♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "INSIDE LOUISVILLE" WHERE WE INTRODUCE YOU TO THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT MAKE UP KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

I'M YOUR HOST, KELSEY STARKS.

AND THIS WEEK WE TAKE YOU INSIDE BASEBALL.

WHEN YOU THINK OF BASEBALL IN LOUISVILLE, YOU LIKELY GO STRAIGHT TO THE FAMOUS LOUISVILLE SLUGGER.

FOR 150 YEARS, THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER HAS NOT ONLY BEEN SYNONYMOUS WITH AMERICA'S FAVORITE PASTIME, IT HAS SWUNG IT'S WAY INTO POP CULTURE FROM DESTROYING A COPY MACHINE IN THE MOVIE OFFICE SPACE TO FENDING OFF JACK NICHOL SON'S CHARACTER IN THE SHINING AND DON'T FORGET KNOCKING OUT THE HEADLIGHTS IN CARRIE UNDERWOOD'S REVENGE BALLAD, BEFORE HE CHEATS.

THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER IS AN AMERICAN ICON AND MADE RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE AT THE SLUGGER MUSEUM AND FACTORY ON MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN.

TAKE A LOOK INSIDE.

WHEN YOU VISIT MAIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE, YOU CAN'T MISS THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM AND FACTORY.

THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE 120-FOOT EXACT SCALE REPLICA OF BABE RUTH'S LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BAT, TOWERING INTO THE SKY IN FRONT OF THE MUSEUM.

>> THINGS PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT OUR ATTRACTION IS, IT'S NOT JUST FOR BASEBALL FANS.

IT'S FOR ANYONE.

>> INSIDE IS WHERE THE BATS ARE MADE.

MORE THAN A MILLION EACH YEAR.

>> YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GO TO EVERY CITY AND FIND A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS UNIQUE AND AUTHENTIC TO THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE.

AND IT IS JUST A MUST SEE DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE WHEN THEY COME TO VISIT US.

>> THE MUSEUM OPENED IN 1996, BUT THE FACTORY ITSELF WAS ESTABLISHED A CENTURY BEFORE THAT, WHEN 17-YEAR-OLD BUD HILLERICK CREATE CREATED THE FIRST BAT IN HIS FATHER'S WOODWORKING SHOP.

>> THE HISTORY WITH THE FIRST LOUISVILLE SLUGGER WAS BUD HILLERRIC MADE THAT FOR BEAT BROWNING WHO WAS NICKNAMED THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER.

HE LISTENED TO WHAT HE WANTED AND MADE THE BAT FOR HIM.

THE NEXT DAY PETE BATTED 3 FOR 4.

THE REST IS HISTORY IN THE TERMS OF THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER AND HERE WE ARE TODAY.

>> THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER CONTINUES TO MAKE HISTORY TODAY IT IS SWUNG BY EVERY TEEN IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

DEREK JETER, HANK AARON AND THE GREAT BAMBINO HIMSELF ARE JUST A FEW OF THE LEGENDS THAT HAVE SWUNG A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BAT.

AT THE MUSEUM, YOU CAN HOLD THOSE REAL LIFE GAME BATS USED BY SOME OF THE GREATS LIKE ROBERT OWE CLEMENTE OR JOHNNY BENCH.

SEE WHAT A 90 MILES PER HOUR FASTBALL REALLY LOOKS LIKE UP CLOSE.

MAYBE YOU CAN EVEN TAKE A FEW SWINGS YOURSELF.

AMERICA'S PASTIME HAS CHANGED A LOT IN THE PAST CENTURY.

AND SO HAS THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER.

>> SO A SKILLED BAT MAKER BACK IN THE DAY SHAPED THE BAT IN 20 TO 30 MINUTES.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD, RIGHT?

NOW WE USE LATHES THAT CAN CUT THROUGH A SINGLE PIECE OF WOOD IN ABOUT 30 SOME ODD SECONDS.

