Louisville Bats

The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the winged mammal and baseball bats, such as those manufactured locally under the Louisville Slugger brand. The team plays their home games at Louisville Slugger Field, which opened in 2000. The Bats previously played at Cardinal Stadium from 1982 to 1999.

The club began play as the Louisville Redbirds in the Triple-A American Association (AA) in 1982. Louisville won three AA championships: in 1984, 1985, and 1995 as the top affiliate of the St. Louis Cardinals. They joined the Triple-A International League in 1998 following the dissolution of the AA after the 1997 season. The Redbirds rebranded as the Louisville RiverBats in 1999; this was shortened to Bats in 2002. In conjunction with Major League Baseball's restructuring of Minor League Baseball in 2021, the Bats were shifted to the Triple-A East, but this was renamed the International League in 2022. Their lone IL championship was won in 2001 with Cincinnati.

History

American Association (1982–1997)

In 1982, the St. Louis Cardinals moved their Triple-A team of the American Association (AA), the Springfield Redbirds, from Springfield, Illinois, to Louisville, Kentucky, where they became the Louisville Redbirds. They played their home games at Cardinal Stadium, which was located at the Kentucky Exposition Center and seated over 30,000 people.<ref name=CardinalStadiumSC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The stadium previously hosted the Louisville Colonels from 1957 to 1972.<ref name=CardinalStadiumSC/>

During their inaugural 1982 season, the Redbirds broke the minor league attendance record by drawing 868,418 people to Cardinal Stadium.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> On the field, the team narrowly missed the playoffs when they finished in second place, just one-and-a-half games out of first at 73–62.<ref name=1982BR>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1983, the Redbirds became the first minor league team to draw over one million fans in a single season (1,052,438).<ref name=CardinalStadiumSC/> The team improved to league-best 78–57 and won the Eastern Division title, which qualified them for the postseason. Though Louisville won the semifinals versus the Oklahoma City 89ers, 3–2, they lost the AA championship to the Denver Bears, 4–0, in the finals.<ref name="1983SC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Manager Jim Fregosi was selected as the AA Manager of the Year.<ref name=AAawards>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The franchise was awarded the 1983 John H. Johnson President's Award, recognizing them as the "complete baseball franchise—based on franchise stability, contributions to league stability, contributions to baseball in the community, and promotion of the baseball industry."<ref name=MILBawards>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Jim Fregosi led Louisville to win back-to-back AA titles in 1984 and 1985.

Fregosi led the Redbirds to win back-to-back American Association championships in 1984 and 1985. The 1984 squad won the semifinals against the Indianapolis Indians, 4–2, before winning their first league title over the Denver Zephyrs, 4–1.<ref name=1984SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Their second came the next season after winning the 1985 Eastern Division title and defeating Oklahoma City, 4–1, in the only round of playoffs.<ref name=1985SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fregosi won his second Manager of the Year Award for the 1985 campaign.<ref name=AAawards/>

The 1987 team made a return to the postseason, but they were eliminated by Indianapolis, 3–2, in the semifinals.<ref name=1987SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Outfielder Lance Johnson was honored with both the AA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and Rookie of the Year Award.<ref name=AAawards/> Louisville regularly finished third or fourth in their four-team division over the next six seasons. A pair of Redbirds won league awards, however, during this period. René Arocha was selected as the 1992 Most Valuable Pitcher, and catcher Todd Zeile was the 1989 Rookie of the Year.<ref name=AAawards/> The team qualified for a playoff spot in 1994, but they were quickly swept out of the semifinals, 3–0, by Indianapolis.<ref name=1994SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Redbirds came back in 1995 to sweep Indianapolis in the semis before winning a third AA championship versus the Buffalo Bisons, 3–2, behind manager Joe Pettini.<ref name=1995SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

International League (1998–2020)

Louisville experienced a number of changes around the turn of the millennium. The American Association, of which the Redbirds had been members since 1982, disbanded after the 1997 season. Its teams were absorbed by the two remaining Triple-A leagues—the International League (IL) and Pacific Coast League (PCL), with Louisville joining the IL. Their 16-year relationship with the St. Louis Cardinals also ended after the 1997 season when the Cardinals chose to move their Triple-A affiliation to the Memphis Redbirds, a PCL expansion team. Louisville then became the top farm club of the Milwaukee Brewers in 1998. They started their time in the IL by winning the Western Division title, but in the Governors' Cup playoffs, they were eliminated in the semifinals by the Durham Bulls, 3–0.<ref name=1998SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 1999, the team rebranded as the Louisville RiverBats.<ref name=BRLouisville>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The name was a dual reference to Louisville's location on the Ohio River and baseball bats, such as those manufactured locally under the Louisville Slugger brand. Their new logos incorporated a bat (the animal) swinging a baseball bat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After a second season with the Brewers, Louisville entered into a new affiliation with the Cincinnati Reds in 2000. They also left Cardinal Stadium for the new US$27.8 million Louisville Slugger Field.<ref name=LSField>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Located in downtown Louisville, the new ballpark seats 13,131 people with a more intimate setting than their previous facility.<ref name=LSFieldOfficial>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Louisville Slugger Field, home of the Louisville Bats since 2000

