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Jack and his brother Albert
"Red" Pearson, established Peareson
Sporting Goods at 413 South 8th street,
Philadelphia, PA, in 1932. Pearson
was inspired after discovering
the markup in buying baseballs
for a sandlot team. Their father,
William, who worked at the old Corn
Exchange bank disapproved of the venue, and
told his sons "there was no future in
bats and balls." Over time, the venture
flourished, and brothers David, Monte,
and Lois joined the business, which
moved to 1010 Chestnut Street by 1946.
The business started at the height of the Great Depression at 8th, and
Locust Streets. By the mid 1940s,
Pearson outfitted all the city's pro
teams, including; the Eagles, Flyers,
Athletics, Phillies, and 76ers. In the
early 1970s the Pearsons opened a large
store at 1128 Chestnut St., selling
equipment to professional, college and
high school teams. In 1990, the family
closed the business as pro teams
increased their direct purchases from
manufacturers, and chains gave big
discounts to schools and colleges.
The baseball bats featured three different center brands. The earliest
featured a circled Shield logo, with
"Pearson" at the top, and "Sign Of
Superior Quality, along the inside of
the circle. One shield logo Reads "413
SO. 8th
Phila." inside (Sure Hit model) the
other "8th & Locust Phila." pictured
above (Lou Gehrig model) A later center
brand on a softball bat, post 1945, Reads
"Pearson, 1010 Chestnut, Phila. PA, No.
SML"
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