Founded in 1887, Rawlings Sporting Goods is an American sports equipment manufacturing company based in Town and Country, Missouri, United States. Rawlings has been the official supplier of baseballs for Major League Baseball since 1977. In June 2018, it was acquired by Seidler Equity Partners (SEP) and MLB Properties from Newell Brands for $395 million.
In 1987, Rawlings initiated operations in Turrialba, Cartago, Costa Rica, as part of a transition process to move the operation from Figgie International, located in Haiti. This move aimed to manage operations in a country with greater political stability and a workforce with available craftsmanship capable of successfully sewing baseballs.
Currently, the company maintains an investment exceeding $2 million, with an industrial roof of approximately 7,200 m2 and over 570 employees in Costa Rica. These employees are not only dedicated to the manufacturing of baseballs; the company has transformed and diversified its offerings, incorporating higher value-added and sophisticated processes. Additionally, Rawlings has a service center dedicated to customer support and the design of logos and sports apparel.