SO IT'S REALLY A BIG DIFFERENCE FROM THERE WE HAVE A NUMBER OF HANDS TOUCHING THE PRODUCT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I CONSIDER A LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BAT A HANDMADE PRODUCT BECAUSE YOU SEE IN OUR FACTORY TOUR, ALL THE HANDS THAT COME TOGETHER, OUGHT ALL THE PEOPLE THAT COME TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS ICON.

>> SOME THINGS STILL REMAIN THE SAME.

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER STILL OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE SAME FAMILY.

STILL MAKING THE MOST RECOGNIZABLE BAT IN HISTORY IN DOWN DOWN LOUISVILLE.

>> THE PEOPLE IN THIS BUILDING ARE HILLERICHS.

WE ARE A FIFTH GENERATION FAMILY OWNED BUSINESS, WHICH IS VERY UNIQUE TO BE WORKING WITH A FAMILY OWNED COMPANY WITH SUCH A LEGACY IN REGARDS TO AMERICANA AND BASEBALL.

IT'S JUST REALLY, REALLY COOL.

WHEN PEOPLE THINK ABOUT BASEBALL, THEY THINK ABOUT LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, THAT NAME IS JUST SYNONYMOUS.

IT IS AN AMERICAN ICON AS REPRESENTATIVE AS A COCA-COLA, FOR EXAMPLE, LOUISVILLE SLUGGER IS A NAME THAT TRANSCENDS BASEBALL.

>> BAILEY MAZIK IS THE CURATOR AND EXHIBITS DIRECTOR AT THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER MUSEUM AND FACTORY.

WHAT AN INCREDIBLE HISTORY.

IS 140 YEARS YOU ARE CELEBRATING OF THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER AND THE LOCATION ITSELF IS SIGNIFICANT, RIGHT?

>> IT IS, YES.

IN THE EARLY 1990s, CONVERSATIONS STARTED BETWEEN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE AND OUR COMPANY TO BRING OPERATIONS BACK FROM SOUTHERN INDIANA TO OUR HOMETOWN OF LOUISVILLE.

AND SO WEST MAIN WAS PITCHED AS OUR POTENTIAL NEW HOME, AND THE CITY DID A LOT OF WORK TO CLEAN UP THAT AREA.

IT WASN'T AS PRETTY OR LIVELY AS IT IS NOW.

IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO MOVE OUR HOME BASE, OUR OPERATIONS AND THEN WHAT REALLY SEALED THE DEAL IS A SKETCH OF OUR BIG BAT THAT ARCHITECTS DREAMT UP SO THERE WAS SO MUCH POTENTIAL AT WEST MAIN AND SO IT JUST MADE SENSE FOR THAT TO BE OUR NEW HOME, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT'S JUST DOWN THE ROAD FROM OUR FIRST BACK-- FROM OUR FIRST FACTORY AND IT WAS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.

>> IT'S REALLY A PIECE OF HISTORY BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THE ORIGINAL LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, IN THE SAME AREA, WHERE IT WAS FIRST CREATED, AND I WAS TELLING YOU EARLIER, I SEE PEOPLE WITH THOSE LITTLE BATS EVERYWHERE I GO IN DOWNTOWN.

IT IS SUCH A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

>> IT REALLY IS.

IT'S COOL TO GO UP AND DOWN MAIN STREET, ANYWHERE REALLY, TO SEE SO MANY LITTLE BATS AND TO OVERHEAR THE CONVERSATIONS FROM GUESTS.

IT'S A LOT OF FUN.

>> YOU KNOW THEY ARE INTERESTED AND LEARNING ABOUT THE HISTORY RIGHT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THIS HISTORY.

WE HEARD ABOUT WHO BUD HILLERICH WAS.

WHAT ABOUT FRANK BRADSBY?

>> FRANK BRADSBY WAS A GENIUS IN MARKETING AND SALES ORIGINALLY FROM ST. LOUIS, AND HE JOINED THE HILLERICH FAMILY OPERATIONS AROUND 1911 AND BY 1916, HE WAS MADE PARTNER OF THE COMPANY AND THAT IS WHEN OUR COMPANY WAS RENAMED TO HILLERICH AND BRADSBY COMPANY WHICH IS STILL OUR NAME BECAUSE HE MADE SUCH AN IMPORTANT IMPACT ON OUR OPERATIONS.

