New Louisville Slugger Design

[GoTigers]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

The more I look at it the less I like it. The 4 lines of text at the sig block are in 4 different font sizes, and a couple different fonts. The changes in size, direction, and font are distracting and hard to read.

I barely notice the centerbrand because the sig block is such a mess. I do not like that they dropped the 125 and "Powerized". The centerbrand is almost over-simplified and the barrel branding is a jumbled mess. However, I do like the construction keys on the reverse.

I agree, an iconic brand should be tweeked, not transformed. Any other bat brand would give an arm and a leg to have the brand recognition that Louisville Slugger enjoys, and it seems they are throwing that out the window.

You'd think with all the new comers to the bat industry, Louisville Slugger would want a design that tells the story.. that they've been around for 100+ years.. From Honus Wagner to the new top draft picks.. and that they'll be around for another 100+ years.

I have designed hundreds of retail products for very large international companies.. from bedroom furniture to truck bodies, so I have a small idea of good design. If anyone at Louisville Slugger wants to take another look at this,, I'd love to do some pro bono work

[1929tudor]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

The worst part on the barrel is the facsimilie autograph. As crappy as these players sign anymore how the heck are you supposed to tell who's bat it is. Only way to narrow it down is they put the team name there and you'll have to guess. What a way to destroy a 100 year old history and tradition to make a bat that looks like that. Every thing changes over time I guess.

[yanks12025]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

I think it's so ugly, I may just stick to pre 2013 bats then.

[PwKw13]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

It looks strangely similar to this Nike bat...

[ldonley]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

Louisville Slugger 2013 = New Coke 1985

History, be prepared to repeat yourself

Fail.

[suave1477]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

Louisville Slugger 2013 = New Coke 1985

History, be prepared to repeat yourself

Fail.

Great reference!! Perfectly said.

[dplettn]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

Its not surprising to see the immediate distaste among collectors. I think "PwKw13" may have best characterized the prevailing expectation among our unique group: "An iconic brand like Louisville Slugger should maintain a traditional look with only minor tweaks. The Yankees have been pretty successful going that route."

Having said that, we all need to remember two things:

1) We aren't the audience that matters to LVS. Its the players. Where the players go, the hobby will follow.

2) There is precedent for change beyond minor tweaks. It was long before I was interested in the hobby that the H&B brand transformed to Louisville Slugger.

I'm interested to actually see and touch the modern/contemporary bats. I'm also interested to consider them with player characteristics present (mota, pine tar, etc). But what matters is how the players see it. I would imagine that the variances which players wanted to order were difficult to track with certainty within the clubhouse. And brands like Marucci have posed a unique challenge to LVS's competitive position.

Changes of perception among a company's endorsers is a powerful thing, and likely motivated this move (for our better or worse). I suspect what LVS is doing is adapting to a changing market (player wants) and competitive landscape. As collectors, we'll adapt too.

[joelsabi]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

Its not surprising to see the immediate distaste among collectors. I think "PwKw13" may have best characterized the prevailing expectation among our unique group: "An iconic brand like Louisville Slugger should maintain a traditional look with only minor tweaks. The Yankees have been pretty successful going that route."

Having said that, we all need to remember two things:

1) We aren't the audience that matters to LVS. Its the players. Where the players go, the hobby will follow.

2) There is precedent for change beyond minor tweaks. It was long before I was interested in the hobby that the H&B brand transformed to Louisville Slugger.

I'm interested to actually see and touch the modern/contemporary bats. I'm also interested to consider them with player characteristics present (mota, pine tar, etc). But what matters is how the players see it. I would imagine that the variances which players wanted to order were difficult to track with certainty within the clubhouse. And brands like Marucci have posed a unique challenge to LVS's competitive position.

Changes of perception among a company's endorsers is a powerful thing, and likely motivated this move (for our better or worse). I suspect what LVS is doing is adapting to a changing market (player wants) and competitive landscape. As collectors, we'll adapt too.

great points. what did marucci do that made their bats player friendly?

[dplettn]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

great points. what did marucci do that made their bats player friendly?

Neither of the players I focus my collecting on on have been Marucci users, so others certainly will know the specifics of Marucci far better than I. My understanding is that features like hand written specs at the factory are easier for a small batch producer than for a larger producer like Louisville Slugger, which produces with greater scale.

While heritage and speed of fulfillment have been competitive advantages for LVS, the visualization of each bat's unique attributes and integrity has been a comparative challenge in contrast to micro producers. So as a business, its their is a fine line LVS must tote in effort to retain its endorsers inside (pun partially intended).

Its no surprise that the modernized presentation (visual and discussion of attributes and manufacturing standards) will be demonstrated to the market on Posey and Votto signature models.

[joelsabi]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

Neither of the players I focus my collecting on on have been Marucci users, so others certainly will know the specifics of Marucci far better than I. My understanding is that features like hand written specs at the factory are easier for a small batch producer than for a larger producer like Louisville Slugger, which produces with greater scale.

While heritage and speed of fulfillment have been competitive advantages for LVS, the visualization of each bat's unique attributes and integrity has been a comparative challenge in contrast to micro producers. So as a business, its their is a fine line LVS must tote in effort to retain its endorsers inside (pun partially intended).

Its no surprise that the modernized presentation (visual and discussion of attributes and manufacturing standards) will be demonstrated to the market on Posey and Votto signature models.

I know that the Marucci computer system makes it easy to save the customization for a player so its easy to reorder in the future. For example Chase Utley has 18 customized bats in the system. If he want CU7 he asks for that specific model. Visually maybe that code is enough.

[emann]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

great points. what did marucci do that made their bats player friendly?

Players get hits with them. I think it's that simple.

Marucchi has a really nice, clean design also.

[rufusandherschel]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

[quote=emann;309214]Players get hits with them. I think it's that simple.

I agree. I seriously doubt that the bat's 'appearance' has much to do with a player's bat selection/choice, but more on the bat's properties/characteristics, e.g., weight, length, feel, etc.

[staindsox]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

With a design this ugly, I wonder how it will impact retail sales.

[Carlevv]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

I asked a superstar player what he thought of the new design this afternoon. He said he really liked it. We went back and forth about it and he said that last years M9 was a different label compared to the 125 louisville slugger label and nobody cared. He said he had zero problems with the new look and he is a contracted Louisville Slugger player. Im guessing Derek Jeter will tell Louisville Slugger he wont change to the new style. Thats just my gut feeling though.

[jppopma]

Re: New Louisville Slugger Design

Maybe all of the new design details on the bat will help hypnotize pitchers...

Sad to see the "Powerized" go away, especially with the new compression option/method. They really should take advantage of that and make the bone like compression the NEW Powerized (or ultra powerized). If you are known for something, it should be a cornerstone.