In a total Louisville move, Mitch McConnell gives Donald Trump a bat to celebrate the new tax bill

The tax bill that U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell helped push through this week is considered one of the biggest legislative overhauls in 30 years, so the Kentucky politician celebrated with President Donald Trump the way many Kentuckians do at some point – by commemorating the moment with a personalized Louisville Slugger bat. 

To most people this might seem weird – and it is. I mean, why recognize passing major legislation by getting a baseball bat engraved for the occasion? But if you’ve lived in Louisville for a while, this isn’t your first run around the bases. Handing out bats at big moments is kinda what we do here.

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Teddy Bridgewater, Stephen Johnson and Lamar Jackson have each been given one for MVP performances in the Governor’s Cup. Heck, longtime Courier Journal reporter and lifelong Chicago White Sox fan Sheldon Shafer got a bat signed by Sox legend Frank Thomas at his retirement ceremony last month. (To my editors: I’d be more than happy to take a Joey Votto-signed bat on my last day here, just for the record. I’ll accept one from Billy Hamilton if Joey’s busy.)

This isn’t even the first time a Kentuckian has passed out a bat to a sitting president. In this photo, which was taken four years ago but seems like four million years ago here in Cardinals Country, then-President Barack Obama accepted a commemorative bat from then-Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino following the Cards’ win in the 2013 national championship.

It’s not just political figures who are on the receiving end of these hand-offs, though – sometimes actual athletes are given baseball bats to recognize their success. Former Heisman Trophy candidate Jabrill Peppers was given one at the Paul Hornung awards ceremony in Louisville in March, with a completely unimpressed Jim Harbaugh by his side.

Iconic author Stephen King was also honored with a Louisville Slugger bat after speaking at an event sponsored by Charmichael’s Bookstore in 2016. That bat didn’t go on to be the antagonist in his next horror novel, but there’s a lot of potential there.

Personalized bats can be purchased downtown at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory or on the company’s website. As you can see, they’re right for any occasion – like, seriously, any occasion at all.

Lucas Aulbach: 502-582-4649; laulbach@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @LucasAulbachCJ. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/lucasa