In 2001, manager Dave Miley led the RiverBats to an 84–60 record and the Western Division title. They defeated the Norfolk Tides, 3–2, in the semifinals to advance to the final round against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons. Louisville won the first game of the series, 2–1, before the September 11 terrorist attacks resulted in the cancellation of the rest of the playoffs. The RiverBats were declared the International League champions for 2001.<ref name=2001SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Louisville dropped "River" from its name to become simply the Louisville Bats in 2002.<ref name=BRLouisville/> Outfielder Raúl González won that season's IL MVP Award.<ref name=ILawards>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team returned to the playoffs in 2003, with another division title, but they were ousted in the semifinals by Durham, 3–1.<ref name=2003SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2007, first baseman Joey Votto was selected for the IL Rookie of the Year Award.<ref name=ILawards/> The Bats made three consecutive trips to the postseason from 2008 to 2010 with back-to-back-to-back division titles, but they were eliminated by Durham each time in the semifinals.<ref name=2008SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=2009SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=2010SC>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rick Sweet won the IL Manager of the Year Award in 2008 and 2009, and Justin Lehr won the Most Valuable Pitcher Award in 2009.<ref name=ILawards/> Typically finishing third or fourth out of four teams in the Western Division, Louisville did not again qualify for the Governors' Cup playoffs after 2010.

Right fielder Aristides Aquino was selected as the 2019 IL Rookie of the Year.<ref name=ILawards/> The start of the 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic before being cancelled on June 30.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="2020can">Template:Cite news</ref>

Triple-A East / International League (2021–present)

Following the 2020 season, Major League Baseball assumed control of Minor League Baseball in a move to increase player salaries, modernize facility standards, and reduce travel. The Cincinnati Reds retained Louisville as their Triple-A affiliate, but the International League disbanded, and the Bats followed the other IL teams into the Triple-A East.<ref name=JMayo2-12-2021>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Louisville ended the season in sixth place in the Midwestern Division with a 51–68 record.<ref name=MILB2021>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> No playoffs were held to determine a league champion; instead, the team with the best regular-season record was declared the winner.<ref name=MiLB7-14-2021>Template:Cite news</ref> However, 10 games that had been postponed from the start of the season were reinserted into the schedule as a postseason tournament called the Triple-A Final Stretch in which all 30 Triple-A clubs competed for the highest winning percentage.<ref name=MiLB7-14-2021/> Louisville finished the tournament tied for 18th place with a 4–5 record.<ref name=2021FinalStretch>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2022, the Triple-A East became known as the International League, the name historically used by the regional circuit prior to the 2021 reorganization.<ref name=ILrename>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In December 2023, the team was purchased by Diamond Baseball Holdings.<ref name=DBHpurchase/>

Season-by-season records

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Season-by-season records (last five seasons)

Season	League	Regular-season					Postseason			MLB affiliate	Template:Abbr
		Record	Win %	League	Division	Template:Abbr	Record	Win %	Result
2021	AAAE	51–68	.429	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	4–5	Template:Sort		Won series vs. Toledo Mud Hens, 3–2 Lost series vs. Columbus Clippers, 3–1 Placed 18th (tie) in the Triple-A Final Stretch<ref name=2021FinalStretch/>	Cincinnati Reds	<ref name=MILB2021/>
2022	IL	60–90	.400	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Cincinnati Reds	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2023	IL	75–73	.507	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Cincinnati Reds	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	IL	67–82	.450	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Cincinnati Reds	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2025	IL	71–79	.473	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Template:Sort	Cincinnati Reds	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Totals	—	324–392	Template:Winpct	—	—	—	4–5	Template:Winpct	—	—	—

Logos and colors

Buddy Bat, the team mascot

The Louisville Redbirds based their original visual identity on that of their major league parent, the St. Louis Cardinals, from 1982 to 1998. The team's uniforms were of red and white, while their logo featured a cardinal preparing to swing a baseball bat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When they rebranded as the RiverBats in 1999, their color scheme became purple and green, while the logo depicted a bat swinging a baseball bat.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> When this moniker was shortened to "Bats" in 2002, the palette was switched to purple, black, and gold, and the logo to an abstract bat shape.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Bats' current color scheme of red, navy blue, and white was adopted in 2016. Additionally, the rebranding updated the logo to depict a flying bat in front of a moon, which resembled a baseball, while gripping a baseball bat in its talons.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Radio and television

Since 2019, Jim Kelch has been the play-by-play announcer for Bats radio broadcasts. He previously served in the role from 1989 to 2009 before leaving to work for the Cincinnati Reds broadcast team from 2010 to 2017.<ref name=2019radio>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Other Louisville broadcasters that went on to broadcast for MLB teams include Joe Buck (1989–1990), Todd Kalas (1991), and Mark Neely (1992–1994).

