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DOWNERS GROVE, ILLINOIS (September 8, 2026) – The Class of 2027 of the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame features a pair of inductees whose impact on baseball has continued well after their highly competitive playing days ended.
Kurt Ainsworth (Marucci Sports) and Kelly Richardson (Richardson) will join 192 retailers, team dealers, manufacturers and industry influencers who have been honored with induction into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame since it was established by the National Sporting Goods Association in 1955. The selections of Ainsworth and Richardson for the Class of 2027 were made by the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame Committee at its annual meeting in May.
“The Class of 2027 has made a significant impact on our industry and the world of sports and they are very deserving of this highest honor,” said Gordon Geiger, Chairman of the NSGA Board of Directors. “Welcoming Kurt and Kelly to the Hall of Fame is a big thrill and it’s fantastic to see them recognized for their career achievements.”
The Hall of Fame dinner and induction ceremony will be held May 25, 2027 at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, Arizona, the site of NSGA 2027 Leadership Conference. Details on attending the event will be announced soon.
Kurt Ainsworth’s goal was missing bats on the road to reaching the major leagues as a pitcher.
Making a better bat was Ainsworth’s objective when he started his transition from a playing career in 2004. Ainsworth began handcrafting bats in the backyard shed of his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Ainsworth ended up hitting a home run with Marucci Sports and the company has evolved into one of the most recognizable names in baseball and softball equipment. In 2025, Marucci and one of the brands under its umbrella, Victus Sports, became the Official Bats of Major League Baseball.
Ainsworth was a first-team All-American and NCAA champion at powerhouse Louisiana State University and a first-round pick in the 1999 Major League Baseball draft. He won a gold medal with the 2000 Olympic team and compiled a 6-8 record in 29 big-league games with the San Francisco Giants and Baltimore Orioles from 2001-04.
He co-founded Marucci Bat Company and that led to the co-founding of Marucci Sports in 2009. Marucci expanded its line to fielding and batting gloves, on- and off-the-field apparel, footwear and other accessories.
Giving back is also a key component of Marucci Sports with the Marucci Cares program, which is designed to help those in need and increase youth sports participation. Marucci Cares has worked with the foundations of several MLB athletes and continues to create partnerships and support the work of athletes and partners aiming to provide access to diamond sports.
Kelly Richardson had a plan in the late 1970s of using the University of Oregon as a stepping-stone to a professional baseball career as a pitcher.
Richardson realized that dream wasn’t going to happen so he changed his game plan. He joined the burgeoning family business of Richardson Sports that was owned by his father Neil, who had a brief minor league pitching stint, and included Kelly’s mom and older brother on a staff of six.
Richardson has grown to more than 450 employees, and evolved under Kelly Richardson’s leadership since he took over as President and CEO in 1995, to become one of the top cap companies in the sporting goods industry.
Athletic equipment was the core business for Richardson from 1970 until 1999, when Kelly and the company decided to focus exclusively on its new headwear line. That decision helped establish Richardson as a trusted and authentic on-field brand.
Richardson focused on improving the quality, fit and shape of its baseball caps and introduced the Performance Team Series line specifically for players. But Richardson also saw the baseball-style cap’s popularity making it something for everyone and not just players. It aligned perfectly with Kelly Richardson’s objective to become a premium headwear brand that would be a special product for anyone passionate about headwear.
Richardson also has a commitment to giving back to the community and supporting organizations that are helping underserved and at-risk kids. He is also a half-owner of the Springfield Drifters summer collegiate wood-bat baseball team in Springfield, Oregon.
About the National Sporting Goods Association
Since 1929, the National Sporting Goods Association (NSGA) has been the leading voice and go-to resource for the sporting goods industry. NSGA helps the industry grow its businesses through research, advocacy and networking. For more information about membership or NSGA’s products and services, please visit nsga.org.
About the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame
NSGA created the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame in 1955 to honor sporting goods pioneers, innovators and leaders, while recognizing and encouraging continued excellence in the industry. Since the first induction in 1956, 192 men and women have been inducted. Nominations are now being accepted for the 2028 induction class.
The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2027.
Nomination forms and information can be found at www.nsga.org/hall-of-fame.
Questions can be directed to Julie Pitts, Hall of Fame Committee secretary, at hof@nsga.org.
