Louisville, Ky., is known for fast horses and baseball bats, thanks to champions like Secretariat and the Louisville Slugger brand. In 2004, the celebrated bat manufacturer Louisville Slugger collaborated Big Red’s owner, Penny Chenery, collaborated in a joint venture linking these two great American traditions.
In the fall of that year, a series of custom-made Secretariat Louisville Slugger Baseball Bats were produced to honor the 1973 Triple Crown champion. The regulation 34-inch length bats were made in the traditional manner of most Louisville Slugger bats with a natural ash finish and the distinctive Slugger logo in black lettering. However, the Secretariat edition bats featured Secretariat’s lifespan, career earnings and silhouetted image etched into the barrel.
The original prototype, one of only two total produced for personal approval by Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery, has the distinction of the added engraved phrase “Waiting for You,” referencing the lyrics of the Richard Marx song, which was released in 1989 coinciding with the death of Secretariat. The song was also included in the release of the original ESPN video “The Life and Times of Secretariat” produced in 1990. This very special and rare artifact from the personal collection of Penny Chenery and the Meadow Stable Archives is a wonderful and unique addition to any baseball or horse racing collection.