UNDER HIS GUIDANCE, WE REALLY SEE AN UPTICK OF PLAYERS WHO SIGNED CONTRACTS FOR LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BATS.

THE FIRST CONTRACT WAS SIGNED IN 1905 WITH THOMAS WAGNER BUT UNDER BRADSBY'S GUIDANCE, WE REALLY SEE THE SLUGGER NAME REALLY TAKE OFF AND AND ON AND ON.

UNDER HIS GUIDANCE.

>> AND THAT'S REALLY THE FIRST TIME PLAYERS WERE ASSOCIATED WITH A PARTICULAR BAT, IS THAT RIGHT?

LIKE THEY ENDORSED-- IT BLEW UP.

>> YEAH, AND FROM THE BEGINNING, OUR COMPANY ALWAYS REALLY LISTENED TO WHAT PLAYERS WANTED AND WHAT THEY NEEDED OUT OF THEIR TOOLS THAT ALWAYS MADE US STAND OUT FROM THE LATE 1800s.

>> SO, BASEBALL ITSELF OBVIOUSLY HAS QUITE A HISTORY IN LOUISVILLE.

THE NATIONAL LEAGUE WAS BORN HERE.

>> IT WAS, YEAH THE LOUISVILLE GRAY WAS PART OF THE ORIGINAL LINEUP OF NATIONAL LEAGUE TEAMS, AN IMPORTANT MEETING WAS HELD HERE THE YEAR BEFORE IN 1875, AND SO THAT'S A VERY COOL, IMPORTANT PIECE OF BASEBALL HISTORY THAT WAS HERE.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER TEAMS OR PLACES THEY PLAYED?

OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT ALWAYS AT SLUGGER FIELD.

>> RIGHT, YEAH, SO IT WAS THE LOUISVILLE GRAYS AND THEN THE LOUISVILLE ECLIPSE, THE COLONELS, THE BLACK CAPS, THE WHITE SOX, THE UNIONS, THE RED BIRDS AND NOW, OF COURSE, THE BATS.

>> WE'VE SEEN A LOT.

>> YES.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FAMOUS PLAYERS THAT HAVE HAD AN INFLUENCE HERE IN LOUISVILLE OR COME OUT OF HERE?

>> THE FIRST ONE THAT COMES TO MY MIND IS PETE BROWNING.

>> WHERE THE NAME COMES FROM.

>> THAT WAS HIS NICKNAME.

HE WAS SUCH A BIG NAME IN BATTING IN BASEBALL AT THAT TIME.

AND HE HELPED MAKE OUR BATS POPULAR AND SO THAT'S HOW OUR BATS GOT THEIR NAME, THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER, LOUISVILLE SLUGGER BATS.

SO PETE BROWNING, OF COURSE, IS AN IMPORTANT PLAYER FROM HERE.

ANOTHER IMPORTANT PLAYER IS PEEWEE REESE.

HE WAS CAPTAIN OF THE BROOKLYN DODGERS, AND HE CAME TO WORK FOR HILLERICH AND BRADSBY COMPANY AFTER HIS PLAYING DAYS SO THAT'S A REALLY COOL CONNECTION.

SAMMY HUGHES IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT PLAYER.

HE PLAYED IN THE NEGRO LEAGUES AND WAS ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS OF HIS DAY.

AND THEN, TODAY, WE HAVE WILL SMITH AND ADAM DUVAL.

SO VERY COOL LONG HISTORY.

>> YEAH, THEY DO KEEP COMING.

NOW A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO WILSON SPORTING GOODS BOUGHT THE BRAND, BUT IT STILL REMAINS A FAMILY- OWNED COMPANY.

EXPLAIN THAT.

>> SURE.

SO WILSON CONTRACTS HILLERICH BRADSBY AND COMPANY TO MAKE ALL LOUISVILLE SLUGGER WOODEN BATS.

EVERY WOODEN BAT THAT HAS THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER NAME ON IT FROM THE MINI BATS THAT WE SEE ALL OVER TOWN, TO THE BIG BATH USED BY MAJORS, THOSE ALL COME OUT OF OUR FACTORY DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

>> RIGHT HERE.

