In a quiet corner of Costa Rica, far from roaring stadiums and TV cameras, the heart of Major League Baseball quietly beats—stitch by stitch—in the town of Turrialba. Here, baseballs aren’t just sports equipment; they’re the lifeblood of an entire community. It’s a story of skill, sweat, and surprising global significance.
Where are all MLB baseballs made?
Nearly every official Major League Baseball is made in Turrialba, Costa Rica, at the only Rawlings factory authorised to supply MLB.
The Rawlings Sporting Goods factory produces around 2.4 million baseballs each year—1.8 million destined for MLB games. That means when a player smacks a home run in New York or Los Angeles, there’s a good chance the ball’s journey began in a small Costa Rican farming town.
How is a baseball made in Costa Rica?
Each baseball is crafted by hand, with 108 stitches sewn by skilled workers—something no machine can yet replicate.
Workers in Turrialba spend long hours hand-stitching leather covers around cushioned cork centres. Around 300 of the factory’s 750 employees handle this precise, repetitive job, often meeting strict quotas of at least 156 balls per week. It’s painstaking work that demands steady hands and keen eyes.
Key steps in the process:
- Cutting and shaping leather: High-quality cowhide is precision-cut to fit perfectly over the baseball’s core.
- Hand-stitching: The iconic red stitching is sewn in a specific pattern to ensure durability and performance.
- Quality checks: Each ball is inspected to meet exact MLB specifications before being packed for shipment.
What are the working conditions like?
Working conditions are tough, with low wages and hot, uncooled factory floors.
Despite producing equipment worth millions to MLB, workers earn between $1.60 and $2.33 per hour—barely above Costa Rica’s minimum wage. While a World Series ball can cost MLB around $45, the worker sewing it may only earn 50 cents for their part in its creation. Calls for fairer pay and better labour standards have been growing louder.
Why is this industry important to Turrialba?
The baseball factory provides steady jobs in a town where agriculture has long been the main livelihood.
Turrialba, known for sugarcane, coffee, and cheese production, has limited industrial opportunities. The Rawlings plant has become a major employer, helping keep families in work and sustaining the local economy—despite the tough conditions.
Is “baseball farming” unique to Costa Rica?
Yes—Costa Rica is the only country producing official MLB baseballs.
While other factories worldwide make baseballs for amateur leagues, Costa Rica’s Rawlings plant has the monopoly for the big leagues, making it an unassuming but vital cog in global sports.
FAQ: Costa Rica’s Baseball-Making Industry
Q: Why doesn’t MLB use machines to make baseballs?
A: Machines can’t replicate the precision and feel of hand-stitching, which affects the ball’s performance.
Q: How many stitches are on a baseball?
A: Exactly 108, always sewn in a consistent pattern.
Q: Does the factory produce baseballs for other leagues?
A: Yes, but MLB baseballs are its primary product.
Q: Has Rawlings improved worker pay?
A: Reports suggest little change, but ongoing discussions on labour standards continue.
In Turrialba, baseballs are more than sports gear—they’re a livelihood, a tradition, and a quiet connection between a Costa Rican town and the world’s biggest baseball stage. Every pitch, every catch, every home run starts here.
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