–Pennsylvania border. The arrival of the emerald ash borer, an invasive insect first identified in Michigan in 2002, has severely damaged ash tree populations across the United States, including those within H&B’s own forests. Consequently, the company is transitioning to other types of wood such as maple and birch to maintain production levels as North American ash supplies continue to diminish.
Sponsorship Activities
The Louisville Slugger brand is promoted by Hillerich & Bradsby through various sponsorships, notably supporting the Louisville Bats, the Triple-A affiliate team of the Cincinnati Reds, who compete at Louisville Slugger Field. Additionally, the brand endorses awards that honor outstanding power hitters at both high school and collegiate levels. These include Major League Baseball’s Silver Slugger Award, which recognizes the top offensive players by position, and the Louisville Slugger Batting Champion award, presented to the American Legion Baseball player with the highest batting average during national tournaments.
See also
Bibliography
- Hill, Bob. Crack of the Bat: The Louisville Slugger Story. Sports Publishing LLC, 2000. ISBN 1-58382-012-4