Photo by Charlene Corson Selbee
Senior Director BUL (Brand Business Unit Leader) Slowpitch Mike Rommes sat down earlier this month to share the story of Miken Sports located in Caledonia, Minnesota.
Mike Snow and Ken Prieve co-founded the company in 1992 in Hartland, Wisconsin, as a small garage prototyping shop for custom composite materials. The name MIKEN was created from the founders’ first names.
In 1997, Jeb Griffith joined the business as a partner. Griffith was the entrepreneur while Snow and Prieve were the engineer type of guys. The three men focused on making the first carbon-fiber composite softball bats.
Griffith purchased the company from Snow and Prieve in 1998 and moved the business to Caledonia where Griffith owned the current building. At that time, it was the home of Winnebago Software.
Rommes started at Miken in 2000 and remembers the company’s transformation firsthand. He explained at that time Miken was not selling a lot of bats. After extensive prototype testing on the field, they believed that they had a bat that would change the game.
Rommes shared, “I traveled to one of the top slowpitch dealers with Pete Griffith. We hit some demo bats at a nearby field and proceeded to land the biggest order the company had seen since it started in 1998.”
“Shortly after its release, association standards changed, and the ULTRA was no longer allowed. Miken responded with the ULTRA II in 2003, which became the number one selling bat in the market,” said Rommes.
Miken was purchased by Rawlings, which was owned by K2 in 2004. In 2007 Jarden Corp purchased K2 and in 2016 Newell Brands purchased Jarden. In 2018, Seidler Equity Partners purchased Rawlings from Newell.
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Today, Caledonia serves as the National Headquarters for Rawlings’ slowpitch division.
Rommes takes great pride in the products associated with the Caledonia operation. “We manufacture the batting helmet used by all the MLB players. We produce the Rawlings Gold Glove Award presented to the top MLB players every year at the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony on ESPN. We also assemble the top batting tee in the market, Tanner Tees.”
Shipping is a major part of the Caledonia operation. The facility handles slowpitch bats, fielding gloves, bat bags, batting gloves, softballs, hats and t-shirts. Authorized dealers receive larger bulk shipments, while the company’s Omni Channel allows products to be shipped directly to consumers, from a single bat to multiple items.
The products or manufacturing process have continued to evolve. “Our brands focus on developing high-performance products for the market, so we are always looking to improve performance, feel, durability, and overall appearance,” Rommes explained.
He also pointed to advances in bat technology. “Our bat technology is second to none. Our engineering team continuously explores advanced composite materials and resins. Every design is developed to push the limits of performance while meeting all the association standards.”
When asked what makes him most proud of Miken’s presence in Caledonia, Rommes pointed to the team.
“Our team! Every MLB batting helmet, Rawlings Gold Glove Award, Tanner Tee’s and all the various slow pitch products all coming out of the Caledonia warehouse! Those achievements are only possible because of the talented, dedicated group of people we have.”
Customer service remains one of the company’s strongest advantages, helping distinguish them from their competitors.
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Asked to describe Miken Sports’ impact on Caledonia in one sentence, Rommes said having every MLB player wear a batting helmet made in Caledonia is a powerful reminder of the influence Rawlings and its local team have on the game.
Rommes said one of the biggest challenges facing the sporting-goods manufacturing industry is the decline in slowpitch softball participation over the years. At the same time, increased competition has created a more crowded marketplace, making product innovation, customer service, faster shipping and strong relationships with players and dealers more important than ever.
The Caledonia operation is well positioned for future growth because of its versatility and ability to take on new products and processes as Rawlings continues to expand. Rommes pointed to Tanner Tee as one example, noting that Rawlings trusted the local team to relocate the entire Tanner Tee operation to Caledonia, where the products are now assembled and distributed. Rommes said the successful transition demonstrates the facility’s ability to support future growth opportunities.”
From its beginnings in a small Wisconsin garage to its role today as the national headquarters for Rawlings’ slowpitch division, Miken Sports’ story continues to be tied to innovation, adaptability and the people behind the products.
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