Spalding & Dudley To Supply Official Balls For Little League World Series

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (Jan. 26, 2011) – Little League Baseball and Softball will use a Spalding baseball and a Dudley softball at its respective World Series after reaching a multi-year agreement with the parent company, Russell Brands.

Spalding will supply the “Official Baseball of the Little League World Series” while the Bowling Green, Ky.-based company also manufactures the Dudley softball – “The Official Softball of the Little League World Series.”  The ball that will be used in each of the four World Series softball and baseball divisions will be determined at a later date.

“We are pleased to partner with one of the most recognizable names in athletic equipment to supply our baseballs and softballs for our International Tournament,” Stephen D. Keener, President and Chief Executive Officer of Little League Baseball and Softball, said.  “Our relationship with Russell Brands not only provides instant credibility using the best product on the market, but as Little League sponsors they are assisting us in keeping our fees as low as possible so all children may participate.”

The balls supplied by Spalding and Dudley also will be used at the regional level of Little League Baseball and Softball International Tournament.

“Spalding’s heritage began with baseball more than 130 years ago and we are excited to partner with the premier youth sports organization in the world as the official baseball and softball of the Little League World Series,” Gary Barfield, Executive Vice President of Russell Brands, said.  “Little League’s decision to expand on its 40-year relationship with Russell Brands signifies the importance of performance, authenticity and Spalding’s positioning as a manufacturer of products that are ‘True to the Game’.”

Little League Baseball and Softball is the world’s largest organized youth sports program, with more than 2.5 million players and 1 million adult volunteers in every U.S. state and scores of other countries.

About Spalding
A Division of Russell Brands, LLC, Spalding is now the largest basketball equipment supplier in the world, and America’s first baseball company.  Spalding is the official basketball of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official baseball of the Little League World Series, the official volleyball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tour and the official football of Pop Warner. In addition to being the leading producer and marketer of basketballs, footballs, volleyballs and soccer balls, Spalding produces softballs under the Dudley brand. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.