Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation, was named one of “America's Greatest Brands” by the American Brands Council.

Rawlings joins Major League Baseball and NASCAR as the only sports-centric brands in the annual review of the country's strongest and most valuable brands. The upcoming ninth edition of America's Greatest Brands features each honoree in a two-page spread that highlights their history, achievements and brand impact.

“We are thrilled to have a powerful and long-lasting brand like Rawlings among the best in the country,” said Carl Meyer, publisher and chief executive officer of America's Greatest Brands, and head of the American Brands Council. “Rawlings was the highest-scoring sports brand among Council members, and considering some of the brands in the sports marketplace today, this clearly illustrates the power and affinity of the Rawlings brand, and its innovation and evolution over the course of its distinguished history.”

Now in its ninth year awarding this distinction, the American Brands Council includes a distinguished group of independent advertising, marketing and communications professionals. According to Meyer, the Council is responsible for nominating the brands each year, which starts by asking marketing's universal question, “What makes a great brand?”

Some criteria the Council considers when nominating a brand include the brand's quality, resilience and longevity, customer loyalty, market leadership and social responsibility.

“To be recognized as one of America's Greatest Brands is truly the culmination of the outstanding effort, passionate dedication and unparalleled craftsmanship all Rawlings employees have poured into their careers and their products since the company's inception in 1887,” said Robert Parish, President and Chief Executive Officer for St. Louis-based Rawlings. “The Rawlings brand and its iconic red patch are recognized by athletes around the world as symbols of quality, authenticity, innovation and performance, and our status as the official baseball and batting helmet of Major League Baseball drives that point home.”

Rawlings maintains the largest social media following of any baseball-centric sporting goods company today and engages its fans daily with unique content such as the fan-voted Rawlings Gold Glove Award® Play of the Day(TM) and exclusive promotions for authentic memorabilia, unique experiences and custom fielders' gloves.

“We are aggressively activating our endorsement and sponsorship assets to better attract and communicate with our target market of 'next-level' players,” said Parish. “Because our brand is the number-one baseball brand worldwide, the Rawlings story is as true to players in St. Louis, New York and Los Angeles as it is in Caracas, Tokyo and San Juan.”