History of Louisville, Kentucky charter member. While the Grays were a relatively short-lived team, playing for only two years, they began a much longer lasting relationship between the city and baseball. In 1883, John "Bud" Hillerich made his first baseball bat from white ash in his father's wood shop. The first bat was produced for Pete "The Gladiator" Browning of the Louisville Eclipse (minor league team). The bats eventually become known by the popular name, "Louisville Slugger", and the local company Hillerich & Bradsby rapidly became one of the largest manufacturers of baseball bats and other sporting equipment in the world. Today, Hillerich &
Louisville Ladder Louisville Ladder Louisville Ladder Inc. is one of the largest American manufacturers of ladders. Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Louisville Ladder is owned by Mexican corporation Grupo Cuprum and is the result of the gradual merger of several ladder manufacturers — Louisville, Davidson and Cuprum. Louisville Ladder is one of the largest manufacturers of ladders in North America. The company's headquarters are located in Louisville, KY, and it has a network of warehouses in various cities throughout the United States and Canada. Over 1,000 employees. The company manufactures aluminum and fiberglass ladders (including extension ladders, articulated ladders,