Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame

The formative years for BARBARA LONGSTRETH led to her becoming a household name in field hockey, lacrosse and softball equipment. She graduated from Beaver College in 1958 and excelled in field hockey and lacrosse. During the next 18 years, Barbara taught and coached both sports across all levels. She traveled abroad as a member of the US National Teams in both of these sports. In 1976, Barbara, her husband, and their three children moved to California where Barbara continued to teach and coach field hockey at Long Beach State and Stanford University. She also started club lacrosse at both schools. Other California colleges followed suit and west coast lacrosse was born. 

In 1977, Barbara Longstreth met Mohinder Gill, a student from India. Mohinder had contacts with manufacturers of field hockey equipment. Barbara agreed to sell Mohinder’s sticks to her friends across the country. Nearly 40 years ago, from the trunk of her car, Longstreth Sporting Goods began. In 1981, Barbara and her friend Kathy Levinson formed L&L Sports. They expanded their line of products and added lacrosse equipment. After helping Barbara get started, Kathy went her own way and Barbara moved back to the east coast and continued the business, now Longstreth Sporting Goods, from her home near Philadelphia. 

During the next 4 years, Barbara taught, coached 3 sports, and served as the Athletic Director at Springside School. At the same time, she did all of the ordering, advertising, packing, shipping and record-keeping by herself. Her brother Dick Heylmun joined her in 1985 on a part-time basis. Barbara’s dream of a field hockey and lacrosse store was fulfilled in 1986 when a small, old, auto repair shop was leased in the village of Parkerford, Pennsylvania. It was part of a complex of four buildings including an old barn which would eventually become today’s retail store. 

In 1991, Ronnie Maurek joined the Longstreth Team as a manager of the new Fastpitch Softball Division. Ronnie’s 20-year playing experience, plus her 17 years of coaching at Temple University, brought a wealth of knowledge to this new venture. A product advisory board of leading softball coaches was established to develop the company’s product line. Thus, was created the nation’s first catalog devoted exclusively to women’s softball equipment. 

In 1992 the barn on the property was remodeled and a large retail facility was established, dedicated to women’s field hockey, lacrosse and softball which still stands and thrives today. In 2000, sales were booming, there were 60 employees, products were imported from 10 countries, shipments were sent abroad daily and all 3 catalogs were on the internet. The retail store had become a destination. Visits had been recorded from over 25 countries!

In 1998, Barbara was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame at a formal ceremony in Baltimore, Maryland. The presentation speech for Barbara was by Vonnie Gros, Head Coach of the 1984 US Olympic Field Hockey Team. Barbara was one of five women to receive this honor. Barbara retired from Longstreth in 2007, only to continue to foster all three sports through the next generation of hands. She currently resides in Chester County, Pennsylvania and is still active in the community. It is not unlikely that you may run into her at our Spring City, Pennsylvania store from time to time!

Since retirement almost 10 years ago, Barbara’s legacy continues to support the development of female athletes across the sports of field hockey, lacrosse and softball. Today, each of Longstreth core sport managers are experts in their field as previous coaches or players. Longstreth continues to foster relationships with the same suppliers that Barbara initially began her company with by providing the best possible products to keep young female athletes at the top of their game. From working with the national team, to universities and youth level programs, Longstreth strives to continue to define the women’s game just as Barbara did from the trunk of her car almost 40 years ago. 

Please note: This biography was produced from the nominating materials in the candidate’s nominating year, so the information is not current.