Louisville Sluggers, the wooden bats that professional players love, starts in the forests of New York and Pennsylvania, where the company harvests white ash with just the right combination of strength and flexibility. Then, back at the factory, see how the pros bat differ from what's available to ordinary citizens--and gawk at Babe's Ruth's famous bat.

• Before Louisville Slugger, players' bats were made in local woodworking shops.
  
• More than 60 percent of major league players use a Louisville Slugger.
  
• Babe Ruth's bat weighed 43 ounces, Hank Aaron's 33 ounces.
  
• On average, a professional player goes through around 100 bats in a season.
  
• Each wood bat is made from white ash grown on 5,000 acres. The trees chosen are 40 to 60 years old.
  
• Louisville Slugger makes 1.4 million wood bats every year.
  
• A Louisville Slugger pro costs $60, a Standard Louisville Slugger, $20.
  
• You can see pro bats being made at the Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, Kentucky.

Louisville Slugger
Louisville, Kentucky
800-282-BATS (2287)
www.slugger.com

Louisville Slugger Museum
Personalized bats, $40
502-588-7228
www.sluggermuseum.org

New York Mets
Shea Stadium
718-507-TIXX (8499)
www.mets.com