New Era Becomes the Official Cap Sponsor of the 'PONY' Baseball and Softball Leagues

BUFFALO, N.Y., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- New Era Cap Co., manufacturer of the official cap of Major League Baseball, has announced a partnership with PONY (Protect Our Nation's Youth) Baseball and Softball organization.  Headquartered in Washington, PA, the PONY Corporation operates 3,500 leagues across 10 different age groups in the US and also represents leagues in 25 international countries.  Under the terms of the agreement, New Era will become the official on-field cap of PONY, outfitting nearly 500,000 players and coaches across United States this spring.

"PONY Baseball and Softball is excited to partner with New Era Cap, the leading cap manufacturer in our games," stated Abraham Key, President and CEO of PONY Baseball and Softball. "New Era and PONY believe in providing an exceptional baseball and softball experience for our young participants."

In addition to becoming the official on-field cap, New Era will also support two of PONY's biggest events in 2010.  The National Youth Baseball Championship occurring in August, as well as the "Champions Game" scheduled to take place prior to the MLB All Star Home Run Derby in Anaheim, CA.  

The "Champions Game" will represent players from PONY's newly formed Champions League for special needs children.  The game will be played on-field at Angel Stadium with members of the league playing side-by-side with able bodied youth.  All of the players will receive special recognition.  As a sponsor of the game, New Era will receive on-field signage along with the PONY logo, an official patch on the player jerseys and branding on the champion's medals and t-shirts.  

"New Era prides itself on providing premium headwear products and we are thrilled to team up with a great youth organization like PONY," said Gerry Matos, Senior VP of Marketing. "Events like the National Youth Baseball Championship and the Champions Game lets every kid feel like a major leaguer.  We are proud to be a part of such a worthy effort."  

About New Era Cap

Founded in 1920, New Era Cap Company, Inc., the leading headwear manufacturer and creator of New Era Apparel, brings to market products that transcend time, culture, sport and fashion. Producing more than 35 million caps per year, New Era is the exclusive manufacturer and marketer of the official on-field cap worn by every Major League Baseball team and their Minor League affiliates and maintaining agreements with other licensed entities. On the street, New Era is known as the Originator of the True Fitted for its signature cap style, the 59FIFTY. The Company is headquartered in Buffalo, New York and operates facilities in Alabama, Canada, Europe, Japan and Hong Kong. New Era Cap is a Participating Company (PC) of the Fair Labor Association.

For more information, please visit: http://www.pony.org

SOURCE New Era Cap Co.