Controlling the Game (CTG), a manufacturer of baseball and softball equipment, has acquired Verdero, a professional-grade baseball footwear and apparel division of FILA.
Terms of deal were not disclosed. CTG, the first Latino-owned company licensed by Major League Baseball to sell bats and gear to ballplayers, plans to rename its products: Verdero, Controlling the Game. Founded in 2003, CTG has grown into a $1.4 million business and makes bats, gloves and apparel. Roberto Muller, former president of Reebok International Ltd. and founder of PONY Sports & Leisure, joined the company last year as a principal partner.
“Similar to our bats and gloves, the Verdero line features products that are known in the big leagues for top performance and cutting-edge innovation,” said Jorge Medina, CEO and president of Controlling the Game.
CTG also recently received approval from the NCAA to sell is new all-wood bat, The Woody, which looks like metal, but swings like wood. Medina sees the bat as an answer to the controversial metal bat ban in New York City.
