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What Are Enamel Pins and Why Are They Great for Your Softball Team?

What are enamel pins and why are they great for your softball team? Learn more about how enamel pins can be great for bringing a team together.

It's that time of the year again. Summer softball tournament season. And, the most important tournament of them all is fast approaching.

When it comes to fastpitch world series tournaments, there's a particular energy in the air. Adrenaline is pumping, coaches are wired, and players are ready to give it their all.

The usual scents of hot dogs and freshly cut grass are stimulating your senses. But there's something new, too. All around you'll find teams prepared for the most beloved tradition of the world series tournament: trading pins.

In preparation for world series tournaments, every team designs an enamel pin to trade with other teams either in a pin parade or after games.

What are enamel pins and why are they great for your softball team

Now, you might be wondering: What are enamel pins? If so, this article is for you. It will cover the different kinds of enamel pins and how they benefit softball teams from around the world.

Different Kinds of Enamel Pins

The enamel pin itself is a pin with an enamel finish that displays your softball team's name and logo. However, there are two different types of enamel: hard and soft. Each type will give your team logo a particular finished look.

Soft Enamel

Soft enamel pins are textured. If a pin is soft enamel, this means that the metal edges are raised between the coatings of colored enamel. The reason for these raised edges is because the metal enamel is baked in an oven to harden before the color is placed.

Hard Enamel

Hard enamel pins are smoother. Some choose hard enamel because it's a shinier, cleaner look. Hard enamel is made to be scratch resistant as well.

Rather than having the metal enamel baked first, the color is filled in and baked while the pin is flat. This is why the hard enamel is smoother.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between soft and hard enamel is a personal choice. Most pin designs can be done in either enamel style. The more exciting choices to make in regard to pin style would be if you wanted to add an effect to your pin.

What are enamel pins and why are they great for your softball team

These stunning effects might include glitter, chains, spinners, etc. As a team, you can choose the type of enamel and effect based on what your collective style is.

What Do You Want Your Team's Pin to Represent?

You'll find that the best part about trading pins with other teams is seeing how each team chooses to represent itself. Generally, the team colors will be included in their logo.

However, some teams choose a pin design that showcases an important element of where they're from. For example, if a team is from Louisville, KY they might have a pair of Louisville Slugger Bats crossed behind their team name. Or, they might choose to include the outline of their state behind their logo.

What Are Enamel Pins Beneficial For?

Now that you know what an enamel pin is, let's talk about how they make world series tournaments exciting. More than anything, a world series softball tournament brings people together. There's competition, but it's also a place where new friends and ideas can be shared.

Build a Sense of Community

A world series tournament brings together some of the best teams from all around the world. Every team must qualify based on USSSA fastpitch standards to enter a world series tournament. This means every team who participates is there to win.

In this situation, tensions are high and the competition is stiff. The tradition of trading pins helps to ease some of this tension and allows players to branch out. Meeting other softball players while exchanging pins builds a sense of community.

Sometimes, goodie bags will accompany the enamel pins. These bags might include typical softball snacks like sunflower seeds. Or, they might include something to represent where the team is from.

Overall, the pins and the goodie bags create a sense of camaraderie.

Create Excitement for the Big Tournament

While pin trading builds a sense of community, it also gets players excited to start playing ball. When you see how many great teams are around you, it motivates you. Everyone wants to be the last team standing with a big trophy over their heads.

Establish a Team's Legacy

Enamel pins are very durable. They're meant to be collectible items that other teams can keep forever. Having this type of memorabilia creates a legacy for your team.

Regardless of whether or not your team makes it all the way, other teams will know that you were talented enough to participate in the world series tournament.

And let's say you do win. People will point to your team's enamel pin later and say: "They did it. They won the world series."

Create Team Memories You'll Never Forget

Let's not forget what pin trading can do for your team. The energy that encapsulates a world series tournament is something you never forget. The same goes for the memories that you make while you're there.

Trading pins with other teams means that you'll also leave with a collection of pins. These will forever remind you of the experience you had at the world series. Even if you don't come out a champ, you'll have team memories you can cherish forever.

Ideas for Where to Showcase Your Pins

Once you collect all of your world series tournament pins, you'll need a place to put them. There are plenty of ways to display them, but here are the three best ways for softball players.

Tournament Towel

Many world series tournaments will have tournament towels with the tournament location and year on them. These towels are great to buy so that you can place all of your tournament pins on them. Then, you have them all in one place and you can remember where they came from.

If your team competes in more than one of these tournaments, having a pin towel helps you to keep your pins organized based on which world series tournament they are from.

