American heritage brand known for inventing the modern batting glove and its dominance in professional pickleball.
ORIGIN
USA
PRICE TIER
mid
Founded in 1946 in Brockton, Massachusetts, Franklin Sports began as a regional sporting goods manufacturer using scrap leather to craft equipment for youth athletes. The brand cemented its place in sports history in 1983 when it collaborated with Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt to invent the modern batting glove, a breakthrough that transformed the company into the Official Batting Glove partner of Major League Baseball. Today, Franklin remains a family-owned business that bridges the gap between backyard play and professional performance.