The world's largest baseball-bat factory is located in which U.S. city?

Louisville, Kentucky, stands as the proud home of the world's largest baseball bat factory, the iconic Louisville Slugger. This renowned brand has been synonymous with America's favorite pastime for over a century, crafting the bats swung by countless baseball legends. The factory and an accompanying museum are located in downtown Louisville, on what is known as "Museum Row," attracting visitors from around the globe.

The story of the Louisville Slugger began in 1884 when 17-year-old John A. "Bud" Hillerich, an apprentice in his father's woodworking shop, crafted a bat for local baseball star Pete Browning of the Louisville Eclipse. Browning had broken his bat during a game and asked Hillerich to make him a new one. The next day, Browning reportedly got three hits with the new bat, and the legend of the Louisville Slugger was born. Initially, Bud's father was skeptical about the venture, preferring to focus on butter churns, but Bud's persistence led to the company's success in bat manufacturing. The "Louisville Slugger" name was officially registered as a trademark in 1894.

Today, the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory offers an immersive experience where visitors can take a guided tour to see how the famous bats are made, from the raw timber to the finished product. The museum also features interactive exhibits, displays of bats used by Hall of Famers like Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron, and a towering 120-foot-tall, 68,000-pound steel replica of Babe Ruth's bat leaning against the building, recognized as the world's largest baseball bat. Every guest on the factory tour receives a complimentary mini-bat as a keepsake.