This is an iHeart Podcast. Hey everyone, it's Sophia Bush, host of the podcast Work in Progress. Lexis is a company that believes in the importance of setting a standard. For me? A standard that matters to me?
Is being a friend, being a person, being a co-worker who shows up. The standard Lexis has set for themselves is to experience amazing. Lexis's benchmarks are feelings. Things like exhilaration and joy and amazing can only be achieved by knowing people on a deeper level. It's feeling like your car was designed and built.
just for you. A machine that makes you feel more human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing.
So experience Amazing at your LexisTealer. Hey, what's up? It's Marla Lopez. Back to schools. An exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming and kids may feel isolated, a vulnerability that human traffickers can exploit.
Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect. Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions. Stay connected.
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Rush. And we return to our American stories. Up next, a story from Jack Marucci. Jack is the Director of Performance in Louisiana State University's Athletic Department. but also the founder of Marucci Sports.
company known. or its baseball bats. Here's Jack with a story of how his company came to be. Let's get into it. You know, we're from a coal mining town.
pretty humble beginnings. We're from a pretty immigrant family. My mom was 11 when she came from Spain. and my grandfather's from Italy.
So we're half Spanish, half Italian, and that was the makeup of most of the people we grew up with. Everybody was pretty ethnic. You know, we went to the Italian church in St. Teresa's. We thought that's how it was everywhere.
So my mom Her dad came over to be a coal miner, and we went back to see her where she grew up, and it was like, it was like... San Diego. I'm going, why would your dad leave this place? They lived right by the ocean. But I guess times are so bad, they had a Civil War, the economy was bad.
The war is breaking out. This was like in the early 40s. But her dad comes over here. right before the war, and he's trying to save money, bring the family up, but he can't get back and forth.
So my mom didn't see him. Until 11 years, until we could save up the money.
So she was eleven the first time she saw her dad. Then my dad's side, my grandfather came over when he was 15. Then he got deported because you had to be 16. You can see it on the Ellis Island report. We we found it.
Somehow he got through all that and they said, well, you're only Fifteen.
So he had to go all the way back. You know, they were afraid. He was afraid they were going to make him a priest. He didn't want to become a priest.
So he started a restaurant. It was called Shady Side Inn. It was built from nothing, it was just a little deli. And they built it into a place where banquets could seat up to the thing. Six, seven hundred people.
I mean it just kept growing, you know, it was the same thing. That's when I first probably came across the first professional athletes because we used to check coats, me and my brother. We're like 10 years old and you're checking coats, man. And they're giving you these big coats and we'd stay up late and we're so tired. But it's the first time Willie Stargrell came in with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
We saw his coat and We're going, hey, let's check in his pockets. We weren't looking for money. But we found a business card with the Willie Stargill star. We thought, you know, so we used to get tips. You know, they'd give you a buck, you know, you could make.
If it's 100 coaches, you're making 100 bucks. You know, you split it. That's 50 bucks each. It's not bad for a 10-year-old. My dad's a little bit of a drink.
end up being the Butcher. My dad did the bartending.
So we came up. pretty much, you know, we had the one shower in the uh house All three boys slept in one room than my sister. You know, it it teaches you a good work ethic, obviously. Western Pennsylvania's an area that It's blue collar and you know, you're going to learn things that you don't think it's going to pay off down the road. You take that typing class back then and now everything's computers, you learn how to type.
Then you take a woodshop class. That you learn how to use a wood lathe, you know. Or which down the road would become a You know, something that I could learn to... to uh use uh to my advantage and uh you know help. develop a bet for my son.
You never know what's going to influence you. My son was, he's about seven, eight years old, Gino, and We're watching. We used to watch a lot of baseball. I didn't play old videos, Roberto Clemente, so that became his guy. He works 21 today.
He worked, there's a little league, he got back into 21 because of vertical minute.
So again Western Pennsylvania, we're a little bit obsessed, of course, and we're going to force them to like the pirates and the stealers and the penguins, so that's just part of what we do. And he liked Bons as bat. He saw the black and the two-tone and wood bat. He goes, dad, I like that. Man, I want to play with a wood bat.
That's different because wood bats weren't even mentioned back then.
Now you got wood bat tournaments and everyone likes the wood bat.
So uh I end up calling all these bat companies. None of them, they all had stock batch. None of them were small enough or short enough, really. It was really the size. Everybody maybe was an inch off.
I needed a 27. They only stopped at twenty nine or I stopped at 28.
So. I sort of Looking around and there were some old bats. stored here at LSU. I'm looking at them. All right, then we had a quarterback.
