Under Armour will partner will Cal Ripken Jr. and become the official uniform provider for Ripken Baseball. Among the terms of the 5-year agreement, the Ripken Baseball complex in Aberdeen, Md. will serve as the official home of Under Armour Baseball and the Aberdeen IronBirds will become the first pro baseball team to be outfitted in Under Armour uniforms.
Under Armour is now the official uniform of Ripken Baseball and the title sponsor for all 25 Ripken youth baseball tournaments, which boast a cumulative participation of 35,000 players. Furthermore, the Baltimore-based company will outfit the 10 domestic teams participating in this summer's Cal Ripken World Series and will have on-field signage during the tournament.
Under Armour also will elevate the “Ripken Way” of training by providing original video content featuring Cal and Bill Ripken on its website. In addition, Ripken Baseball will be involved with the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game as both speakers and coaches.
“Cal is an iconic figure who represents the very best of sports,” said Steve Battista, Under Armour, Senior Vice President, Brand. “We are equally excited to establish a new home for Under Armour Baseball and for the prospect of teaming up with Cal to deliver performance apparel and footwear to hundreds of thousands of aspiring baseball players across the globe.”
Said Cal Ripken, president and CEO of Ripken Baseball. “We are excited to be aligned with a brand as powerful as Under Armour and the fact that we are both Maryland-based companies makes it that much better. Under Armour is a brand that athletes and youth ballplayers love and this will take what we do to another level.”
