Lafayette White Sox

In 1929 Herbert Schilling Sr. made his way from Shreveport to Lafayette to pursue his dream of playing baseball, which is where Schilling Distributing's story really began. Along with a couple business partners (Frem Boustany and Morgan Rodemacher), Schilling Sr. became a co-owner of (and second-baseman for) the Lafayette White Sox and eventually played a major role in forming the Evangeline League in 1934. 

The White Sox played at Parkdale Ballpark, which was located near the current site of Hebert Park Golf Course near Mudd Avenue. The team attracted great baseball talent being affiliated with the St. Louis Browns from 1936-1941, and won the Evangeline League Championship in 1939.

In 1932 he used some of the income from the White Sox to purchase a 29-acre property on Moss Street to raise and train Tennessee Walking Horses (that property is where Schilling Distributing Company is located today.) Through his involvement in horse shows he met and befriended Sidney Mouton, who worked as the state manager for Anheuser-Busch. 

Mouton encouraged Herbert to apply for Anheuser-Busch distribution rights, and eventually set up an interview with Gussie Busch in Baton Rouge. The two men hit it off over their shared interest in horses and baseball and Schilling was offered the rights to distribute Budweiser and Michelob in Acadiana, which led to the opening of Schilling Distributing Company on January 1, 1950.

So as you can see that when it comes to Schilling Distributing, baseball is much more than a game. It's part of our foundation here in Acadiana.