We kicked off the day at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, where the iconic giant bat leaning against the building greeted us as we arrived. We spent some time exploring the museum, which was filled with fascinating displays tracing the history of baseball and the legendary players who’ve swung these famous bats. It was especially cool for Mark and TJ to hold a bat once used by famous Red Sox players.
We then joined a guided tour of the working factory, which was running full steam—even on a Sunday. It was incredible to see how compact the space was, considering the sheer number of bats they produce each year. While the production process is largely automated, the museum offers visitors a glimpse into traditional bat-making techniques. The only downside was that the tour groups were on the larger side, making it a bit tricky to hear everything—but we still got plenty out of it.
Afterward, we hit the museum shop, where TJ scored himself a brand-new personalized wooden bat, which he was pretty thrilled about. Mark also picked up a mini custom bat for his desk at work—the perfect little memento from our visit.
Back at our Airbnb, we dropped off the car and then walked into town for the baseball game at Slugger Field. Along the way, we grabbed coffees from Quills, and to our pleasant surprise, it was actually a decent cup—no small feat in the U.S., so spirits were high!
The game was a AAA minor league match-up between the Louisville Bats and the Indianapolis Indians, just one tier below the majors. The stadium had a great vibe, and at only $10 a ticket, it felt like an absolute bargain—especially considering we had fantastic seats. We went all in on stadium food (“the food of champions,” as Mark likes to say), and settled in for what turned out to be a great game.
In true American fashion, the game began with a rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner. Louisville got off to a solid start, but the Indians kept it tight. After nine innings, the score was tied, taking us into extra innings. In the 10th, the Indians managed to clinch the win by a single run—a dramatic and exciting end to a fun, close game. Mark managed to catch a ball thrown by the pitcher at the end of an inning, and during the 7th-inning stretch, Sophia caught a few of the stress balls being tossed into the crowd—adding a little extra fun to the experience.
We wrapped up the day with a walk back through town, a quick stop at the supermarket for a few supplies, and then settled in to watch the final moments of the Masters—cheering on Rory from the couch as we watched a nail-biting finish unfold. The perfect wind-down to a day packed with Louisville charm.