Arizona family behind ESPN-aired Wiffle league buys original Wiffle Ball Inc.
What's the deal? A Scottsdale, Arizona family led by Jordan Rose has acquired The Wiffle Ball Inc., the Connecticut maker that invented the perforated plastic ball and its signature yellow bat in 1953. The terms were not disclosed.
Who's who? Rose, president and CEO of Rose Law GroupDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, becomes chairman of the board. Her 20-year-old son Logan, a sophomore at Southern Methodist University, takes over as CEO, while 17-year-old Carson becomes chief growth officer.
Why them? The brothers are not newcomers to the game. They launched Big League Wiffle Ball in their Arizona backyard during the pandemic, growing it into a national sports property with 10 professional teams and games broadcast on ESPNDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → platforms.
The two businesses will stay separate, but the shared ownership could connect the 73-year-old consumer brand with organised leagues and new audiences.
What stays put? The Wiffle Ball Inc. keeps its Shelton, Connecticut headquarters, its name, products, and roughly 15 manufacturing employees. The factory has operated on Bridgeport Avenue since 1959.
The legacy: David Mullany, who was president, and his brother Stephen, the vice president, are the third generation to run the company their grandfather founded in 1953. Both will stay on full-time before shifting to advisory roles to guide the transition.
What's the endgame? The Roses plan to add leadership talent and expand the brand into new communities, building a lifestyle around the backyard tradition. The company says it has sold more than 100 million balls over the decades.
The signal: This is less an industry roll-up than a generational handoff — a family that built a modern, ESPN-aired league now inheriting the brand that started it all, with a chance to turn a backyard staple into a broader sports and lifestyle business.
Read more: hoodline.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
