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Louisville Slugger’s 80-Year Streak Splintered, Marucci King of the All Star Game

Last year WPW made some noise after posting this article, disputing the truth of Louisville Slugger’s claim that they were the #1 bat at the 2013 All Star Game.  After researching it we concluded that Louisville was not, in fact, #1, but it was Marucci, swung by 12 players to Louisville’s 11.  The upset came with a bit of controversy though, as a reader pointed out that Edwin Encarnacion swung Louisville that night.  Being that we pay attention to this type of thing, I knew that was atypical for Encarnacion, who had been swinging Marucci exclusively going back several seasons, and continues to do so to this day.  So why would a loyal Marucci guy randomly pick up a Slugger in the All Star Game?

I am speculating, but it probably won’t surprise you that companies sometimes offer bonuses (often charitable) so players will use their equipment in an exhibition like the ASG.  In this instance, Edwin took the bait.  In WPW’s eyes, even though Edwin swung Louisville that night, he’s a Marucci guy and has been for a long time, so I awarded Marucci the swing vote.  (Note: I understand Louisville might not have been the only one to give bonuses, but their bonuses were probably the biggest, being that they’re the most established company in the sport and were enough to lure Encarnacion who hadn’t swung anything but Marucci for multiple seasons before.)

After that article, I got a call from USA Today’s Ray Glier, who was intrigued by the “upset” and wanted to check my numbers.  He wanted to write a story about it.  I told him my numbers, and by the time it went to print, Ray told me that he found out Edwin went to bat with Louisville, so my numbers were inaccurate and had to be removed from the story.

We’re back, 365 days later, and we’ve got another count for you.  This time, there is no controversy.  It was a landslide, and a historic one at that.

Here’s a breakdown of every guy to the finest detail, his brand and model, along with measurements where possible (and links to buy where available).  I watched every AB, scoured Getty Images, did whatever I had to do to leave no doubt.

2014 ASG Starters Bat Choices

Andrew McCutchen

Marucci AM22 Maple

Yasiel Puig

1st and 2nd AB: Old Hickory YP66 Maple 

3rd AB: Chandler YP66 Maple

Troy Tulowitzki

Tucci TL-271 34/31.5 Maple

Paul Goldschmidt

Old Hickory TC1 34/32 Maple

Giancarlo Stanton

Marucci G27 34/32 Maple

Aramis Ramirez

Sam Bat PS2 Maple

Chase Utley

Marucci CU26 33.5/31

Jonathan Lucroy

B45 B318 Yellow Birch

Carlos Gomez

Victus CG27 Birch 33.5/30.5 (Based of C360)

Derek Jeter

Louisville Slugger P72 Ash 34/32

Mike Trout

Old Hickory J143M Maple 33.5/31.5

Robinson Cano

Marucci RC’09 Maple

Miguel Cabrera

Sam Bat MC1 Maple 34/32

Jose Bautista

Marucci JB19 Maple

Nelson Cruz

1st AB: Marucci AP5 Maple

2nd AB: Louisville Slugger I13L

Adam Jones

Louisville Slugger AJ10 Ash

Josh Donaldson

Marucci JD20 Maple

Salvador Perez

Marucci JB19 Maple

Reserves

Charlie Blackmon

Old Hickory CB19 34 inch

Hunter Pence

Max Bat HP9 Maple 34.5/32.5

Starlin Castro

Louisville Slugger S318 Maple 34 inch, varying weight

Freddie Freeman

Marucci CB15 Maple

Anthony Rizzo

Marucci Rizz44 Ash

Todd Frazier

Marucci SH7 Maple

Dee Gordon

Chandler CB15

Daniel Murphy

Louisville Slugger C243 Ash

Devin Mesoraco

Marucci DM39 Maple

Miguel Montero

Zinger X26

Josh Harrison

Marucci JH5

Alexei Ramirez

Marucci Los15

Derek Norris

Marucci CG5 Maple

Jose Altuve

Tucci TL-238 Maple

Yoenis Cespedes

Chandler DTM7C Maple 34/32-32.5

Kyle Seager

Victus KS15 Ash 34/31.5

Adrian Beltre

Marucci AB29 Maple 34/32

Michael Brantley

Marucci CS41 Maple

Brandon Moss

Louisville Slugger S329 Maple

Ian Kinsler

Louisville Slugger C243 Maple

Jose Abreu

2014 ASG Totals

(1/2 points awarded for guys who swung two brands)

Marucci – 17.5

Louisville Slugger – 6.5

Old Hickory – 3.5

Chandler – 2.5

Tucci – 2

Sam Bat – 2

Victus – 2

Zinger – 1

MaxBat – 1

B45 – 1

There you have it.  Marucci left no doubt this year, with 11 more bats than their rival, Louisville Slugger, and 45% of the entire field.  A decisive victory and one that has been years in the making.

all-star-game-bat-choices,-what-pros-wear

As you can see in the chart above, we looked back to the 2012 All Star Game to see if we could spot any trends, and now that the 2014 results are in, we’ve got a pretty telling story.  Since the first All Star Game in 1933 (and for at least a decade before that), Louisville Slugger has been the choice among baseball royalty, and until these last three seasons, it was never even close.

To put that 90+ year run in context with other top sports brands, look at Nike, who seems to have been running the basketball shoe market for an eternity, but in reality it hasn’t even been 30 years.  Or a company like Titleist, whose name seems as much a part of golf as fairways and sand traps, who became the top ball at the US Open for the first time in 1949, 65 years ago.

Mel Ott (left) and other New York Giants talk Slugger with Boston Braves, 1933. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

Mel Ott (left) and other New York Giants talk Slugger with Boston Braves, 1933. Courtesy of the Boston Public Library, Leslie Jones Collection.

Its Louisville’s unparalleled dynastic success that makes Marucci’s rise so remarkable.

The underdog story began when Cardinals’ Eduardo Perez lined out to SS on June 25, 2003.  Just eleven years later, 45% of the game’s elite players are converted.  Whether you’re a Louisville, Marucci, Old Hick, or a Chandler guy, its obvious that this is a pivotal moment for the pro wood bat industry.

Will Marucci, now the top dog, be able to fight off Louisville with a target on their backs?

Will Louisville be able to get back up off the mat and take back what is theirs?

Is this the beginning of a tug-of-war between the two lumber kings?  Or is there another underdog coming for the top spot?

 

2 comments

  1. MINE bats and European Beech is going to take over the league, mark my words!

  2. Chandler will be the king of swing

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