ALL OF THOSE MADE.

THE ACTUAL MAKING OF THE BAT HAS CHANGED OVER THE YEARS, RIGHT?

>> SURE, YES, IT DEFINITELY HAS.

HAND TURNING WAS HOW BATS STARTED.

SO IT WOULD TAKE AN EXPERT HAND TURNER ABOUT 30 MINUTES TO MAKE A BAT BY HAND AND,000 WE HAVE-- NOW WE HAVE A CNC MACHINES THAT TURN BATS IN ABOUT 20 TO 30 SECONDS.

>> WOW!

>> YES!

>> AND Y'ALL ARE GETTING THEM OUT OF THERE QUICK.

140 YEARS, SETTLE GREAT-- SET GREATING THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER THIS YEAR, BUT LAST YEAR YOU ALL UNVEILED THIS RENOVATIONS TO THE MUSEUM.

SELL US ABOUT-- TELL BUS THOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHAT WE REALLY WANTED TO DO WAS TAKE A NARRATIVE STORY TELLING APPROACH TO OUR EXHIBITS AND SO WE RENOVATED OUR PERMANENT GALLERY.

PAIRED UP HISTORIC BATS, SIGNIFICANT BATS, WITH SCULPTURES OF PLAYERS TO KIND OF BRING THAT STORY TO LIFE.

AND THEN WE ALSO UNVEILED OUR BAT VAULT.

SO THAT IS KIND OF CALLED THE FORT KNOX OF LOUISVILLE SLUGGER.

WE HAVE OVER 3,000 UNIQUE BATS THAT WERE USED BY THOSE HAND TURNERS, YOU KNOW, SO YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE A COPY OFF A COPY, RIGHT?

YOU HAVE THE ORIGINAL MODEL.

SO ALL THOSE ORIGINAL MODELS ARE STORED IN OUR BAT VAULT THAT GUESTS CAN GO THROUGH EVERY DAY AND SO WE ARE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THE NEW EXHIBITS.

>> SO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU HEAR FROM PEOPLE, SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM OUT OF TOWN OR EVEN HOMETOWN FOLKS WHO VISIT ABOUT THE MUSEUM?

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU HEAR OR WHAT ARE SOME OF THE FAVORITE EXHIBITS THAT THEY LIKE ABOUT IT?

>> I WOULD SAY OUR MOST POPULAR EXHIBIT IS HOLD A PIECE OF HISTORY, WHICH IS A VERY COOL EXPERIENCE WHERE YOU CAN HOLD A BAT THAT WAS GAME USED BY A MAJOR LEAGUE PLAYER.

>> WOW.

>> SO WE HAVE 40 BATS THAT GUESTS CAN CHOOSE FROM TO HOLD, AND THEY REPRESENT ALL 30 MLB TEAMS IN ADDITION TO BIG NAMES LIKE BABE RUTH AND HENRY AARON, AND OLYMPIC SOFTBALL PLAYERS IN THE LINEUP, TOO.

SO THAT'S A VERY COOL, UNIQUE EXPERIENCE, I THINK.

>> WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FIELD, OF COURSE, IS HOME TO THE LOUISVILLE BATS, OUR MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM WHSM WE COME BACK WE'LL TALK TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE BUFL BATS GREG GALIETTE.

NFL ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WELL, TALK ABOUT IS A HISTORY.

GREG GALIETTE IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISVILLE BATS NOW IN YOUR 40th SEASON WITH THE TEAM.

YOU HAVE HAD A LONG HISTORY WITH THIS ORGANIZATION; SPANNING MULTIPLE AFFILIATIONS, BALL PARKS, EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE AND MULTIPLE JOBS.

>> EVEN WE DABBLED IN SOME HOCKEY FOR THREE YEARS.

BACK IN THE MID 90s WHEN OUR BASEBALL FRANCHISE BOUGHT AND WE RAN THE EAST COAST HOCKEY LEAGUE LOUISVILLE RIVER FROGS WITH OUR BASEBALL STAFF.

I NEVER GOT HOME FOR THREE YEARS.

