This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Worth’s storied history in sporting goods started in 1912 with product innovation and savvy busi-ness acumen, setting the standard the brand
continues to employ today during its centennial celebration.George Sharp Lannom, Jr. purchased a tannery in Tullahoma,
Tennessee, with designs on establishing the Lannom Manufac-turing Company as the leader in tanned leather for harnesses, horse collars and other equine transportation-centric products. With the rise of automobiles – and subsequent decline of popu-larity and market demand for harnesses and collars Lannom originally built his company on – Lannom quickly shifted his business and manufacturing focus on growth markets for his fi rm leather tannery, specifi cally, the sports of baseball and softball.Mired in what is now referred to as the “Dead Ball Era,”
baseball struggled to address the ballooning cost of purchasing quality baseballs, and the eventual overuse of game balls. By the end of some games, the original baseball used for the fi rst pitch would still be in play, complete with grass stains, dirt and mud splotches, and scores of tobacco juice, sweat and spit from its nine-inning game.Couple this with the constant and high-impact contact a
baseball endures – off the bat, hard ground balls, blistering line drives and ricocheted shots off the outfi eld wall – and the baseballs of this era simply turned into lumpy, misshapen orbs of leather and stitches at the end of every game. To address the apparent need in these increasingly popular
sports and recreational activities, Lannom started manufacturing baseballs and softballs under the “Worth” brand. Charles E. Parish, who joined Lannom in 1930 as a salesman and eventu-ally married Lannom’s daughter, Martha, years later, became widely known as “The Baron of Baseballs” as he built Worth into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of baseballs.While Worth’s focus and business successes continued to
focus on producing baseballs and softballs in its early years, a new management team began to open the company to global markets and expanded product categories to meet the needs of the expansive player market in the diamond sports.Charles Parish’s son, John, led the Worth brand and business expan-
sion with new operations in Latin America and new product exten-sions in baseball bats in 1970. Under his stewardship, the company continued to expand its product portfolio, diversify its capabilities, and employ new technological innovations to become one of the largest and most fi nancially sound manufacturers in the sporting goods industry.But the true power of the Worth brand as it celebrates its 100th
Anniversary in 2012 is in its alloy bats. Starting with the revolutionary SuperCell EST (Exterior Shell Technology) bat in the 1990s, Worth’s brand power centers on the offensive side of fastpitch softball, slow-pitch softball and youth baseball.Hitters know that Worth outperforms the competition in key offensive
metrics (power, feel and consistency), and the next-generation Worth bat is their symbol of at-the-plate greatness.Worth’s legit power and performance is personifi ed in fastpitch softball
by the University of Oklahoma and its NCAA record-setting 102 home runs in 2012. In slowpitch, Resmondo/Worth belted more than 750 home runs in 2011 and are on pace to surpass that number in 2012.Worth empowers you to maximize your on-fi eld performance and
potential with cutting-edge products designed to provide instant grati-fi cation. The brand’s commitment to technological innovation spans across all brand names and product lines, from bats ready for imme-diate action right out of the wrapper to game-ready naturally broken-in gloves.As it begins its second century of sporting goods expertise and devel-
opment, Worth is legit power and legit performance for players of all skill levels. So take your best swing and do some damage.
1986 • Worth introduces fi rst RIF softball. Worth produces fi rst prototype Titanium ball bats with 10% increase in hit distance.
1988 • Kirk Gibson hits famous play-off series game winning home run with Worth pro model wood bat.Jose Canseco sets 40-40-40 record while using Worth pro-wood bat for entire season.
1989 • Worth RIF baseballs and softballs are fi rst to meet standard. Worth coins the term “trampoline effect” to describe the enhanced performance of its fi rst CU31 alloy softball bat, the “Powercell.”
1991 • Due to response and demand for Worth’s “Powercell” softball bat and other bat models, Worth opens up a state-of-the-art bat manufacturing facility.
1992 • Worth introduces new design fastpitch softball, the “K-Master,” with 120 stitches, compared to 88 stitches on most softballs, which results in increased pitched ball speed and rotation.
1995 • Worth introduces the fi rst C405 alloy softball bat, setting the softball industry standard.
1997 • Introduction of Supercell Exterior Shell Technology (EST) Bat. Worth introduces the fi rst ever cryogenically treated bat to the industry.
1995 • Worth introduces the fi rst
1997 Introduction of Supercell
1998 • Introduction of Copperhead ACX Adult Baseball Bat - Piezoelectronics Bat. Introduction of Supercell VT-Variable Wall Technology Softball Bat. Worth builds the largest cryogenic facility in the Sporting Goods Industry.
1999 • Introduction of Powder Shell Technology (PST) Bat.
2000 • Three of the nation’s top 5 colleges sign with Worth:#1 ranked University of Oklahoma#3 ranked University of Arizona#5 ranked University of Washington
2001 • Introduction of Dimension Technology (3DX) Bat. New Kevlar Technology for batting glove-superior grip and bat control even when wet! New Hot Seam raised seam on Red Dot fastpitch softballs produces no soft spots and longer durability.
2002 • EST is #1 selling softball bat technology available.
2003 • Wicked Composite introduced, enhanced with Dynamic Response System. Worth acquired by K2 and adds resources of Rawlings and other K2 companies to enhance brand and product capabilities.
2004 • Worth invests over $1 million dollars in new manufacturing methods for bats, and introduces Whiplash Technology to make bats lighter and fl ex more in taper. Olympics held and Worth well represented with Gold Medalists Stacey Nuveman, Leah O’Brien Amico and Michele Smith bringing home the gold.
2005 • Worth recognized as the Offi cial Ball of NCAA Softball.First 100% composite Worth bat (Mayhem) hits the market.Worth reaches 1 million players in baseball, fastpitch and softball using grass roots fl eet of vans and trailers in a single year.
2006 • University of Arizona uses Worth equipment exclusively to win the 2006 Women’s College World Series. Worth uses M75 Composite in the new Mayhem line of bats.
2007 • University of Arizona uses Worth equipment exclusively to win the 2007 Women’s College World Series. Worth’s parent company, K2 Inc, is pur-chased by Jarden Corporation. Worth launches the white Liberty helmet line. Worth launches the fi rst 3-piece bat design, the Mutant, with a composite handle, aluminum collar, and composite barrel.
2011 • Worth introduces 454 composite bat line with patent pending 454 extended sweetspot technology.
2008 • Worth introduces the Titan bat line with Patented 5.4L Technology. Worth Liberty Advanced fi elder’s gloves are worn by MLB stars Alex Rios and Bobby Abreu.
2012 • Worth Celebrates 100 Years!
2004 •dollars in new manufacturing methods for bats, and introduces Whiplash Technology to make bats lighter and fl ex more in taper. Olympics held and Worth well represented with Gold Medalists Stacey Nuveman, Leah O’Brien Amico and Michele Smith bringing home the gold.
(Mayhem) hits the market.Worth reaches 1 million players
and trailers in
2007 • University of Arizona uses Worth equipment University of Arizona uses Worth equipment exclusively to win the 2007 Women’s College World Series. Worth’s parent company, K2 Inc, is pur-chased by Jarden Corporation. Worth launches the white Liberty helmet line. Worth launches the fi rst 3-piece bat design, the Mutant, with a composite handle, aluminum collar, and composite barrel.
2011 • Worth introduces 454 composite bat line with patent pending 454 extended sweetspot technology.
University of Arizona uses Worth equipment
2003 • Wicked Composite introduced, enhanced with Dynamic Response System.