July/August 2022 Issue

State of America's Games
At all levels of play baseball and fast-pitch softball remain an integral part of the youth sporting scene in America. Sure, they all face their challenges in participation and product availability...

Head-Aches
Delayed seasons, cancelled games, sick players, unavailable fields and, capping it all off, supply chain disruptions all made for a unique past year for the team headwear business.

Bank Shots
Oh, for the good old days of 2019. Prior to the pandemic, basketball was enjoying steady growth, but once the crisis set in during 2020-2021 the game experienced a more than two percent dip in participation, according to the SFIA’s 2022 Basketball Single Sport Report.

It's Hot Out There!
Wilson’s 2023 A2K lineup brings six premium gloves to the diamond, offering patterns designed for professional-caliber players across all positions, including a new look for the brand’s classic A2K made with Pro Stock Select leather consisting...

Diversify or Disappear
The numbers clearly tell the story: 35 percent of Major League Baseball players, 74 percent of NFL players and 83 percent of NBA players are people of color. Yet the business of sporting goods is incredibly under-represented by this demographic.

Augusta's Fire Drill
As if COVID-19 shutdowns, supply chain disruptions, runaway inflation and ever-present hiring challenges were not enough, on April 18, 2022, one of Augusta Sportswear’s four factories in Mexico was severely damaged by a fire.