Rawlings Sporting Goods

In 1887, brothers George and Alfred Rawlings opened a sporting goods store in St. Louis, Missouri, selling a wide range of athletic equipment. A pivotal moment came in 1919 when they collaborated with pitcher Bill Doak to create a glove with a web between the thumb and forefinger, forming a natural pocket. This design revolutionized the game and established Rawlings as a leader in baseball equipment. The company's journey involved numerous ownership changes. It was acquired by the A.G. Spalding & Bros. company in 1955, but antitrust concerns forced a sale to private investors in 1963. For decades, Rawlings passed through various corporate hands, including K2 Inc. in 2003 and Newell Brands in 2015. A significant shift occurred in 2018 when Seidler Equity Partners and Major League Baseball (MLB) jointly acquired Rawlings for $395 million. This strategic partnership brought the iconic brand closer to the heart of professional baseball, with MLB gaining more direct input into the production of its official game balls. Today, Rawlings continues to be the official baseball and helmet supplier for Major League Baseball.