As of 2019, all Bats home and road games were broadcast on WKRD 790 AM. Live audio broadcasts are also available online through the team's website and the MiLB First Pitch app.<ref name=2019radio/> Games can be viewed through the MiLB.TV subscription feature of the official website of Minor League Baseball, with audio provided by a radio simulcast.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Achievements

Awards

Joey Votto won the IL Rookie of the Year Award in 2007.

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Justin Lehr won the IL Most Valuable Pitcher Award in 2009.

The franchise has been awarded these honors by Minor League Baseball.

Minor League Baseball Awards

Award	Season	Template:Abbr
John H. Johnson President's Award	1983	<ref name=MILBawards/>

Seven players, two managers, and two executives have won league awards in recognition for their performance with Louisville.<ref name=AAawards/><ref name=ILawards/>

American Association Awards

Award	Recipient	Season	Template:Abbr
Most Valuable Player	Template:Sortname	1987	<ref name=AAawards/>
Most Valuable Pitcher	Template:Sortname	1992	<ref name=AAawards/>
Rookie of the Year	Template:Sortname	1987	<ref name=AAawards/>
Rookie of the Year	Template:Sortname	1989	<ref name=AAawards/>
Manager of the Year	Template:Sortname	1983	<ref name=AAawards/>
Manager of the Year	Template:Sortname	1985	<ref name=AAawards/>

International League Awards

Award	Recipient	Season	Template:Abbr
Most Valuable Player	Template:Sortname	2002	<ref name=ILawards/>
Most Valuable Pitcher	Template:Sortname	2009	<ref name=ILawards/>
Rookie of the Year	Template:Sortname	2007	<ref name=ILawards/>
Rookie of the Year	Template:Sortname	2019	<ref name=ILawards/>
Manager of the Year	Template:Sortname	2008	<ref name=ILawards/>
Manager of the Year	Template:Sortname	2009	<ref name=ILawards/>
Executive of the Year	Template:Sortname	2007	<ref name=ILawards/>
Spirit of the IL	Template:Sortname	2014	<ref name=ILawards/>

Retired numbers

The Louisville Bats have honored three players who played in Louisville (for the Bats or another franchise) by retiring their uniform numbers, as well as number 42. The retired uniform numbers are displayed inside Louisville Slugger Field. The Bats also honor Minor League Baseball's The Nine platform with the number 9.Template:Citation needed

• 1 – Harold "Pee Wee" Reese

The Bats retired the number 1 for Louisville native and Baseball Hall of Famer Harold "Pee Wee" Reese in a ceremony on July 28, 2018.<ref name="ReeseRobinson">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 2 – Felton Snow

The number 2 was retired for Louisville resident and Negro leagues All-Star Felton Snow in a ceremony on September 2, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 8 – Corky Miller

Corky Miller's number 8 was retired on August 31, 2014. A catcher from 2001 to 2004 and 2009 to 2014, Miller held the franchise record for games played (548) and doubles (99) at the time of its retirement.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

• 42 – Jackie Robinson

Pee Wee Reese's Brooklyn Dodgers teammate Jackie Robinson, whose number 42 was retired throughout professional baseball on April 15, 1997,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> was honored by the Bats along with Reese in a ceremony on July 28, 2018.<ref name="ReeseRobinson" />

Managers

Louisville has had 17 managers since their inaugural 1982 season.

Manager	Season(s)
Template:Sortname	1982
Template:Sortname	1983–1986
Template:Sortname	1986
Template:Sortname	1987–1989
Template:Sortname	1990
Template:Sortname	1991
Template:Sortname	1992–1993
Template:Sortname	1994–1996
Template:Sortname	1997
Template:Sortname	1998–1999
Template:Sortname	2000–2003
Template:Sortname	2003–2004
Template:Sortname	2005–2011
Template:Sortname	2012–2013
Template:Sortname	2014
Template:Sortname	2015–2017
Template:Sortname	2018
Template:Sortname	2019
Template:Sortname	2020–present

See also

• Sports in Louisville, Kentucky

References

Specific Template:Reflist

General

• Template:Cite book
• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Official website
• Statistics from Baseball-Reference