R and J in the USA

There is a certain kind of something that we encountered in Kentucky many times and in many forms, a certain something encapsulated by the Kentucky State motto, “United we stand, divided we fall.” We got another taste of this Kentucky spirit during our visit to the Louisville Slugger Bat Factory and Museum, thanks to the man who operated the batting cages.

We were pretty excited to visit the Louisville Slugger Factory, especially Julie, who loved to play softball and watch baseball as a kid. The visit did not disappoint.

In addition to loving the factory and museum, we were able to add to our “world’s largest” list. Measuring 120 feet tall and weighing 34 tons, the world’s largest baseball bat stood in front of the factory.

Our excitement went to a next level when we came upon one of the exhibits in the museum. They had game-used bats from some of the last century’s most famous players to hold and swing a Louisville Slugger that, through a very orderly and protected process, museum visitors were allowed to hold! We each selected a bat or two. Julie held Babe Ruth and Darryl Strawberry bats (incidentally the heaviest and lightest bats of the selection) and Ryan held a Hank Aaron bat. It was pretty neat. We were giddy enough from that.

But the best part was the batting cages. We each got to grab bats that matched the designs and weights of bats from various famous players. Julie decided to try the Babe Ruth bat, the heaviest one. She got into the cage. This is when we met the man operating the batting cage. He asked Julie if she would like to hit baseballs with baseball pitches or softballs with softball pitches. Julie opted for baseball. She’d never hit a baseball, but she’d always been able to make contact with any pitch, so she figured, why not. The bat was long and heavy. After a few weighty swing and misses, Julie choked up on the bat almost a foot up its neck just to be able to get any sense of control where it went, resulting in a few moments of satisfaction. Those balls came by way faster than she’d ever encountered as a former softball player. She managed to get a small piece of only two out of ten pitches. Her ego was mildly wounded, but her hunger to do some hitting was voracious and unfed.

The kind gentleman offered her a try at a free round of the softballs, whether out of empathy or pity is unclear. Either way, it was appreciated. Julie accepted, thinking, I’ve gotta get that satisfaction of a hit. Well, very little satisfaction would come. Despite the fact that those softballs lobbed slowly through the air with plenty of time for response, Julie didn’t make contact more than once! Julie’s ego was now not just bruised, but fully battered by this point. “What?! I can always get a piece of it! What has happened?!” Julie was thinking as she walked out of the cage in a bubble of bewilderment and with a hint of shame. She forced herself to look at the gentleman operating the cages. “I swear, I used to be able to do this,” she admitted to him, as if she had somehow let him down personally. He smiled at her and said with sincerity and empathy for her recent public failure, “I’m sure you did.”

For those of you that know Julie, you might guess, as she exited the ramp with no solid hits to speak of, it was not a time to leave the batting cages, it was a time to go pay for another round. As Julie passed Ryan, Ryan saw the look in her eyes and knew what was up. “Oh, are we doing another round?” Ryan inquired knowing full well the answer was yes. Ryan had done well in the cages, but not as well as he’d have liked, so he welcomed the opportunity and was all in for a second round for himself too. 

This is a lesson in bats, Julie thought. Julie understood that she didn’t have the experience or the strength to handle a Babe Ruth bat. Her ability to know where her swing was going to land and to make sure it connected with the ball just wasn’t there with something so heavy. 

Julie was determined and went out to pay for the next round. She selected a lighter bat this time. 

As she stood in line waiting for her next turn, the kind gentleman working the cages came up to her and handed her a different bat than the wooden major league bat she was holding. Immediately, as her fingers wrapped around its neck, she felt the familiar sensations of days long ago. The man had given her an aluminum softball bat and a warm smile.  

Despite wanting to rise up to the power of Louisville slugger wood, Julie felt the familiar grip around the metal bat. She re-entered the cage and felt the muscle memory fall into place. With those nice slow softballs coming her way and her grip around a bat she knew and knew how to wield, she proceeded to smack the heck out of 10 out of 10 balls and learned a lesson about how much difference a heavy bat can make.  

Julie was amped and turned to Ryan to let him know that “going to the batting cages” is now something we will start doing when we get home. Julie was determined to develop new muscle memories and learn how to swing a heavy bat and hit a fast baseball. 

But, for now, Julie was satisfied with that quenching feeling of contact ten times over.

She walked out of the cage, this time with a proud smile and grateful look to the man that had helped her get this little taste of childhood glories. The nice gentleman that had made sure she had the right bat smiled right back at her and said, “Don’t worry. You still got it.”