An Oklahoma Business Throws A Strike

In 2005, the News on 6's Rick Wells told us about a Tulsa area company that had developed a process to put a picture on a real baseball. <br/><br/>Eighteen months later, Ball Legends are beginning

Thursday, January 4th 2007, 9:59 am

By: News On 6

In 2005, the News on 6's Rick Wells told us about a Tulsa area company that had developed a process to put a picture on a real baseball.

Eighteen months later, Ball Legends are beginning to attract some attention in the very exclusive world of professional baseball.

How would you like Albert Pujols' picture on a baseball? Some of the sponsors of the Pujols Foundation got one. Scott Wilson: "This is ball we did for the Pujols Foundation." Albert even signed some of them; it's kind of like a 21st century product upgrade. Instead of a baseball card, it's a baseball, and nobody else is doing it. "Nobody has our process on a real leather baseball."

In July of 2005 they were getting ready for a big promotion with the Tulsa Drillers, printing baseballs for a big giveaway, that was successful. They're just back from the baseball winter meetings; executives from all over could see and feel this new product. "It helped us validate that it is something different."

That difference is beginning to payoff, even beyond the teams. A ball park architect has designed a ball with his picture on it. "He's gonna use these as business cards to send out to his clients."

They are negotiating with several teams in the major and minor leagues. "A little wider in the minor leagues, they are a little more creative and receptive to new ideas.â€ The process works for inflatable leather balls too, Eddie Sutton on a basketball, Heisman Trophy winner Jason White on a football. As much as they'd like to serve big time sports, local sports is a huge marketplace. "Little league teams, high school teams college teams, it's something different to give them."
Something they could keep for a lifetime.

Information about Ball Legends is available on their website.