Baseballs For Haiti

The idea

Revitalize Haiti’s baseball manufacturing sector as part of the country’s reconstruction effort

Picture courtesy of Zack Hample

Back in the day, baseballs used to be manufactured in Haiti. Remember looking at a brand new ball when you were a kid? (OK, a kid in the 1960′s or 1970′s). They were all made in Haiti. We know, because new baseballs were like gold and needed to be looked over and revered before being put into use, where the “made in Haiti” would just fade away.

As we get older and take things for granted, I bet we don’t marvel over new baseballs anymore. Personally, I grab one and throw it in play and never give it a second thought. Until last year, that is. I looked at a brand new baseball and noticed that the “made in Haiti” had, indeed faded away. Or more accurately, been replaced by “China” or “Costa Rica”

Nothing against China, or Costa Rica or any other country. This is a global economy and anything can be made and purchased anywhere. But, I got thinking. Baseballs used to be made in Haiti. Therefore, there are people in Haiti who know how to make baseballs (yes, they are hand stitched). Haiti needs economic infrastructure in order to recover. Why not revitalize Haiti’s baseball sector? Fair trade baseballs. Two of my favorite things.

The Vision (always subject to revision)

Set up vetted individuals with intermodal containers converted into solar powered workshops where baseballs can be manufactured. At first, the components would be sourced abroad and manufactured in Haiti. If affordable textile wrapping machines can’t be acquired for each workshop, then a centralized facility would be set up to bring the process up to the stitching stage, where they would be distributed to stitchers

The Reality

Haiti has been a difficult place to do business. Corruption, lack of infrastructure, ineffective governance, crime, social unrest; the list is long and that is before the devastating earthquake. The rules are changing and whether it will be a better environment remains to be seen. Traditionally, undertaking a business venture under such conditions would have to have huge reward for such high risk. (Oil, minerals, etc.). Opening a fair trade, quasi-non-profit with a social mission would require compassionate and resilient people driven by singleness of purpose. Funding for such a venture would take smarts, creativity and experience. I am looking for people who would say “This is crazy” and go ahead and make it succeed anyway.

The Action

Start the blog. For social media group. Put out the idea to people who practice “Compassionate Capitalism”. I know a lot of people who do well by doing good and I’m sure they know more. I’m 53, no 401(k), lots of business experience and want to spend the rest of my working life doing something of value. Put the idea out there, find interested people and form a core group and form a strategy for moving forward.

Next Steps

1) Source components of baseballs domestically.

Baseball “pills”, check. Having a difficult time finding a domestic source that does the required alum tanning. The current source is Tennessee Tanning which is owned by Rawlings and has shown no interest in supplying us hides.

2) Find Haitians who used to be involved in the baseball manufacturing sector.

We have made contact with a gentleman who used to work for Rawlings in Haiti.

3) Source the older technology used to wrap the balls.