MY WIFE IS AN ABSOLUTE SAINT FOR HAVING TO RAISE TWINS FOR THREE YEARS STRAIGHT WITHOUT ME HARDLY EVER BEING HOME.

IT WAS REALLY COOL BECAUSE WE GOT TO USE THE HOCKEY GAMES AS OUR LABORATORY FOR PROMOTIONS AND TRY OUT NEW THINGS WE WOULD BRING OVER TO THE BASEBALL SIDE I.

WAS FUN.

I LEARNED ABOUT HOCKEY AND HAVE A REAL FONDNESS FOR HOCKEY NOW THAT I DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE THAT.

>> INTERESTING.

TELL US HOW YOU STARTED WAY BACK WHEN WITH THE BATS.

AND YOU HAVE HAD PRETTY MUCH EVERY JOB.

>> PEOPLE SAY I WAS DROPPED OFF AS AN INFANT AT THE CARDINAL VALLEY-- BUT NO, I GRADUATED UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE 1983, WENT TO WORK IN XEROX IN SALES.

GOOD PAY, GOOD TRAINING PROGRAM BUT EVERY DAY FELT LIKE GROUND HRG-- GROUND HOG DAY AND I COULD NOT DO THAT REST OF MY LIFE.

MY FAMILY HAS A VERY STRONG SPORTS BACKGROUND.

MY FATHER PLAYED BALL AND MY GRANDFATHER WAS THE VOICE OF YALE FOOTBALL, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL ANCHORS ON SPORTSCENTER WHEN ESPN CAME ON THE AIR IN THE LATE 70s.

IT HAS BEEN A BIG PART OF OUR FAMILY.

BASEBALL HAD JUST COME BACK TO LOUISVILLE IN 1982 BROUGHT BACK TO BE THE SPRINGFIELD RED BIRDS, THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS WERE BROUGHT HERE TO LOUISVILLE.

LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE.

IT TOOK OVER THE TOWN.

I JUST STARTED PESTERING THE OWNER, A RAY SMITH, AND SLOWLY WORE HIM DOWN.

HE FINALLY GAVE ME A JOB AS AN INTERN.

I TOOK A MASSIVE PAY CUT TO LEAVE XEROX TO GET INTO PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

WE WERE JUST GETTING MARRIED THE FALL OF 1984.

EVERYBODY THOUGHT I WAS AN IDIOT BUT HERE I AM 40 YEARS LATER.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE JOBS THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A JOB BECAUSE IT'S SOMETHING YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND I'M A BIG BELIEVER, IF YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING TO MAKE AS YOUR VOCATION THAT YOU ARE VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT AND MAKE MONEY AT, YOU CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.

SO I FEEL LIKE I'M VERY BLESSED.

>> YOU HAVE SEEN SO MANY CHANGES , THOUGH, IN THOSE 40 YEARS.

NOT JUST THE GAME OF BASEBALL ITSELF, BUT THE TEAM.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES?

>> WELL, AT THAT TIME WE WERE PLAYING IN THE LARGEST MINOR LEAGUE BALL PARK IN AMERICA WE SHARED WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE BASEBALL TEAM.

WE PLAYED ON ARTIFICIAL TURF, WHEN YOU RARELY SEE NOW ANYWHERE IN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL.

THE GAMES WERE A LITTLE BIT LONGER.

NOW WITH THE NEW RULE CHANGES, THEY HAVE BEEN SHORTENED.

A LOT OF SPEED IN THE GAME OF BASEBALL BACK THEN, WHICH THEN DISAPPEARED, ESPECIALLY WITH THE INVOCATION OF STEROIDS COMING INTO THE GAME IN THE LATE TO MID 90s INTO THE 2000S.

NOW I'M STARTING TO SEE SPEED SLOWLY COME BACK INTO THE GAME WHERE GUYS ARE STEALING BASES AGAIN, YOU SEE GUYS THAT HAVE MORE SPEED AS PART OF THEIR MAKEUP, AS FAR AS BEING A PLAYER.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE A FULL 360 EVOLUTION AS FAR AS THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD BASEBALL PLAYER MIGHT HAVE WE HAD A LOT OF FUN IN THAT STADIUM.

