Rawlings Sporting Goods

You know that feeling when you pick up something and just know it's built right? That's basically Rawlings in a nutshell. Founded way back in 1887, this Maryland Heights, Missouri-based company specializes in baseball and softball clothing and equipment, producing gloves, bats, balls, protective gear, batting helmets, and uniforms-and they've been doing it longer than pretty much anyone else.

Here's the thing about Rawlings: they're not just making equipment. They became the official supplier of Major League Baseball in 1977, and all the balls supplied to MLB teams are manufactured in Costa Rica. That's not a small deal. When you're trusted to make every single baseball used in the majors, you've earned some serious credibility.

But what really sets them apart is their glove game. In 1920, Bill Doak, a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, suggested that a web be placed between the first finger and the thumb in order to create a pocket. This design soon became the standard for baseball gloves. Doak patented his design and sold it to Rawlings. So basically, the modern baseball glove as we know it? Yeah, that's Rawlings' doing.

And they didn't stop there. In 1957, the company introduced the Gold Glove award, which became the major award for fielding in baseball-you know, that trophy every defensive player dreams about winning. They literally created the award that defines defensive excellence in the sport.

The company's been through some ownership changes over the years. In 2018, Rawlings was sold to Seidler Equity Partners and MLB Properties for $395 million. Rawlings employs 150 people in the St. Louis area, and 1,200 globally, which is pretty substantial for a sporting goods manufacturer.

What's cool is they still make stuff in America. Rawlings still makes many baseball gloves in the United States, with the factory still open. In an era where everything's outsourced, that matters to a lot of people.

Their product line has evolved too. While they're famous for baseball and softball gear, they've dabbled in other sports over the years. They even have a retail experience now-the Rawlings Experience in St. Louis-where you can design custom gloves with master craftsmen and check out historic Gold Glove Awards.

If you're serious about baseball or softball, you've probably got Rawlings gear in your bag. They're not just riding on their legacy-they're still innovating, still manufacturing quality equipment, and still the brand that pros reach for when it matters most.