via @maruccisports
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
Giancarlo Stanton
Marucci G27 34/32 Maple
Aramis Ramirez
Chase Utley
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
Jose Bautista
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
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
Anthony Rizzo
Marucci Rizz44 Ash
Todd Frazier
Marucci SH7 Maple
Dee Gordon
Chandler CB15
Daniel Murphy
Devin Mesoraco
Marucci DM39 Maple
Miguel Montero
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
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.
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.
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?
MINE bats and European Beech is going to take over the league, mark my words!
Chandler will be the king of swing