Spalding, A.G.

A.G. Spalding was a sports equipment company, established in 1876 by brothers J. Walter and Albert Goodwill Spalding. Albert was a renowned Boston Red Stockings pitcher when he persuaded his younger brother to manufacture sporting goods.

A.G. Spalding & Bros. opened the Philadelphia (Market Street) branch of their business in 1889, then ceased manufacturing in that branch in about 1936. As the US entered WWII, A.G. Spalding sold a number of its other plants in order to consolidate its manufacturing at Chicopee MA. A 1930 article about Spalding noted that the Chicopee MA plant “has one other line-the manufacture of uniforms for sport and athletic uses.” Spalding had been manufacturing baseball uniforms for a number of years and by at least 1923 Spalding was supplying “gymnasium equipment” to high schools.

In 1970 the company was acquired by Questorm which was founded in 1927 as an auto parts manufacturer, and in 1984 the company was sold to a group of investors. According to the Spalding Web site, Spalding is now a division of Russell Corporation, which consists of three business units: Spalding in Springfield, MA; American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) in Jefferson, IA; and Spalding Backboards in Sussex, WI. The site further notes that “in addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Springfield, MA-based Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley brand.”

Written by lkranieri

from a 1920s gym suit

Courtesy of pinky-a-gogo