01-03-2023, 11:45 AM
(01-03-2023, 11:15 AM)skip75 Wrote:(01-03-2023, 09:15 AM)Mick Wrote: Who was the "Louisville Slugger?"Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali?
Great guess!
The original Louisville Slugger was Pete Browning who played for Louisville of the American Association from 1882 to 1889, back when they were considered a major league. He was one of the best hitters in all of baseball (career .341), leading the league in batting average, OBP, OPS, hits, etc. He was one of the first to purchase bats from that company, and lent them the use of his name to promote their company.
Pete Browning Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com
BTW, when the American Association folded, and became the Players League for one year (which subsequently folded after the 1890 season), a number of those players were essentially free agents, free to sign with whatever National League team would have them. Other teams referred to Browning's signing as an "act of piracy" and the Pittsburgh team thereupon adopted the Pirate as their mascot.
Pittsburgh Pirates - Wikipedia
Pete Browning Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More | Baseball-Reference.com
That team had a number of Hall of Fame managers, including Connie Mack and Ned Hanlon. It also had HoF members Jake Beckley and Pud Galvin
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