Albert Goodwill Spalding begins his professional baseball career with the Boston Red Stockings.

Over his career, he achieved a .323 batting average, an earned run average of 2.14 and an overall winning percentage of .796, a record that still stands today. He also became baseball’s first 200 game winner.

From 1871 to 1875, A.G. Spalding won an outstanding 241 of 301 games he pitched for the Boston Red Stockings and the Chicago White Stockings.

He pitched every game with a baseball he had developed himself. In 1876 this future Hall of Famer retired and entered the sporting goods business full-time. For the next 100 years, his baseball would remain as the official ball of the Major Leagues.

The first A.G. Spalding & Brothers sporting goods store opens in Chicago.

Combining his baseball experience with his business skills, A.G. Spalding & Bros. emerges as a dominant company in the sporting goods industry. Spalding makes the First Major League Baseball and becomes the official ball of the National League for the first 100 years (1876-1976) and of the American League (1889-1973).

Spalding makes the First Major League Baseball Glove.

Throughout its’ history, dozens of Hall of Fame players have worn Spalding fielding gloves.

Spalding publishes first “Official Rules Guide for Baseball”.

A.G. Spalding becomes President of the Chicago White Stockings.

Spalding develops and manufactures the very first American football.

Each ball is made from the finest quality foot leather and features rawhide lacing. Every ball is guaranteed to be “perfect in material and workmanship, and correct in shape and size.”

Spalding promotes Baseball around the world.

A.G. Spalding takes the top pro ball players around the globe playing exhibition games to introduce.

1st Basketball.

When Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball in 1891, players had to use a soccer ball. Naismith asks A.G. Spalding to develop the very first basketball, and it isn’t long before the official rules of the game read, “the ball made by A.G. Spalding & Bros. shall be the official ball.”

1st American Volleyball.

The game of volleyball is invented by Holyoke, MA. Spalding is asked to develop a ball and manufactures the very first American volleyball.

Spalding is the largest manufacturer of Baseball bats in the United States.

Spalding had factories across the nation and was producing 1 million bats per year, and unheard of number at that time.

1st Liquid Center Golf Ball.

Spalding develops and introduces the first wound balata ball with liquid center, the Kros-Flite. This construction represents a major technological advancement in golf ball.

A.G. Spalding was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame the year it opened.

Today, Spalding still maintains the same drive, balancing professionalism on and off the field, following in the cleat marks of their founder; rooted firmly in the past, focusing on the future and maintaining the true spirit of competition.

1st 2-piece Golf Ball.

The Spalding Executive is the first two-piece performance ball, and the most consistent and durable golf ball ever made. Its groundbreaking construction allows it to stay “in-round” and “in play” far longer than the softer Balata-covered balls.

1st Synthetic Leather Basketball.

Spalding became the Official Ball of the NBA.

Made from the finest full grain leather and meeting the most stringent quality and performance standards, the Spalding basketball is selected as the official ball of the National Basketball Association.

1st Composite Leather Basketball.

Spalding is the first to develop and introduce composite leather cover materials. The new technology makes the ball more durable while providing a super soft touch for greater feel and control vs. traditional leather.

Official Ball of the WNBA.

Spalding develops the trademark Oatmeal and Orange game ball featuring a ZK Microfiber Composite cover that is deemed the official ball of the WNBA.

1st Integrated Micro-Pump®.

After 20 months of testing and perfecting, Spalding introduces the first and only ball with a built in Micro Pump®. Each ball is precision engineered to meet all NBA performance standards. During 2001, Spalding also developed the official ball of the NDBL (National Basketball Development League).

Official Ball of the MISL.

Featuring INFUSION technology and innovative graphic design for enhanced indoor visibility, this Spalding soccer ball is named the official ball of the Major Indoor Soccer League.

Official Ball of the Rucker League.

Spalding becomes the official ball of the Rucker Park Basketball League.

Official Balls Announced.

Spalding designs a dynamic new football that becomes the official ball of the Arena Football League. Spalding also becomes the Official Ball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tournament. The popular AFL gameball is modified and becomes the official ball of Pop Warner Football. Spalding becomes the Official Ball of the EBC ( Entertainers Basketball Classic) at Rucker Park.

First Ball Guaranteed to Stay Inflated – NEVERFLAT.

The Spalding NEVERFLAT® Basketball is the first ever ball with Pressure Rentention Technologies and is the only ball guarranteed to stay fully inflated for at least 1 year – 10x longer than any traditional basketballs! The NEVERFLAT series is breakthrough technology that dramatically increases pressure retention, so you are….Always Ready to Play!

60″ Glass Portable – THE BEAST®.

Portable basketball system brings NBA quality home to driveways everywhere.

First Gear specialized for Youth – ROOKIE GEAR.

Spalding introduces Rookie Gear, a sporting goods line of youth-sized basketballs, footballs and soccer balls that weigh 25 percent less than standard youth products. Specifically engineered for the 40+ million kids aged 8 and under, Spalding Rookie Gear?s authentic, innovative product line is designed so kids can shoot, rebound, kick and throw more easily and successfully.

Spalding becomes official ball of the Euroleague.