Slugger Museum Offering New Exhibits

Content originally posted by Sports Collectors Daily:

Final touches are being put into the Louisville Slugger Museum's new look. Renovations began last year to update the museum's look and feel. Several pieces of vintage baseball memorabilia are being hauled out of storage and from behind display glass and put into prominent places or even into the hands of visitors.

Since opening in 1996, the museum and Louisville Slugger factory have drawn about 2.75 million. Between January 1 and March 25, over 21,000 people have visited.

The changes taking place this year are the first major additions since the Hall opened. They're expected to be open by the middle of April.

New exhibits include:

• Hold A Piece of History: Visitors will be able to hold Louisville Slugger game-used bats wielded by baseball greats like Mickey Mantle, David Ortiz, Rod Carew and Jim Thome. Different player bats will be rotated into the exhibit.

• Grandpa Bud’s Attic: Fans will go on a treasure hunt to unlock and uncover significant memorabilia. Grandpa Bud is Bud Hillerich, who made the first Louisville Slugger bat in 1884. This interactive “attic” will house historic contracts signed by Major League players, bats, unique photographs and more baseball memorabilia.

• A new and more prominent exhibit for the Louisville Slugger bat Babe Ruth notched for every home run he hit with it and a more in-depth look at the incredible story behind it.

• An exhibit featuring the Louisville Slugger bat used by Joe DiMaggio during his 56 consecutive game hitting streak in 1941. The DiMaggio game-used bat has never been displayed for the public. Louisville Slugger acquired it several years ago.

The baseball hit by Hank Aaron for his 700th home run will be on display and possibly a preserved rose from the casket of Babe Ruth.