Rawlings has expanded into diamond sports training by acquiring Tanner Tees, a manufacturer of baseball and softball hitting tees. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded by former baseball coach Joe Tanner in Sarasota, FL, the company’s tees are hand-rolled in Sarasota and sold through local team dealers and baseball training facilities. The acquisition follows Rawlings’ purchases of Jack Corbett Hollywood Bases in 2024 and Easton Diamond Sports in 2020.
Rawlings was acquired in 2018 by Seidler Equity Partners (SEP) and MLB Properties from Newell Brands.
“Rawlings continues to bolster its premium product portfolio with the recent acquisition of Tanner Tees, and we’re excited to bring those items to our vast customer base comprised of athletes ranging in age and ability,” said Ron Ostrowski, president and chief executive officer of Rawlings. “This purchase provides us a vehicle to venture into new product categories while growing our leading market share within our competitive industry.”
“Joe Tanner built the first Tanner Tee with a vision for better training products, and my brother AJ and I never imagined that what he started that day in his garage would grow into the number one batting tee in the world today,” said Andy Menard, owner and sales manager of Tanner Tees. “Now, as a part of Rawlings, the most iconic name in baseball, we’re thrilled to know the Tanner brand will continue to serve hitters and coaches for years to come with the most trusted training products that carry our grandfather’s name.”
Image courtesy Tanner Tees