MAJOR CONCERTS.

I WAS A TICKET MANAGER FOR ROLLING STONES CONCERT FOR JIMMY BUFFETT, GRATEFUL DEAD.

THE DEAD HEADS SET UP CAMP IN FRONT OF MY TICKET OFFICE FOR 10 DAYS.

HUNG THEIR LAUNDRY AND CLIPPED IT TO THE FRONT OF MY TICKET WINDOW.

FOR TWO WEEKS AFTER THE GRATEFUL DEAD CONCERT WAS OVER, MY TICKET OFFICE SMELLED LIKE PARN FOR TWO STRAIGHT WEEKS.

GREAT MEMORIES, UNIQUE MENTAL BRINGS.

-- MEMORIES.

A RAY SMITH WAS GOOD FRIENDS WITH SO MANY HALL OF FAME BASEBALL PLAYERS BACK AT THAT TIME.

OUR BASEBALL DINNER WE USED TO HAVE IN THE WINTER TIME IN THE 80s WAS SUPPOSEDLY THE SECOND LARGEST GATHERING OF THE HALL OF FAMERS OF BASEBALL BESIDE THE ACTUAL COOPERSTOWN INDUCTION EVERY SUMMER.

ONE YEAR WE HAD OVER 33 HALL OF FAMERS ATTEND OUR BASEBALL DINNER.

SO IT WAS JUST REALLY COOL ME BEING A YOUNG KID GROWING UP LOVING BASEBALL, I WAS LIKE A KID IN THE CANDY STORE BEING AROUND THE HALL OF FAMERS I READ ABOUT AS A CHILD AND MAYBE SAW GLIMPSE OF GROWING UP.

AGAIN, I HAVE BEEN VERY BLESSED TO BE IN THIS CAREER.

>> ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHANGES, THOUGH, IS PROBABLY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SLUG ARE FIELD NOW CELEBRATING ITS 25th ANNIVERSARY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW THAT REALLY CHANGED THE STRUCTURE, LANDSCAPE OF DOWNTOWN, THAT AREA?

>> THEY WERE LOOKING AT A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT LOCATIONS AS POSSIBLE SITES FOR A NEW STADIUM BACK IN THE MID 90s.

ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THEY WERE CONSIDERING WAS JUST RENOVATING CARDINAL STADIUM AND MODERNIZING IT.

ONE OF THE OTHER OPTIONS WAS LOOKING AT A PLOT OF LAND ON TENTH STREET AND MAIN.

IT WAS BETWEEN TENTH AND MAIN AND WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN THE 400 EAST BLOCK OF MAIN STREET.

BACK AT THAT TIME WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED ON EAST MAIN, WAS A BLIGHTED AREA, A LOT OF EMPTY WAREHOUSES.

VACANT BUILDINGS.

AND WE WERE BASICALLY PUT IN THERE AS PART OF BASICALLY ALMOST LIKE A GUINEA GUINEA PIG TO SEE IF SOMETHING WOULD TAKE IN DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

I REMEMBER AT THAT TIME, THE JOKE WAS YOU WANTED TO GET OUT OF DOWNTOWN BY FIVE TO 5:30 BECAUSE THE TUMBLE WEEDS WOULD HIT YOU ON MAIN STREET.

TO GET PEOPLE TO COME BACK AT NIGHT TIME WITH YOUNG CHILDREN, TO BE OUTSIDE WAS A MAJOR EFFORT WE HAD TO WORK THROUGH.

AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHEN WE FIRST OPENED THE BALL PARK, THAT WE HAD OUR SATURDAY NIGHT GAME TIMES AT 6:00, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WHEN THE GAMES WERE OVER, IT WAS DAYLIGHT AND FAMILIES WITH KIDS COULD WALK BACK TO THEIR CARS FEELING SAFE.

OBVIOUSLY WORKED THROUGH ALL THAT.

THE YOUNG CENTER CAME ONLINE IN 2010, WATERFRONT GREW UP.

NEW LOU GREW UP AND WE BECAME THE CATALYST FOR WHAT YOU SEE NOW IN THE EAST SIDE OF DOWNTOWN LOUISVILLE.

