Iconic Louisville Slugger bats sold to Wilson for $70 million

The company that made bats for a who’s who of baseball greats, including Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, announced a deal Monday to sell its Louisville Slugger brand to rival Wilson Sporting Goods Co. for $70 million.

Hillerich & Bradsby Co. has made the iconic bats for more than 130 years, supplying the bats with the recognizable oval logo for generations of baseball players – from the sandlots to the big leagues.

Wilson’s deal to acquire the global brand, sales and innovation rights of Louisville Slugger still requires approval by H&B shareholders, according to the announcement Monday. H&B will continue to manufacture wood bats at its factory in Louisville, Ky.

Wilson Sporting Goods is a division of Finnish sports equipment maker Amer Sports Corp. The Helsinki-based company said the deal is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

H&B said its Bionic Gloves division and Powerbilt golf brand are not part of the deal.

This story was originally published March 23, 2015 at 10:09 PM.