The American Baseball Coaches Association is proud to announce that it has extended its partnership with Rawlings Sporting Goods, a leading provider of high-performance equipment and protective apparel for players of all levels. Rawlings will retain its status as a Home Run Partner, the ABCA’s highest level of sponsorship.
“For decades, both of our organizations have been dedicated to improving the game by providing innovative solutions for coaches and their teams,” said ABCA Executive Director Craig Keilitz. “Rawlings has been a cornerstone of the ABCA in recognizing excellence within the game, and we are excited for the opportunities that this partnership will bring over the next several years.”
As part of their agreement, Rawlings will continue to enlist the aid of the ABCA to select the recipients of the highly-coveted, collegiate-version of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award. They will also remain as the presenting sponsor of the ABCA/Rawlings All-America, All-Region and Players of the Year Awards, which now includes both a pitcher and a position player in each division.
“Our strong partnership with the ABCA stems from our shared interest in growing the sport of baseball while providing resources and recognition to coaches and athletes throughout the nation,” said Mike Thompson, chief marketing officer for Rawlings. “We’re excited to continue and evolve our relationship with the ABCA and its dedicated members going forward.”
In addition, Rawlings will be the presenting sponsor of the ABCA Calls from the Clubhouse: Dugout Chatter bi-weekly podcast.
Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is an innovative manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods worldwide. Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes of all skill levels. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the Official Ball Supplier and Batting Helmet of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball™ and the NCAA®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®. For more information, please visit Rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.
The ABCA, founded in 1945, is the primary professional organization for baseball coaches at the amateur level. Its nearly 10,000 members represent all 50 states and 23 countries. Since its initial meeting of 27 college baseball coaches in June 1945, Association membership has broadened to include eight divisions: NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA, NJCAA, Pacific Association Division, High School and Youth.