2026 Inductee
Scott Hedrick
Pro Athlete, Inc.
Scott Hedrick created more than just another sporting goods company with Pro Athlete, Inc.
Hedrick helped transform the industry through digital ecommerce with JustBats.com and JustGloves.com for baseball and softball and JustPaddles.com for pickleball. It opened the door for Kansas City-based Pro Athlete to become a national brand and led to Hedrick’s selection for induction into the Sporting Goods Industry Hall of Fame with the Class of 2026.
“I have had the privilege of knowing and working closely with Scott for over 15 years, and I can confidently attest to his remarkable contributions to the sporting goods industry,” said Kurt Ainsworth, co-founder and CEO of Marucci Sports. “Under Scott’s visionary leadership, Pro Athlete has established itself as a top-tier retailer, earning widespread respect and recognition within the industry.
“Scott’s keen understanding of customer needs and his commitment to delivering top-quality products has cultivated a loyal customer base, further strengthening Pro Athlete’s standing in the industry.”
A disappointing experience finding award patches for Scott’s high school letterman’s jacket led his parents Wes and Judi to open Pro Athlete in December 1987. Long hours and minimal profits led the family to explore selling the company in the mid-1990s, but there was no interest.
That sparked Scott’s foray into ecommerce sales with the internet beginning to gain more of a foothold in everyday life. Sales took off and by 2004, Pro Athlete transitioned to a fully 100 percent on-line company doing business throughout the country.
“His significant achievements and unwavering commitment to his customers and employees has pushed his company to the top of the industry and has had a profound and lasting influence on the industry and his community,” said Rick Fortuna, Chairman of USSSA.
“Pro Athlete has been a true leader in both catalog and online sales for baseball/softball bats and gloves for close to 40 years,” said Mike Zlaket, the Vice Chairman and former CEO of Rawlings. “Having been in the industry for most of those years, I can certainly speak to the consistent success of the company and the positive impact it has had on the industry. Scott deserves the bulk of the credit.”
Hedrick’s commitment to success includes his generosity and support of Pro Athlete’s employees. The facility includes free access to a gym, weight room, cardio room, lap pool and volleyball, basketball and pickleball courts. There are meeting and break rooms that pay homage to many of the company’s vendors and partners such as the Rawlings’ Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Award rooms and a Lumber Yard room featuring Marucci and Victus bats.
Giving back to the Kansas City community has also been important to Hedrick and Pro Athlete. The company has supported an adaptive youth sports program and gives employees $1,500 per year to donate to charitable organizations of their choice. Pro Athlete also hosts an annual JustBats June Jam baseball tournament in Kansas City with thousands of dollars in prizes from JustBats.com given to the championship and runner-up teams in the event.
In 2020, Pro Athlete received the prestigious “Mr. K Award,” named after Ewing Kauffman, the late founder and owner of the Kansas City Royals, to recognize a small business of the year. Pro Athlete also won the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce’s Legacy Award in 2024.
“Scott is among the very best of representatives of a leader in our industry – as an entrepreneur and business leader,” said Jim Hackett, President & GM of Wilson Baseball-Softball. “For the quarter-century that I’ve known Scott, I have always been impressed by his character traits he exhibits in all interactions.”
Please note: This biography was produced from the nominating materials in the candidate’s nominating year, so the information may not be current.