TOWER GROVE — As if being etched into the Cardinals’ future as their undisputed No. 1 prospect wasn’t enough, now Colby Rasmus’ potential as a big leaguer is being burned into his bats.

Venerable bat-maker Louisville Slugger announced this morning the signing of 10 players to bat contracts, and there listed among the likes of rookie of the year Dustin Pedroia, (should have been rookie of the year) Troy Tulowitzki, and Chris Duncan’s brother Shelley Duncan is the Cardinals’ own Triple-A center fielder, Rasmus.

His signature will now be branded on his bats.

Replicas reaching local sporting goods stores can’t be but a few years away.

The release from the Kentucky-based Louisville Slugger — which means it’s Lou-uh-vul, not to be confused with the home of Calacci’s, Louis-ville — describes how the tradition of burning signatures into the barrel of a player’s bats dates back to Honus Wagner, who was the first to sign in 1905. According to the release:

Eighty percent of the hitters in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and thirteen members of the 2007 Major League Baseball All Star teams were under contract with Louisville Slugger.

The catalog of players to sign with Louisville Slugger and have their autographs etched into history include: Stan Musial, of course; Ken Griffey Jr.; Jackie Robinson; Prince Fielder; Babe Ruth; George Brett; Derek Jeter; Tony Gwynn; Mickey Mantle; Roberto Clemente; and of course the two signature models I have here in my office — Don Mattingly and Robin Ventura (cue the press-box peanut gallery).

“These players know that they have 124 years of bat-making experience behind them when they step up to the plate with a Louisville Slugger bat,” said Louisville Slugger Pro Baseball Division Manager Chuck Schupp in the release. “They also know that they will have the very best timber available, along with outstanding customer service. We do whatever it takes to make the guys who use our bats happy. That’s the way our company has done business since 1884.”

The 10 players announced as new to Louisville Slugger bat contracts are:

• 1B/ DH Shelley Duncan, NY Yankees
• OF Brett Gardner, NY Yankees
• 3B Alex Gordon, Kansas City
• 2B Howie Kendrick, LA Angels
• 3B Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay
• 2B Dustin Pedroia, Boston
• OF Juan Pierre, LA Dodgers
• OF Colby Rasmus, Cardinals
• OF Ryan Spilborghs, Colorado
• SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado

And if you can pick out what Rasmus shares with only one other player on that list, kudos. Because of the 10 players announced Monday as new members of the Louisville Slugger brand, only two have never swung a bat in the big leagues: Gardner, billed as the Yankees center fielder of the future, and Rasmus.

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