>> IT REALLY IS AMAZING.

>> AND TO BE BUILT INTO A FACILITY OR A STRUCTURE THAT WAS BUILT IN THE 1800s, AND THE HISTORICAL FEEL OF THE PROPERTY OF THE LOUISVILLE SLUGGER WAS SO NEAT.

BRING A NATIVE LOUISVILLIAN, I ALMOST LEFT TO TAKE A JOB WITH THE SEATTLE SUPER SONICS IN THE LATE 90s, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT I STAYED IN MY HOMETOWN AND GOT TO WATCH LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FIELD RISE UP OUT OF THE GROUND AND BECOME WHAT IT HAS BECOME NOW.

>> AND YOU MENTIONED, TOO, HOW LOUISVILLE, THE CITY ITSELF, HAS SUCH A HISTORY WHEN IT COMES TO BASEBALL.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST ACTUAL FRANCHISES IN MAJOR LEAGUE LABEL HISTORY IN THE 19--, THE TEAM DIDN'T STAY TOGETHER LONG ENOUGH.

DISBANDED AND FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, BECAME KNOWN AS THE PITTSBURGH PIRATES.

THEY MOVED TO PHILADELPHIA, REORGANIZED THERE.

BUT THERE IS SUCH A LONG, DEEP HISTORY OF PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL AND BASEBALL IN GENERAL HERE IN THIS TOWN, AND WE ACTUALLY RIGHT NOW, FOR THE LAST 2350U YEARS,-- THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE PAY TRIBUTE TO THE NEGRO LEAGUES THAT HAD A SHORT HISTORY IN THE EARLY 1930S BUT OUR NIGHT IS CALLED THE NINE.

AS A TRIBUTE TO JACKIE ROBINSON WHO ACTUALLY WORE THE NUMBER 9 WHEN HE PLAYED HIS ONE YEAR IN MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IN MONTREAL.

SO IT'S OUR ANNUAL TRIBUTE TO NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL NOT ONLY HERE IN LOUISVILLE BUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND AGAIN NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL HAS SUCH A DEEP HISTORY NOT ONLY AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT HERE IN LOUISVILLE.

IT'S REALLY COOL TO BE PART OF ALL THAT.

IT REALLY IS.

>> THIS TEAM PARTICULARLY IN LOUISVILLE, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN THERE WAS NO-- >> NO BASEBALL BETWEEN 72 AND 82.

BASICALLY AT THAT TIME, WE WERE THE TRIPLE A FARM TEAM OF THE BOSTON RED SOX KNOWN AS THE LOUISVILLE COLONELS.

THE FAMOUS ESPN BROADCASTER WAS THE HEAD COACH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE AND THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE WANTED TO EXPAND FAIRGROUNDS STADIUM AT THAT TIME WHICH IS 19,000 SEATS TO 38,000 SEATS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL BY ADDING RETRACTIBLE BLEACHERS IN THE RIGHT FIELD SIDE OF THE BASEBALL STADIUM AND THE RED SOX WANTED NO PART OF THAT.

THEY COULD NOT COME TO A SETTLEMENT SO THE RED SOX SAID FINE, WE ARE LEAVING.

PACKED UP THEIR BAGS AND MOVED TO PAWTUCKET RHODE ISLAND WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND JUST BUILT A NEW STADIUM IN WORST WHICH IS NOT THAT FAR FROM PAWTUCKET BUT ACTUALLY GROWING UP AS A YOUNG CHILD, I WAS A BIG REDS FAN BECAUSE THE TRIPLE A TEAM WAS HERE IN LOUISVILLE AND I GOT TO GO TO THE GAMES.

IT WAS INTERESTING BACK THEN BECAUSE OLD CARDINAL STADIUM OR FAIRGROUNDS STADIUM, A MOTOR SPEEDWAY EFFECTS DOOR SO A LOT OF TIMES ON THE WEEKENDS WHEN YOU WERE AT A BASEBALL GAME, YOU COULDN'T HEAR THE ANNOUNCER BECAUSE OF THE ROAR OF THE CARS GOING AROUND THE TRACK.

