Click to see Louisville Slugger: Years 1960-1979
1980 - Present
| 1980-1983 | 1984-1985 | 1986-1989 |
| 1990 | 1991-1997 |
The dominating characteristic of Louisville Slugger bats during the period of 1980 to the present is the prominent display of "Louisville Slugger" in the centerbrand of the bat. Prior to this time period Louisville Slugger used a centerbrand that not only contained the words "Louisville Slugger," it also contained the words "Hillerich & Bradsby Co."
As seen in Image 1, the 1980-1983 labelling contains a centerbrand that measures 4½
inches across; to the immediate right of the centerbrand is the word "Powerized" with a
® symbol directly above the "d." At the barrel end of the bat, as seen in image 1.5,
the word "GENUINE" with a model number is directly above the player's name (either as the
player's signature for those with a Louisville Slugger contract or in block lettering);
finally, "Louisville Slugger" is found directly below the player's name.
Top
Image 2 shows that the contents of the 1984-1985 bat label are exactly the same as the
1980-1983 with the only difference being the size of the centerbrand, which was reduced
to 3½ inches across. This is better seen by looking at the picture with all the bats
from 1980 to the present. Top
Image 3 illustrates the change to Louisville Slugger bat labeling that marked the period of
1986 through 1989. The 86-89 bats keep the same centerbrand size and content, however, a
® symbol is now found on the barrel at the end of the bat directly below the player's
name. Top
Image 4 illustrates the change in labeling on the barrel of Louisville Slugger bats in 1990.
Apparently due to a dispute concerning the size of the labeling on certain LVS bats used
during the 1989 season, Major League Baseball prohibited LVS from placing its name on the
barrel of their bats. As a result, while the 1990 bats retain the same centerbrand as the
bats from 1984-1989 there is a strange open space directly below the player's name on the
barrel of the bat. Top
Image 5 shows the style of labelling on the barrel of the bat that has been used from
1991 to the present on major league bats. Louisville Slugger substituted the team name
for the blank space that had formerly been below the player name on the 1990 bat barrel.
Obviously this makes it a lot easier to figure out what team the player played during the
time period he used the bat. (Note: even now you will see the traditional style of bat
labeling used in the 1986-1989 time period as bats with this labeling are distributed to
minor league players. So a 1991-1997 bat used by a rookie or call up could show this
labeling.) Top
Go to Top, to Louisville Slugger: Years
1960-1979 or back to Bat Companies