Decorative Pin Box

This is something you can order online if you desire. A decorative pin box will keep pins safe if you'd like to keep them on display in your home.

Softball Bag

This one's tried and true. Some players decide to put all of their tournament pins on their softball bags. This allows them to see the pins every time it's time to play.

The only risk with this is that you might lose some pins with all the moving around that you do from dugout to dugout. While this is the most stylish option, it isn't necessarily the safest.

Can You Have Team Enamel Pins if You Aren't Participating in a World Series Tournament?

There's more answer than one when someone asks: What are enamel pins for? You don't have to be participating in a world series tournament to have a team pin.

Sometimes, these enamel pins are fun to give out as you play teams in other tournaments. Or, you might want to create a team pin for the same reason that you have team sweatshirts. Wearing one on your shirt at school can advertise team pride.

It's Game Time: Find the Perfect Enamel Pin for Your Softball Team

So, now you'll never have to ask what are enamel pins ever again. And, you know what makes them so exciting and unique. Are you ready to create a customized pin for your softball team?

Softball Trading Pins is at your service. We specialize in creating the best enamel pins for softball teams all over the world. We offer soft pins, hard pins, and every special effect under the sun.

It's game time. Contact us today to find the perfect personalized pin for your team.

If you are looking to bring your team together and bolster team spirit, getting softball trading pins for your team is a great strategy.

Did you know that softball is the fastest-growing sport in the NCAA? Softball is growing quicker in viewership and revenue than college football and baseball combined.

With such dedicated and skilled athletes, it’s no wonder that softball – at all levels – is finally getting the attention and recognition it deserves.

Womens' sports should be taken seriously. Creating softball trading pins for your team is one way to recognize an athlete's incredible discipline, bolster a team's spirit, and build community wherever you go.

Understanding The Purpose Of Softball Trading Pins

Team pins build a sense of community and carry on the tradition of sportsmanship. While picking out your design and trying to stay on budget is probably at the top of your list, the first thing to consider is how your softball trading pin is going to be used.

WTX 2020 Softball Trading Pin
WTX 2020 Softball Trading Pin

Softball trading pins are all about creating community. Whether that’s between teammates, families, or fans, your pin should be something people are proud of and excited to wear. Since they are used to help build team spirit and team bonding, they should also clearly represent your team and your team logo.

It's also good to remember that pins will be traded. Players will often exchange pins with other players to commemorate a special playoff game, remember nationals, or the Softball World Series.

You should choose the right pin material and size for your budget, so you can have plenty of great-looking pins to go around.

2015 Softball Trading Pin
2015 Softball Trading Pin

Well-made pins will also be collected. When designing your team pin, keep in mind that pins are a lot easier to hang onto than big trophies.

If you have the time, personalization that memorializes a specific team, game, or inside joke will go a long way.

Thinking About Your Project Timeline

Time is always going to be your friend when choosing your team trading pin. As soon as a new season starts or a big game is on the horizon, it's a good idea to start planning ahead.

A good pin manufacturer should be able to provide you with a quote at the very start of your search. That way if you have to get your budget approved or run your idea by a committee, you’ll have the right information at your fingertips.

Heartland Havok 2020 Softball Pin
Heartland Havok 2020 Softball Pin

If you are looking to get a high-quality soft enamel pin designed, the production time alone could take up to a month. You should also add additional time into your timeline if you are working with a designer or if you want to run the design by others.

If you are tight on time, there are still plenty of options to consider.

Designing Your Teams Trading Pin

When creating a custom enamel pin, you’ll want to provide some type of design or inspiration to the factory or manufacturer you are working with. A lot of these companies have in-house designers, so you may just have to provide a picture of the logo to get started.

Our design team at Softball Trading Pins have been designing softball pins for teams since 2003. And did you know that our designs are free?

Clearly communicating your design expectations at the beginning, will make the process go a lot smoother. It's also great to work with expert and experienced designers like our team because they will translate your ideas into something that people will love.

When thinking about your design, it’s good to keep a few basic design principles in mind. Keep the design simple. It’s also good to use strong colors and lines to make your design pop.

Because of the compact size, fewer lines and details will help your design stand out from the crowd.

Choosing The Right Material

Once you figure out your design, you’ll want to start looking for the right material. The material and quality of your pin are almost as important as the design.

There are two basic types of pins you should be aware of:

  1. Soft Enable Pins — These are the highest quality pins you will find. Because are shaped out of metal, these pins usually feature bright colors, shiny finishes, and have fun customization options, like glow-in-the-dark.
  2. Offset Printed Pins — These pins are great if you have a very detailed design or if you are listing players’ names. They are printed on vinyl, attached to the metal pin, and then covered with epoxy.