THERE WAS A DRIVING RANGE OVER NEXT TO THE SPEEDWAY AND IT JUST WAS A DIFFERENT TIME IN LOUISVILLE.

>> YEAH, AND... >> AND A DIFFERENT LIFESTYLE.

>> EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED SO MUCH.

>> IT REALLY HAS.

TO BE ABLE TO MOVE DOWNTOWN TO A SMALLER STADIUM WHERE EVERY SEAT IS A GREAT SEAT, WHERE WE HAVE A 360° CONCOURSE WHERE FANS CAN JUST STROLL AROUND THE CONCOURSE, ALMOST LIKE A STREET FAIR EVERY NIGHT.

>> IT REALLY IS.

>> AND REALLY AS AN ORGANIZATION, WE FOCUS ON TRYING TO APPEAL TO THE MOMS BECAUSE WE KNOW IF WE CAN GET MOM EXCITED ABOUT COMING DOWNTOWN TO SLUGGER FIELD, MAKE SURE SHE HAS A GOOD TIME, THE RESTROOMS ARE CLEAN FOR HER, HER EXPERIENCE IS A GOOD ONE, WE KNOW THE FAMILY UNIT WILL COME BACK.

>> THAT'S A GOOD MARKETING STRATEGY.

>> MOMS MAKE THE BUYING DECISIONS.

THAT'S WHO WE TRY TO CATER TO.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CHANGES IN THE 40 YEARS.

WHAT IS NEXT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS NEXT FOR THIS ORGANIZATION?

>> TECHNOLOGY HAS GOTTEN SO DEEP INTO BASEBALL AND JUST OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BASICALLY SINCE THE PANDEMIC, MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HAS TAKEN OVER THE RUNNING OF THE MINOR LEAGUES.

BACK IN THE DAY IT WAS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

WHERE YOU HAD MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL DOING THEIR THING, MINOR LEAGUE DOING OUR THING AND WE CO-EXISTED.

NOW WE ARE ALL WORKING AT ONE UNIT.

THEY CALL THE SHOTS PRIMARILY.

SO TECHNOLOGY IS REALLY GETTING MORE AND MORE INTO MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL, WHERE WE ARE USING ALMOST ALL THE ASPECTS OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL USES, TECH WISE IN THEIR BUSINESS.

SO I THINK IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, WE WILL BASICALLY JUST BE A SMALLER VERSION OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL JUST ON A SMALLER SCALE.

>> YEAH, DO YOU THINK THERE IS EVER A SCENARIO WHERE MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL COMES HERE?

>> NO, I DON'T BECAUSE WE ARE SO CLOSE TO THE CINCINNATI MARKET.

IF ANYTHING, I KEEP HEARING RUMORS AND STORIES THAT POSSIBLY NASHVILLE MIGHT BE THE NEXT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL EXPANSION CENTER.

IF YOU HAVE NASHVILLE TO THE SOUTH, CINCINNATI TO THE NORTH, THERE IS NO ROOM FOR LOUISVILLE TO BE THAT CLOSE TO EITHER ONE OF THOSE TEAMS.

SO RIGHT NOW I THINK OUR FOCUS IS TRY TO BE ONE OF THE BEST TRIPLE A MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAMS IN AMERICA AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OUR HISTORY, WE HAVE DONE VERY WELL.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT KENTUCKY'S BASEBALL HISTORY?

CHECK OUT OUR INSTAGRAM PAGE FOR A CRASH COURSE ON ALL THE KENTUCKY BASEBALL CONNECTIONS FROM PEEWEE REESE TO JOCKEY JACKIE ROBINSON AND LEARN ABOUT SOME OF OUR LOCAL PLAYERS FAVORITE SUPERSTITIONS WHICH IT COMES TO PLAYING.

YOU CAN WATCH, FOLLOW AND SHARE ON OUR GRAM PAGE AT KET IN LOU.

THANKS FOR SPENDING A LITTLE TIME GETTING TO KNOW LOUISVILLE THIS WEEK.

I HOPE WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME FOR INSIDE LOUISVILLE... UNTIL THEN, MAKE IT A GREAT WEEK!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