The Original Louisville Slugger: The Life and Times of Forgotten Baseball Legend Pete Browning – Paperback

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A 2024 CASEY Award Finalist for Best Baseball Book of the Year, The Original Louisville Slugger explores the life and legacy of Louis "Pete" Browning, one of baseball’s most remarkable yet overlooked players. Known for his exceptional batting skills, Browning won three batting titles and consistently ranked among the top hitters of the 19th century.

Beyond the diamond, Browning was an eccentric figure—a bourbon lover who named his bats after biblical characters, washed his eyes with buttermilk, and refused to slide while playing. His legendary status also comes from being the first player to use a custom-made bat from the Hillerich & Bradsby Company, giving birth to the Louisville Slugger brand.

Despite his colorful persona, Browning suffered from mastoiditis, a painful condition that robbed him of his hearing and led to his struggles with alcohol. Tim Newby’s meticulously researched biography separates fact from fiction, shedding light on Browning’s impact on baseball history.

Product Details:

Author: Tim Newby

Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

Publication Date: August 27, 2024

Language: English

Format: Paperback

Pages: 276

Dimensions: 6 x 0.63 x 9 inches

ISBN-10: 1985900858

ISBN-13: 978-1985900851