Marucci Sports, an American manufacturer of premium products and apparel for the baseball and softball markets was founded in 2009 by former MLB first round picks, Kurt Ainsworth (Pitcher for the San Francisco Giants) and Joe Lawrence (Catcher/OF for Toronto Blue Jays), and former White House Assistant Press Secretary, Reed Dickens, who was the first CEO from 2009 to 2012. Co-Founder, Kurt Ainsworth has been the CEO since 2013.
Video Marucci Sports
History
Ainsworth and Lawrence began tinkering with handcrafting wood bats during their rehab with LSU athletic trainer, Jack Marucci, but had ambitions to grow beyond their garage and the risk appetite to match their ambition. When Jack Marucci declined to participate in necessary risks that came with launching a company, the two former Big Leaguers teamed up with businessman and consumer brand entrepreneur, Reed Dickens, to launch Marucci Sports.
Dickens sourced the private equity needed for scale, then led an industry disrupting strategy that combined direct consumer engagement with aggressive contrast marketing campaign that left iconic industry brands on their heels and bleeding market share. The brand strategy was validated and supported by the President Kurt Ainsworth's obsession with producing premium, handcrafted bats to the exact specifications of the star players and the strategic decision by Ainsworth and Lawrence to acquire a wood mill in Pennsylvania that produced the best maple wood supply in the industry. Marucci Sports went on to become the number one bat in Major League Baseball and one of the most trusted brands in all of baseball, evidenced by the dozens of Big Leaguers who have personally invested capital into Marucci Sports.
As of 2013, Marucci bats are use by one-third of Major League Baseball players, notable veterans like David Ortiz,[3] José Bautista,[3], Albert Pujols,[3] and Chase Utley,[4] and young stars like Anthony Rizzo, Giancarlo Stanton, and Brycer Harper.
The company has since expanded its product range to include aluminum bats, batting gloves, fielding gloves, protective accessories, apparel, and accessories.
In a relatively short period of time, Marucci has taken a large share of the baseball bat market from longtime industry leader Louisville Slugger, with industry tracking publications validating #1 bat in the majors since 2013 by a wide margin.
Unlike other apparel and equipment manufacturers, instead of sponsoring athletes, Marucci has brought in players as company owners and advisers to product development. Notable members of the Advisory Board include Albert Pujols, David Ortiz, Buster Posey, and Andrew McCutchen.
Maps Marucci Sports
Current and former players swinging Marucci
References
- LSU article about Marucci Bat Company
- Podcast from Louisiana Public Broadcasting about Marucci Bat Company
- Sports Illustrated article on Marucci
External links
- Company Website
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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