Spalding (company)
| Company type | Private (subsidiary) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sports equipment |
| Founded | 1 January 1876 in Chicago, United States |
| Founder | Albert Spalding |
| Headquarters | Bowling Green, Kentucky , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Sports balls (baseball, softball, American football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf), athletic equipment, aftermarket automotive wheels (1980s) |
| Owner | Berkshire Hathaway (via Russell Corporation) |
| Parent | Russell Corporation |
| Website | www |
Spalding is a United States-based manufacturer specializing in sports equipment, established by Albert Spalding in Chicago in 1876, originally focusing on baseball production. Currently headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the company markets softballs through its Dudley Sports subsidiary. Over time, Spalding has produced balls for a variety of sports such as American football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and golf.
During the 1980s, Spalding briefly ventured into designing aftermarket automotive wheels.
History
The company was founded by Albert Spalding, who was then a pitcher and manager for the Chicago White Stockings. He played a key role in standardizing early baseballs and creating the contemporary baseball bat. The Spalding "League Ball" became the official ball for the National League starting in 1880 and was also used by the American Association from 1892 to 1896. In 1892, Spalding expanded by acquiring competitors Wright & Ditson and A. J. Reach.
In 1893, Spalding took over the Lamb Knitting Machine Company located in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, centralizing production of ice skates and gymnasium equipment there. Since 1890, Lamb had been manufacturing bicycle wheels for Spalding. Bicycle manufacturing continued until 1899 when that division was sold to the American Bicycle Company, which controlled 65% of the U.S. market at that time.
By the turn of the century, Spalding had diversified into products such as dumbbells, Indian clubs, and punching bags. By 1916, their inventory included athletic apparel, barbells, fencing gear, golf clubs, rowing machines, track equipment, and whistles. By 1919, they were producing infantry and cavalry fencing masks under contract for the U.S. Government.
During World War II, Spalding collaborated with four other companies to form New England Small Arms Corporation for manufacturing M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles and also supplied parts for proximity fuses as a subcontractor.
From the early 1930s through the mid-1940s, Spalding produced official game pucks for the National Hockey League. The company also introduced the popular "Spaldeen" high-bounce rubber ball in 1949. Up until the end of the 1976 season, Spalding supplied Major League Baseball's official baseballs; since 1977, Rawlings has held that contract.
In the 1980s, working alongside Japan’s Toyo Rubber Company, Spalding developed aftermarket automotive wheels known as the "Message" series. The Message II wheel earned industry recognition and remained in production at least through 1986.
In August 1996, private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts purchased Spalding. By 2003, it became part of Russell Corporation, except for its golf brands (Top-Flite, Ben Hogan, Strata), which were sold to Callaway Golf Company later that year.
Berkshire Hathaway announced its intention to merge with Russell Corporation (including Spalding) in April 2006; this transaction was completed in August for roughly $600 million. This acquisition brought Spalding into Berkshire Hathaway’s collection of international sporting goods companies.
Products
Spalding produces balls for sports such as baseball, softball, American football, soccer, volleyball, tennis, and golf. In addition to these core products, during the 1980s it briefly created aftermarket automotive wheels.
Basketball
Spalding created its inaugural basketball in 1894, drawing inspiration from a baseball design, and quickly established itself as a top manufacturer. The company was the official supplier of game balls to the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 1983 until 2021, when the league switched back to Wilson after a 37-year interval.
In 2006, Spalding and the NBA launched a redesigned NBA Official Game Ball for the 2006–07 season, featuring synthetic leather and interlocking panels. However, due to player feedback regarding its slippery feel and overall performance, the NBA reverted to the conventional eight-panel leather ball by January 2007.
American football
Prior to the AFL–NFL merger, Spalding manufactured the American Football League’s official game ball, the J5V, which was marginally longer and narrower than Wilson’s NFL “The Duke.” Additionally, Spalding produced the distinctive black football with a red "X" for the XFL in 2001.
From 2004 until the league's closure in 2019, Spalding served as the official ball supplier for the Arena Football League, utilizing leather sourced from Horween Leather Company. These collaborations underscore Spalding’s strategic presence within various sectors of American football.
Other sports
Spalding was among the first to secure athlete endorsements, signing tennis legend Pancho Gonzales in 1951. Through its subsidiary Dudley Sports, Spalding also markets softballs, broadening its range within team sports equipment offerings.
Spalding Athletic Library
Established in 1892 under the American Sports Publishing Company banner, the Spalding Athletic Library marked an early foray into sports literature. Its debut publication was Life and Battles of James J. Corbett, edited by Richard K. Fox. Prominent sports figures such as Ty Cobb contributed works like "Strategy in the Outfield," illustrating the company’s integration of athletic expertise into its publications.
The library produced extensive content on numerous sports and physical training topics, maintaining its status as a respected industry resource until ceasing publication in 1941. Its comprehensive catalog included manuals on athletics, baseball, basketball, boxing, football, golf, tennis, among others—supporting Spalding’s business strategy by combining product sales with educational resources.
Spalding’s mail-order catalogs featured detailed pricing and imagery of sporting goods and instructional books, effectively expanding customer access and engagement.
Key acquisitions such as Wright & Ditson Co. (1892) and A.J. Reach Co. (1889), both founded by renowned baseball personalities George Wright and Al Reach respectively, enhanced Spalding’s market penetration and publishing output. These subsidiaries continued producing sports literature alongside Spalding’s own titles, strengthening the company’s competitive edge in both sporting goods manufacturing and media.
Sponsorships
Spalding acts as the official ball provider for various leagues and organizations, securing exclusive partnerships with leading athletes to boost brand recognition and market influence.
American football
- China Arena Football League (CAFL)
Leagues & Associations
- Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL)
- Liga Nacional de Basketball (LNB)
- EuroLeague
- EuroCup Basketball
- Ligue Nationale de Basket (LNB)
- Greek Basket League (GBL)
- Kosovo Basketball Superleague
- Mongolian National Association (MNBA)
- American Basketball Association (ABA)
- National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA)
- National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA)
- Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA)
- United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA)
- National Basketball League (NBL)
- Women's National Basketball League (WNBL)
- Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA)
Boules
Other teams
- Harlem Globetrotters (prior to their division into Baden)