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 Bulls Louisville Bulls The Louisville Bulls were an American football team located in Louisville, Kentucky. The Bulls were founded in 1988, under Louisville Bulls INC, by Don Hillerich. By 1994, the Louisville Bulls were incorporated as a non-profit organization. The team played as an independent in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, the Bulls joined the Hearts of Ohio Football League (HOFL). The following year, the Bulls won the HOFL championship. In 1992, the Bulls joined the Mid Continental Football League (MCFL). In 2004, the Bulls were nationally ranked as the 8th best semi-pro football team in the Midwest. In 2008, the