Madmo. I started talking to Matt. Matt played for the Cubs for three years. And I said, Matt, I'm thinking about making a bat for my son. Do you mind if I'm going to make one and I'm going to bring it in?
Since you played, tell me what we need to do to... to make this thing tapered right and So I made the first one. I have it in my office. Today. And uh it top heavy and You know, I use electrical tape to to to do whatever and I I carved in I think that one was the Geno Crusher.
Right so I didn't have his school he was at. That was my first one.
So the next one I start making. I got a lot better. That was the Geno Slugger. It was, I think, the next one. Yeah.
So he starts hitting with them. And uh And he he he had the the the the DNA to hit. You know, he had the good eyesight. He was of front-eyed dominant kid and And he was He was pretty good.
So he starts getting in little league. He's using a wooden bat.
Okay, this is different. But he's He's one of the best hitters.
So everybody on the team goes, well. He's hitting good with that bad I want one with my kid's name on it.
So, that's when I formed Rogue Countler. We'll form a little company, Merging Bat Company.
So I bought a shed. I bought it from Canada. It was a cedar shed. And um I told the guy what I wanted. Because I thought cedar is gonna last longer in this weather, the mildew, the, you know, it's not gonna rot.
I said, I want doors in the front and the back. He goes, why do you want that? I said, have you ever lived in Louisiana? I said, it's like living on the equator. I said, I need airflow.
So I put a fan in there and that was my bat shop. No, that was 2002. I always joke around, I said saving was a little stressful, so it was a nice stress relief to get it away from.
So, um After football, I'd spend nights and the neighbor would come over and go, what are you doing? There's sawdust everywhere. I go, I'm making bats. He goes, you're making bats? He goes, give me a couple.
You know, everyone, as soon as they saw it, they go, oh, I want one.
So I stored 25 bucks. I mean the wood cost probably Yeah. Because money was never a thing. I felt bad. I felt bad that I was going to charge somebody for it.
Then I said, well, I better start charging because, you know. Uh The first Major League bat was Eduardo Perez. I was going up for an athletic trainers convention. And we're catching up, and I was going to go to the Cardinals game. And I told him what I was doing.
He goes, bring me one up. And he gave me a model, which was a common model. Everything was based off of Louisville Slugger models, a C243. I said, all right, I think I can find one in the pile because LSU had some wood bats laying around. I found one that I, so I got the hanger and I would hang it on the hanger and I would do it by feel.
I would cut the bat. And I got pretty good by then. by eye and feel.
So I made him, I think I made him two. Um Thinking what's he gonna do with these maybe just gonna put it up in his house or? I thought it was neat that a major league guy would have a, you know.
So He meets me in front of the hotel and he and he pulls it out of the box and his eyes light up. And he goes Man, he goes, I'm going to use this tonight to school. I said, what? I said, this thing's going to explode, Eddie. I said...
I've seen seven and eight year olds swing this. I said, you're going to swing this? This thing I said he goes I'm going to sneak it in because I wasn't licensed. You know, the logo is this big logo. There's all these regulations which you find out.
And he goes, I tell you what. I want you to come down for batting practice. meet some guys. Mm-hmm.
So okay. And you've been listening to Jack Marucci tell the story of how his bat company came to be the child of immigrants who came from Spain and Italy? And who basically learned the lessons of life in a working-class town in western Pennsylvania, finds himself at Louisiana State University being the strength coach back when a guy named Nick Sabin. was coaching their SEC Powerhouse squad. And to, well, to just get some time away, he just started making bats first for his son.
And pretty soon, for a Major League Baseball player. What happens next? More of Jack Marucci's story here. on our American stories. Time for a sofa upgrade?
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Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect. Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions, stay connected. Blue Campaign is a national awareness initiative that provides resources to help recognize suspected instances of human trafficking.
Learn the signs and how to report at dhs.gov slash blue campaign. This is Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang from Los Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. JBL Tor Pro 3 earbuds are for those who don't conform to the standard. Yeah, I mean, if you want to get into some touchscreen technology, how about the smart charging case, clear sound? These are not standard things.
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I booked my appointment and can't wait to see the results. Refresh with September MedSpa offers, custom facials, skin tightening, and more. Book your free consultation today and check out their fall specials at idealimage.com or call 1-800-BIDEAL. That's 1-800-BIDEA. ideal.
Hey everyone, it's Sophia Bush, host of the podcast Work in Progress. Alexis is a company that believes in the importance of setting a standard. For me? A standard that matters to me? Is being a friend, being a person, being a coworker who shows up.
