Rawlings Partners with The College Baseball Foundation and College Baseball Hall Of Fame as the presenting sponsor of The George H.W. Distinguished Alumnus Award
OVERLAND PARK, Kansas – Rawlings Sporting Goods Company Inc. has partnered with the College Baseball Foundation (CBF) as the presenting sponsor of the George H.W. Distinguished Alumnus Award. Rawlings is a household name in baseball, featuring both the iconic Rawlings and Easton brands.
The George H.W. Distinguished Alumnus Award, presented by Rawlings, honors the accomplishments of college baseball players who achieved greatness off the diamond, is named after its inaugural recipient, George H.W. Bush, who played at Yale from 1946 to 1948 and was elected the 41st President of the United States. Bush, called "Poppy" by his teammates, played first base for the Bulldogs' teams that played in the first two College World Series. He also served as the team captain for the 1948 squad.
“Throughout history, Rawlings has been firmly embedded in the fabric of America’s pastime, including college baseball, so we’re honored to be the presenting sponsor of The George H.W. Bush Award,” Rawlings Vice President of Brand and Sports Marketing Eric Reinsfelder said. “President Bush once told us that Rawlings is a special brand and to take good care of it, and we intend to do just that by honoring him and the recipients of this prestigious award.”
Former University of Kansas baseball captain and longtime business leader and philanthropist Forrest Hoglund was the most recent recipient to be honored with the award in April. In addition to its namesake, previous recipients include Dr. Bobby Brown, Congressman Roger Williams, Vin Scully, Dr. John Olerud and Judge Thelton Henderson.
“The College Baseball Foundation would like to thank Rawlings for its support, not only as the presenting sponsor of the George H. W. Bush Award, but also as a foundational partner with the College Baseball Hall of Fame and our capital campaign for the buildout of the museum,” CBF CEO and Executive Director Tom Jacobs said. “We are beyond thrilled to announce the partnership with Rawlings, which is such a perfect fit as it is reflective of the legacy between the namesake of the award and this historic company. Recipients of the Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award receive a bronze trophy, designed by Garland Weeks, depicting the Yale hat worn by Bush and the Rawlings George McQuinn "Claw" first baseman's mitt he used during his Yale career. The mitt was a prized keepsake for Bush throughout his life, including during his presidency when he famously kept it in his desk drawer in the Oval Office.”
As part of the partnership, a Rawlings Gold Glove Award® monument will be displayed near the entrance of the College Baseball Hall of Fame at the Museum at Prairiefire. The museum will also feature an Easton history wall display.
The CBF is the parent organization of the College Baseball Hall of Fame (CBHOF). The 2025 College Baseball Hall of Fame class, which was recently announced, will be honored at the Night of Champions on February 12, 2026, in Overland Park.
George H.W. Bush Distinguished Alumnus Award Recipients
Year: Recipient, City Where Honored, School(s) Played Baseball
2014: George H.W. Bush, Houston, Yale
2015: Dr. Bobby Brown, Fort Worth, Texas, Stanford, UCLA, and Tulane
2015: Congressman Roger Williams, Fort Worth, Texas, TCU
2015: Vin Scully, Los Angeles, Fordham
2016: Dr. John Olerud, Seattle, Washington State
2020: Judge Thelton Henderson, Virtual, California-Berkeley
2025: Forrest Hoglund, Overland Park, Kansas, Kansas
About Rawlings
Established in 1887, Rawlings is an innovative leading global brand and manufacturer of premium baseball and softball equipment, including gloves, balls, and protective headwear. Rawlings' unparalleled quality, innovative engineering and expert craftsmanship are the fundamental reasons why more professional athletes, national governing bodies and sports leagues choose Rawlings. Rawlings is the official baseball, glove, helmet, face guard and base of Major League Baseball®, the official baseball of Minor League Baseball® and the official baseball and softball of the NCAA® and the NAIA®.
Rawlings acquired Easton Diamond Sports®, the official equipment supplier of Little League® Baseball and Softball, Team USA Softball®, and USSSA® Softball, in 2020. The company is headquartered in St. Louis. For more information, please visit www.Rawlings.com.
