Post by glasspoet on Nov 27, 2011 2:13:34 GMT -5
In 1882, Tom Browning, a 21 year old Louisville native, playing for the professional Lousiville team, was a rookie. In an extra inning game, there was a thundercrack when he hit the ball and it flew over the centerfield fence on a line drive and into an adjacent stadium where they were also playing baseball. Fans from both stadiums erupted to scream their appreciation. It is said the baseball traveled all the way across the other stadium and rolled into the home team dugout! It was the first known "walk-off homerun".
He went on to bat .378 that year, leading the league, as well as being among the top leaders in almost every category. He quickly earned the nickname "the gladiator". Later, when in the midst of a slump,he went to a local sawmill and had them make him some special bats, which he used the rest of his career, he also acquired the nickname "the Louisville Slugger". When he retired, the company making his bats, began to call their bats the Louisville Slugger model--and the rest, as they say, is history!
He went on to bat .378 that year, leading the league, as well as being among the top leaders in almost every category. He quickly earned the nickname "the gladiator". Later, when in the midst of a slump,he went to a local sawmill and had them make him some special bats, which he used the rest of his career, he also acquired the nickname "the Louisville Slugger". When he retired, the company making his bats, began to call their bats the Louisville Slugger model--and the rest, as they say, is history!