Wilson Sporting Goods Co., the world’s leading manufacturer of high-performance baseball and softball equipment, dropped the latest edition of its ongoing Love The Moment A2000 ball glove series today.
The 2024 Autism Speaks A2000 1786 infield model glove is the newest product launch in the five-year collaboration between Wilson and Autism Speaks to foster a more inclusive world where all people with autism can reach their full potentials.
Since 2019, Wilson and Autism Speaks have worked to create on-field products and promote a message of inclusion, acceptance and understanding for people with autism. In addition to the new A2000 1786 model, several other glove models for a variety of positions on the diamond carry forward in the collection. All gloves and other Love The Moment gear from the Wilson family of brands highlight Autism Speaks’ signature blue color and feature the “Love The Moment” mark created specifically for this collaboration. In addition to the Love The Moment glove lineup, Wilson offers players the option to customize all Pro Stock® gloves with Love The Moment branding on the Wilson Custom Builder. More than 3,000 players have taken advantage of this option in recent years.
The Autism Speaks Love The Moment A2000 ball gloves retail for $299.95 and can be purchased at wilson.com. Wilson will donate 10% of the purchase price of all Love The Moment products to Autism Speaks with a minimum donation of $150,000 each year in support of Autism Speaks’ mission, which is to create an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their life span.
Wilson’s donation this year to Autism Speaks will help increase advocacy and support, provide reliable information and resources, and advance research into needs and better interventions with the goal of helping people across the autism spectrum and throughout their life spans. With an estimated one in 36 children in the U.S. affected by autism, Autism Speaks is working to create a world where all people with autism can reach their full potentials and live life to the fullest.
“Since joining forces in 2019, we have received tremendous support from thousands of ballplayers for this collaboration,” said Michael Markovich, Global Commercial Director, Wilson Baseball and Softball. “In order to generate even more funds for Autism Speaks’ mission of increasing inclusion, awareness and research, we continue to offer new products every year, including Wilson A2000s, EvoShield gear and apparel, and several Louisville Slugger Love The Moment bats. We’re also encouraging our distribution partners to join us in the mission to create a nationwide community more welcoming of all people on the spectrum and their families.”
The 2024 Love The Moment A2000 glove will help players take the field and play with a purpose. The A2000 1786 model features grey and Autism Speaks blue Pro Stock® Leather, Gradient Wilson Bold Logos and the exclusive Love The Moment stamp on the pinky. In addition, to coincide with World Autism Month and to help spread the Autism Speaks message, Wilson has added Autism Speaks blue leather and the Love The Moment pinky stamp to its Glove Customizer at wilsoncustomgloves.com.
“We’re proud to celebrate differences and the inclusion of autistic individuals in all aspects of society, from the workforce to the baseball field,” said Keith Wargo, Autism Speaks President and Chief Executive Officer. “Together with Wilson, we continue to stand with the autism community and deliver the services and supports needed in order to make a world of difference for all people with autism.”
Wilson Sporting Goods’ collaboration with Autism Speaks is the latest in its history of initiatives supporting charitable causes, including the popular Hope® line of products in tennis, baseball and fastpitch, which supported breast cancer research and awareness for many years. The company’s Louisville Slugger® brand created the Going to Bat Against Breast Cancer initiative with Major League Baseball® in 2006, an effort that will be in its 18th year during the 2023 season. Wilson baseball/softball is also a supporter of Pitch In For Baseball & Softball® which provides equipment to children in underserved communities.