The standard Lexis has set for themselves is to experience amazing. Lexis's benchmarks are feelings. Things like exhilaration and joy and amazing can only be achieved by knowing people on a deeper level. It's feeling like your car was designed and built. Just for you.
A machine that makes you feel... More human. Because a car that doesn't make you feel something is a car that stops short of amazing.
So experience Amazing at your LexisTealer. And we continue with our American stories and with the story of Jack Marucci. And if you're a ball player, a baseball player that is, The story of Marucci Bats who came on to challenge the almighty Louisville slugger. and from a shack In his home, in Louisiana.
So He gets me down there and He goes, this bad is unbelievable. Because I use it in the Cade. And then he introduces me to Barry Larkin. He's playing for the Reds. I got a picture of Larkin holding this bat and he says, I tell you what, we're playing in Houston.
I want you to make me one. I said, alright, I'm like you want.
So me and my son go to Houston. And he says, get there early. From batting practice. want you to Bring the butt.
So I'm walking in the stadium with a bat. I gave it to my son. I go here, Jenny, you take it. He was only. nine at the time.
And I said, they won't yell at you. I said, I'm not going to bring a bat in the stadium.
So he's bringing it in and We walk all the way down, they're taking batting practice. And there's people around in the stands. I don't know what to do. This is the first time I've done this. Actually, brought a bat to a game.
And Larkin kind of sees us. He gives us thumbs up and everyone behind us is going, oh. That's funny, he recognized you know, they're they're all like amazed that because they're all trying to get autographs and there's people everywhere. Born as stands with everybody else, right behind the dugout.
So the bat boy comes over. We hand the bat over to him. Everyone's going. Wow, how's he getting him to sign that bat? They're all going, how's he getting this sign?
We're trying to get all of our, they're kind of getting mad.
So the bad boy takes it right over to Larkin. Larkin starts putting on the, they call it a modus stick, the tackiness and like pine tar it up. And everyone starts going, wait a minute. He's gonna hit with that bat. I mean, we just brought it to him.
It's a bear bat. he starts taking BP with him.
So we're watching the game. His second at bat, he was the first guy to get a hit with it. Up the metal. That's big time. And to me, I said that was it.
I mean, this thing was in my backyard a couple days ago, and this guy's using a major league baseball game. I said, oh my gosh. I mean, this is ridiculous. That was probably one of the best ever, and still probably one of the best moments ever. And Eduardo Perez, I can't say enough good things about him.
He's one of the best human beings. He helped the company more than anybody. Because he talked to all these players and He's showing them and I'm sending them more batch and he's sneaking them in the game and he's leaving me voicemails. Man, I hit Aliena against Nomo. And I mean, it was just the excitement of, it was like contraband.
You know, we're sending contraband up there. And um He goes, you're going to get a call from Manny Ramirez.
So okay. So I get a call for many remoteers. He goes, I need some bats for the playoff run. I go again. You're going to be in a playoffs.
You can't use these bats. He goes, no, he wants them. I talked to him about it. He saw mine. I said, okay.
So Manny calls. I said, well, Manny, we're about to take off. We're about to play Georgia.
So we're getting on a flight, and I'm cutting them off. And I said, Let me get back, and I'll cut them.
So I spent Three nights. like in bats. I made three bats for him. And um I said, maybe I'll use them for batting practice or whatever. I don't know.
So I put a model number on it. It's called a CB24. I send it up to him. And Kevin Billar saw him, he got all excited about him.
So this is 2004. And I got pretty good by then making them. The finish, I was hand-doing everything, putting a nice image. It looked shiny, it looked like furniture. That's what Eduardo President L said: it looks like furniture.
So Fast forward, a couple years ago, I saw Orlando Cabrera. on that same team. And why he's significant. I'm watching the game and Orlando Cabrera is using these bats in this. playoff game.
So I asked him. I never talked to Orlando about it. He used me and his pants I sent him. I said, weren't you afraid you're going to get in trouble? He goes, no.
He goes, let me tell you something. I hit like 370 in that series, and those bats, that ball was coming off. He goes, I remember like it was yesterday.
So this was two years ago I'm talking to him about that 2004 playoff. And he goes, I remember those bats like it was yesterday. He goes, you know, we put the tape on the bottom, kind of flared out. The other one, he goes, I wanted a little thinner handle.
So I got the tringer scissors and I shaved the handle down. Made it thinner. And he goes, I always wanted to know, I didn't know what company it was. I wanted to order more, but never heard of it. I didn't even know what this was.
And he goes, that model number, that CB. I said, well, let me tell you something.
Somebody gave me a tip about five, six months after that. series. They were on eBay. I found two of them. I said, I have them in my office.
