BIG LEAGUE BASEBALLS

24-karat gold infused leather ball will remain a staple in the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby in Kansas City Live on ESPN

ST. LOUIS, July 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc., Gold Sport Collectibles® and Major League Baseball Properties® today announced the special-edition “gold ball” will remain an integral component of the 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Monday, July 9, at 8:00 p.m. ET/7:00 p.m. CT live on ESPN.  The authentic baseball, featuring one leather panel infused with actual 24-karat gold leather crafted by Rawlings and Gold Sport Collectibles, will be thrown to each Derby participant once he reaches the final out of each at bat.

Rawlings, the Official Ball Supplier of Major League Baseball®, in a joint venture with New York-based Gold Sport Collectibles, originally released the special-edition gold baseballs prior to the 2011 MLB® season.  The 24-karat “money ball” made its debut during the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby in Phoenix last July, marking the first time a league-standard baseball made with 24-karat leather was featured as the official gold ball for the competition.  For each gold ball home run hit during the State Farm Home Run Derby, Major League Baseball and State Farm will combine to donate $18,000 to designated charities.

“During the 2011 State Farm Home Run Derby, the excitement and response from the fans for the gold baseballs was overwhelming,” said Mike Thompson, senior vice president of marketing for St. Louis-based Rawlings, a subsidiary of Jarden Corporation (NYSE: JAH).  “Through our partnership with Gold Sport Collectibles and Major League Baseball, Rawlings will continue to provide baseball enthusiasts the opportunity to collect these gold mementos celebrating the game’s most beloved events, including historic player achievements, the Home Run Derby and World Series champions.”

The proprietary and 100% environmentally-friendly technology fills the leather with 24-karat gold, yet leaves the leather feeling soft and untreated.  Derby participants do not feel any difference hitting the gold-infused baseballs compared to the baseballs used during the season.

“Rawlings and Gold Sport Collectibles will again create an unforgettable experience at this year’s All-Star Game with the announcement of our gold-infused technology at the State Farm Home Run Derby,” said Stefano Ongaro, senior vice president of marketing and product development for Gold Sport Collectibles.  “The gold ‘money ball’ is one of the focal points of the entire All-Star Week.  There is no better way to highlight this than through using a real, 24-karat gold baseball, which makes this experience for fans and players even more memorable.”

Rawlings and Gold Sport Collectibles will sell the 24-karat gold leather 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby baseballs through its authorized dealer network in the U.S. and Canada, and online at www.goldsportcollectibles.com and MLB.com.  The balls will also be available in Kansas City at MLB All-Star FanFest.  Each ball retails at $149.99 and includes a display case and an official certificate of authenticity.

About Rawlings Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and marketer of sporting goods in the United States.  Founded in 1887, Rawlings is an authentic global sports brand, trusted by generations of athletes, with high-performance products and protective equipment that enable them to perform at their highest level.  With an assortment of baseball, basketball, football and softball game-related product lines, Rawlings is present everywhere team sports are played.  Leagues and conferences of all skill levels integrate Rawlings’ unparalleled product portfolio into their sports: as the Official Batting Helmet and Ball Supplier of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball for the NCAA®, the official football for the NAIA®, the official basketball for the NAIA, NJCAA® and AAU®, and the approved baseball, basketball, football and softball of the National High School Federation®.  For more information, please visit www.rawlings.com or by phone at (314) 819-2800.

About Jarden Corporation Jarden Corporation is a leading provider of a diverse range of consumer products with a portfolio of over 100 trusted, quality brands sold globally.  Jarden operates in three primary business segments through a number of well recognized brands, including: Outdoor Solutions: Abu Garcia®, Aero®, Berkley®, Campingaz® and Coleman®, ExOfficio®, Fenwick®, Gulp!®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Mitchell®, Penn®, Rawlings®, Shakespeare®, Stearns®, Stren®, Trilene®, Volkl® and Zoot®; Consumer Solutions: Bionaire®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Health o meter®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Patton®, Rival®, Seal-a-Meal®, Sunbeam®, VillaWare® and White Mountain®; and Branded Consumables: Ball®, Bee®, Bernardin®, Bicycle®, Billy Boy®, Crawford®, Diamond®, Dicon®, Fiona®, First Alert®, First Essentials®, Hoyle®, Kerr®, Lehigh®,  Lillo®, Loew Cornell®, Mapa®, NUK®, Pine Mountain®, Quickie®, Spontex® and Tigex®.  Headquartered in Rye, N.Y., Jarden ranks #371 on the Fortune 500 and has over 23,000 employees worldwide.  For in-depth information about Jarden, please visit www.jarden.com.

Source: PR Newswire

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