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American Pastime's Bat and Glove Firms Under Chinese Control
15 Oct
Summary
- Two major American baseball equipment companies are now Chinese-owned.
- Anta Sports, a Chinese company, acquired Wilson and Louisville Slugger.
- The acquisition highlights concerns about Chinese influence in US sports.
Two storied American baseball equipment manufacturers, Wilson and Louisville Slugger, are now owned by Anta Sports, a Chinese athletic conglomerate.
Louisville Slugger, founded in the 1880s, and Wilson, established just before World War I, have long been associated with American baseball traditions. In 2015, Louisville Slugger's family ownership sold to Wilson, which had been acquired by the Finnish company Amer Sports in 1989.
Anta Sports, founded in 1991, purchased Amer Sports in 2018, thereby gaining control of both Wilson and Louisville Slugger. This move is indicative of Anta's aggressive global expansion strategy.
Anta's rapid ascent is partly attributed to manufacturing practices in China, where lower costs are achieved. Concerns have been raised due to Anta's close integration with the Chinese Communist Party, exemplified by its past suspension of NBA ties over Hong Kong protests.
The situation reflects a broader trend of Chinese companies challenging Western market dominance through cost advantages and design replication, impacting companies like Nike and raising questions about the future of American-owned brands in global sports.
