Worth getting out of fastpitch softball

I heard a rumor that Worth will no longer offer fastpitch softball equipment after this season. Does anyone have conformation or details on this?

I had read something along those lines a while back. It's also worth noting that Worth (sorry for that pun) is owned by Rawlings and that there are several major college teams using Rawlings fastpitch bats as well as Rawlings leather in the field. So, while Worth may be getting out it appears that Rawlings is getting in.

We watched UGA v GT last night and noticed the GT players all had Rawlings bats. (side note: the UGA pitchers both wore facemasks also).

And Georgia is using Mizuno bats this year. I wonder how long it has been since two major college softball teams played and neither team used LS, Easton, or Worth bats?

reagansdaddy said:

And Georgia is using Mizuno bats this year. I wonder how long it has been since two major college softball teams played and neither team used LS, Easton, or Worth bats?

Click to expand...

Well if you put Demarini in there then it's probably been a while.

No information here but Worth has been under Rawlings Sporting Goods for years. I think the original play was Worth (fastpitch) and Rawlings (baseball) but they could decide it better to just go with one brand for both. You'd still have Worth-like equipment but it would just say Rawlings. Of course Wilson owns Demarini and Louisville Slugger now so it will be interesting if they ever combine all those brands.

Jarden Corporation owns the Rawlings and Worth brands...along with Oster, Sunbeam, Mr. Coffee, Yankee Candle and Margaritaville. Jarden owns well over one hundred brands.

My guess is that the manufacturing for Rawlings and Worth is the same, although there probably is a group of product designers for Worth that works within Rawlings.

Rawlings is a more well known brand than Worth, so I wouldn't be surprised if Jarden doesn't slowly phase out the Worth brand.

NPF put a press release out yesterday. It says Rawlings is replacing it's sister company Worth as it appears in fastpitch.


Nashville, TN (April 13, 2016) - National Pro Fastpitch (NPF) announced a brand new partnership with Rawlings Sporting Goods to be an Official Partner and Supplier of NPF effective April 13, 2016.

“Rawlings is a brand that is synonymous with superior product performance on the diamond,” NPF Commissioner, Cheri Kempf said. “We are proud to begin a relationship and help introduce Rawlings softball equipment to a new generation of softball players.”

The partnership grants Rawlings exclusive status in batting helmets for NPF teams. Rawlings will also work with core NPF athletes and provide gloves, bats, batting gloves and protective equipment as an official equipment supplier.

“The NPF is a first-class organization and a leader in the softball industry,” Rawlings Executive Vice President of Marketing, Mike Thompson said. “It is an honor to be chosen as the official batting helmet of the NPF. We now hold that distinction with MLB and NPF the two professional leagues in baseball and softball.”

Rawlings will have a presence at NPF events including television broadcasts and live streaming integration, in-venue signage - both affixed and electronic, in-venue promotions, a booth at the Championship Series, public address announcements, tickets, and player promotions.

Rawlings, a sister company of Worth Sports, replaces Worth as the brand appears in the sport of fastpitch softball including its presence in the NPF.

NPF is televised throughout the summer on CBS Sports Network with a record 25 events slated to air in the 2016 season.
- See more at: profastpitch.com: Newsroom

Will be curious to see if Miken FP is phased out as well and brought under Rawlings brand too.

FWIW there are only 3 groups controlling the major FP bat brands now (Mizuno is still under the same Japanese parent). No wonder we are seeing $400+ bats and the lesser known manufacturers cant break in, a few more M&A moves between these groups and someone will have a monopoly. Below is current ownership structures (as of today)

Kohlberg & Co. (US Private Equity)

• Bauer Performance Sports
  • Combat
  • Easton

Amer Sports (Finnish Equip. Mfg.)

• Wilson
  • Demarini
  • Louisville Slugger

Jarden Corporation (US CPG Co.)

• Rawlings
  • Worth
  • Miken

I put that out there a while ago in another section. I received this from Rawlings today:

You may not be aware that Worth is no longer going to offer fastpitch softball equipment after this season. However, Rawlings is about to raise the game in Softball, and we want you to be a part of it.

Stick with us, and you’ll be the first to receive information on Rawlings Softball. Trust us, it will be exciting.

Also, keep up with updates and news about Rawlings Softball on Rawlings.com, Twitter and Instagram @RawlingsSoftball.