I bought them back. I didn't tell them who I was. I had those two bats that you hit with in the playoffs. You know, you never know how they get out of the clubhouse. I said, you know what the CB stood for?
He goes, no, I said cursebuster. I put CB to break the curse. I said I put it the curse buster of the Yankees. And that's when the Red Sox were down three games and they came back and they won the World Series. And I have those back to my office.
It's just, it's one of those things. You just never know. You know, it started getting bigger, the business. I always wanted to order small amounts because I had to cut them at the time. And I was getting tendonitis.
I swear to God, I got bad. This is the first time. I had epicondylitis and then we got more automated, obviously, but we were trying to turn down business and people were wanting them. The next big player would be Carlos Beltran. Carlos Beltran and we end up having a whole Met team from Jose Reyes, Beltran, Leduca, you name it, David Wright.
And all those people in a division saw those bats, those guys were hitting well. He would tell everybody that these bats are unbelievable, so At the time, you know. I I he goes, he ordered a half dozen.
So He orders the bats, we ship them out. And I get a phone call from him. Jack. You only sent me five bass, I ordered six. I said, I know.
is winning you know. I said, do you understand that I was trying to get you the sixth bat. I cut like... 10 to 12 bats. They weren't the quality I wanted.
in silence. He goes, that is unbelievable.
So he goes, You don't make like batting practice bats, you just don't fill it. No, what do you mean, batting practice bats? I'm not gonna mention companies, but It was Louisville and Rawlings, basically. That was it. I mean there's other companies, Cooper but companies that he was using says, you know, I only can get He's going to use four to five bats out of the dozen.
He thought the other ones were subpar.
So he did it.
So being naive. and thinking I'm just going to give you the best quality. Um And he loved it. It was the right thing to do to make it look right. You know, there were the paint was going to look good.
The detail and the stamping and the knob. You know, I would stamp in the player's number. sampin, so all that detail was in there. when it was made. like a born on.
I mean no one had that. They were all just mass producing bats. You know, these guys, that's their living. You know, Albert once told me, he goes, you know, I love a lot of things in life. You know, I love my wife.
You know, I love my bats. I love my kids. Maybe not sometimes that order, but you know, he was joking, because they're bats are livelihood.
So No one was making bats like that for these guys. You would think they would be. He coined the frame every bat's a gamer.
So every bat's a gamer. Yeah. So I always told people, You know, we were always chasing the quality. You're not going to chase the dollar. You're not going to chase that money.
Chase the quality, the stuff will come.
So That spread like wild.
So the word of mouth was so powerful. Then baseball is a closed-knit community. And um That's worth that. That really took to another level. We became the number one bat company probably about two and a half years ago.
That's what we'll square. and by a pretty large margin now. But um You know, you're in sport. And probably one of the best things that you do here all the time, it is a game of inches. And if those companies made that bat one inch longer, I wouldn't have probably made bats because they would have made a bat for my son and that would have been it.
But One inch. dictated to do something and And uh you know It's it's and it's you think about this also. It's the last sport. that has used a wooden instrument. Golf has gotten away from wood.
Lacrosse. Tennis. I used to use tennis wood rackets. Hockey. you know so the purity of it allows somebody to to do what we were able to do.
And it's created jobs. probably over close to 100 jobs, 80 jobs for people. you know, just because of a wood shop class.
So, you know, there's there's a lot to that humbles you to you look at that stuff. You know, you can go to an airport. And you know, there was a little kid I was flying back from home, from Pennsylvania, and it lay over in in uh Charlotte Airport and Kidhead. The the name on is is short and at the bag and He was sitting next to me, uh The um We're waiting. I said I said those bats aren't any good.
Why are you worrying those bats? I said, Louisville's a lot better. He's getting all mad at me. And he's getting mad, I said, I I said I can't even pronounce that name. I said, I wouldn't use that stuff.
I said, Louisville's much better. And his grand, he was there flying with his grandfather's grandfather. He says, no, he loves those bats now. And, you know, so I found out they were coming down for a baseball camp. And LSU.
Yeah, so. And so I shared the story with him and I had them come over to the office and show him all the stuff himself. It was pretty fun. And a terrific job on the production and editing by our own Monty Montgomery. The story of imagination, the story of problem solving.
And the story of innovation, Jack Marucci's story. and Marucci Sports Story here. on Our American Stories. Hey, what's up? It's Marla Lopez.
Back to schools, an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming, and kids may feel isolated, a vulnerability that human traffickers can exploit. Human trafficking doesn't always look like what you expect. Everyday moments can become opportunities for someone with bad intentions, whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, or neighbor. Check in. Ask questions.
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