Australian Baseball League Renew Rawlings Partnership

The Australian Baseball League (ABL) and Baseball Australia have extended their partnership with Rawlings Sporting Goods in a new three year deal through 2017.

Rawlings will serve as the official baseball of the ABL and Baseball Australia, as well as the batting helmet and catchers gear provider for both organisations.

These landmark partnerships exemplify the all-of-sport approach baseball has adopted in the country by securing joint partners for its professional league and government association.

“Rawlings has stood by our side since the inception of the ABL, the opportunity to align with a company with such a storied sports history such as Rawlings, is a great win for our league and demonstrates that global companies are taking notice of the growth of baseball in Australia,” said Peter Wermuth, Chief Executive Officer of the Sydney-based ABL.

Rawlings has held the designation as the official ball supplier of Major League Baseball since 1977, and has existed as a major player in the sporting goods industry since the company was founded in St. Louis, Missouri in 1887. The upcoming MLB Opening Series games at Sydney Cricket Ground will be using Rawlings’ authentic MLB baseballs, stamped with the commemorative special event logo celebrating MLB’s return to Australia.

“Australia continues to be a robust growth market for Rawlings,” said Kurt Hunzeker, senior director of global brand marketing for St. Louis, Missouri-based Rawlings. “As a proud partner of the ABL since its inaugural year in 2010, and with Major League Baseball opening the 2014 Championship Season in Australia, Rawlings is committed to doing everything we can to help grow the game across the continent. The new partnership with Baseball Australia provides us a great opportunity to engage would-be Australian players of all ages and skill levels and introduce them to Rawlings’ legendary baseball product lines.”

Baseball Australia began using Rawlings baseballs during its national tournaments this week, and Hunzeker will present the gold medals to the U16 national champions next Tuesday in Blacktown.

“Baseball Australia is proud to announce their new partnership with Rawlings,” said Brett Pickett, chief executive officer of Gold Coast, Queensland-based Baseball Australia. “To have the support of one of the premier sporting good providers for baseball is not only significant but continues to validate that we are on the right track for the evolution of the sport.”