Determining The Budget

Material, size, and quantity are going to be the main factors in determining your overall cost. As a general rule, the more pins you order the cheaper your unit cost is going to be.

For example, one hundred 1.0” soft enamel pins could cost you about $270. If you ordered one thousand of those same pins, your total cost would only be $960.

Mustang Fastpitch Softball Team Pin
Mustang Fastpitch Softball Team Pin

Ranging from 1.0” to 3.0”, the size of your pin will also impact your bottom line. Your overall cost can double if you are choosing to go with a bigger pin design. For softball, the most popular pin size is 1.75”.

It’s great to have an understanding of the pricing right up front, so you don’t set your heart on something your team can’t afford.

Find The Right Manufacturer Today

If you are thinking about purchasing softball trading pins, today is a great day to get started. Figuring out your timeline, design, materials, and budget will put you on the right path to finding the best manufacturer for your team pins.

Ask for a free quote and start designing a pin that your team, fans, and community will love.

Why are softball trading pins so popular? Keep reading to learn the top benefits of softball trading pins, and why they are a must-have for your upcoming season.

Can you believe that pin trading has been popular at sporting events since the early 1900s?

Yes, pin trading has become a valuable part of softball culture. And if your team needs a dose of sportsmanship, excitement, and unity, then pin trading just might be the answer.

Texas Lady Aces Softball Trading Pin
Texas Lady Aces Softball Trading Pin

Fully Customized

One of the most appealing aspects of trading pins is that they are fully unique to your team. They can be customized with your team name, colors, and mascot. They can even include player names and numbers.

Your team pins can be enhanced with special features for just ten or fifteen cents extra. These upgrades include glitter, crystals, and glow-in-the-dark enamel. Blinking lights and moving parts always make your pins highly sought-after when trading.

When you are trading pins at tournaments, you want your pins to stand out. You also need them to represent you and look cool. This is good for self-esteem and makes other teams want to trade with you.

It will also turn the softball pins into mementos your team members will treasure for the rest of their lives. Sturdy and built to last, just one glimpse of the pin years from now will take the players back to their nostalgic softball days.

Pins Promote Good Sportsmanship

One of the main reasons players participate in team sports like softball is to learn valuable life lessons. Good sportsmanship is one of the most valuable of those lessons.

While working on endurance, dedication, and softball skills, it can be easy to get caught up in competition. Winning and losing can start to feel like everything.

But we don't want our players to view other teams as enemies. We want them to learn from each other and have fun!

Nothing promotes good sportsmanship better than trading softball pins with other teams. Suddenly, tournaments become about more than duking it out for supremacy. Your players will look forward to seeing what pins they'll collect!

In order to trade with a member of the opposite team, players must be polite and friendly. They need to initiate conversation, discuss pins, and agree with each other. What could be more conducive to good sportsmanship?

These interactions might even lead to friendships with players on other teams. Your players will learn more about other cities and countries. In this way, pin trading can even broaden their point of view and their goals.

Lady Scrappers Softball Trading Pin
Lady Scrappers Softball Trading Pin

Building Team Unity

The players on your team probably come from different schools and neighborhoods. If they weren't on the same sports team, they might never otherwise meet. They most likely come from diverse cultural backgrounds as well.

In order to function like a well-oiled machine, your team needs to depend on and trust each other. To promote this, you must make the team feel like a solid unit. Softball trading pins provide the key to unification.

When your team has a specially-designed pin, players will feel like they belong to something. They now have a shared identity, a common culture. This builds instant trust and goodwill.

Even when players have minor squabbles amongst themselves, when they feel like a unit, they will put their differences aside on game day. They'll feel loyalty to their "brand" and demonstrate cooperation.

Pins Show Support for Your Team

Softball team trading pins are not just for the players! Many parents and supporters love to buy and collect them. Then they wear them to the games to show support.

Fans can buy official softball pin trading bags, which provide another opportunity to strut your team spirit. For the serious collector, a softball trading pin lanyard is a convenient way to carry and display your collection.

Many die-hard fans will sport team pins all day when there's a game. Parents will wear their swag at the supermarket or among their adult friends. When players see their team supported in public, it builds a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Having an official pin makes the players view their team as legitimate. This builds confidence and self-esteem, both at the game and in other areas such as school.

Options to Fit Your Needs

Even if you have price or time constraints, you can still participate in the pin culture. Softball Trading Pins has quick options that are still personalized but get to you faster. While normal orders take 16 days to complete, quick pins can arrive in four business days.

We even carry stock pins. These are the speediest of all and still allow you to participate in game-day trading. While not customized for your team, the other teams won't have them, because our stock pin designs are unique to Softball Trading Pins.

