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The Morrison-Ricker Manufacturing Company of
Grinnell, Iowa was established in 1857.
Originally selling work gloves for
settlers, the company manufactured
hundreds of styles of gloves, but they
were most famous for their driving
gloves. Baseball gloves were not a
standard production item but were only
made in slack times at the factory. The
company had growing interest in
producing athletic goods such as
baseballs, basketballs, and footballs.
In the early 1920's the Grinnell
factory began turning out the newest
designs in footballs and basketballs by
the thousands.
Formerly conducting an exclusive glove factory the company invented a
patented valve which retained the air
after the ball was inflated, resulting
in a seamless bladder. The company was
also producing baseballs for the
Eastern Ohio class C, baseball league.
In 1923 Morrison-Ricker merged with the Lannom Mfg. company. In 1921
George Lannon established the "Worth"
trademark for the sporting goods
division of Lannom Mfg. Worth took
control of the factory in Grinnell, and
continued to produce athletic goods.
Benjamin Ricker after making bad
personal investments retired to
California in 1930.
Player
endorsed models include: Joe Sewell,
and Bill Wambsganss
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