For those with budget concerns, we offer a range of prices. Our offset printed softball pins are less expensive than soft enamel. They are also ideal for intricate designs. You can upgrade these with danglers, crystals, or spinners as well.

In addition, the more you buy, the more you save! Buying in bulk will drastically cut the cost per pin. You'd be surprised how fast your players go through pins once they get trading.

Better plan ahead: order in bulk!

Order Softball Trading Pins Today!

Softball trading pins are an important part of team sports culture. They provide unity and a sense of identity for your players. They also make unique, custom keepsakes.

Softball Trading Pins has everything you need to design and order your team pins. We even offer free three-day shipping!

Help your players enjoy their sport to the fullest, and teach them that sportsmanship is fun. Complete our form to get started on your free trading pin design.

What Are Softball Trading Pins?

If you or your child play for a softball team, then you may have heard about softball trading pins. But what are they exactly? Here's what you need to know.

Have you heard of trading pins? Did you start collecting softball trading pins because everyone else was? These pins are now extremely popular and first went into production in 1896. If you've started collecting these pins, don't stop now.

Learn more about softball trading pins and the popularity behind them.

The History of Softball Trading Pins

Trading pins are not just for the sport of softball. Baseball and other sports also have trading pins.

The trading pins we know today are made of different materials and colors and are used in trading.

The original story dates back to the 1908 Olympic games. Athletes would wear markers to represent. At the end of the game, they would trade them with other players to show good sportsmanship.

In the 1948 Olympic games, there was a maximum amount the team could produce. That was one tactic set by teams to make the pins rarer.

The teams would trade the pins back and forth as a way to remember playing one another. It isn't until later that fans and the media were able to buy and trade these pins.

This need to buy and collect all of the pins is how the pin trading boom excelled.

Trading Rules

You're probably wondering if there are rules that go along with pin trading. The answer is no. When it comes to fastpitch softball pins, you are in control of your pins.

If you're a fan, you may find it essential to collect as many as you can every season. If you're a player, you may want to keep the pins of the teams you played in that season.

No matter the reason, you are not obligated to trade. If someone wants one of your pins, but you don't want to trade with them, you don't have to.

These are the most straightforward set of rules, and they keep everyone happy. Trading pins are fun and enjoyable.

Types of Pins

There are so many trading pins being produced all the time. For example, a pin may have the team's name on it with their team colors. Another pin could have the names of all the players with their team color.

These pins carry a lot of variety which is why they are sought after by pin collectors. The oldest pins may even hold some value.

1. Soft Enamel Pins

These pins are the highest quality of pin you're able to find. Pins of this type usually contain bright colors and have a shiny luster about them.

These pins may also include glow-in-the-dark features as well as spinning objects on the pin. These are so popular because they are shaped out of metal. These pieces are then individually filled with color.

Finally, these pins are baked to become firm and ready to trade. The best part is that the team can order as many as they'd like

2. Offset Printed Pins

These pins are just as popular and allow for a lot of customizations. These pins are printed on a type of vinyl. Once it is printed, it is secured to the metal pin and covered with clear epoxy.

This takes away from adding the individual colors like in a soft enamel pin. With these pins, you can add more customizations such as player's names because it is easier to see them.

These pins can still have spinning items and crystals attached to the outside. Although this is a different look, it still catches the eye of the pin trader.

3. Quick Pins

If you don't have a lot of time to order a pin, you can look into quick pin options. These will work great for your game day.

If you order a quick pin, you can add your team's touches to make it your own. You won't add a lot of customizations since these are created with a quick turnaround.

4. Stock Pins

If you have no time to space, you can check out a stock pin. This isn't going to be specific to your team, but it will give your players something to trade. Instead, this pin could say something like "softball" and be a metal texture.

The good news is, these pins will only be used and sold to your team. While yes, they are generic, the design is only used for one team.

These pins can be used in a pinch if you're waiting on an order or want something simple for a specific tournament.

Unique Pin Styles

Before pins became popular, there were no extra things added to the pin to attract more attention. The pin was flat and colorful.

Since things have changed, your team can add things onto the pin that move and dangle.

These pins now come with some 3-D capabilities. For example, you can have your pin hold a crystal off the edge.

It can have something spinning in the middle, such as a softball or a bat. You can even choose to add a bobblehead to your pin. This is extra fun if you want to make your softball mascot's head move.

Pin Production Time

Depending upon your season or special event, you'll want to allot for some production time. In this case, production can take anywhere from 7-10 days.

When you decide you want a pin created, you'll need to choose the proper manufacturer to take on your pin. The steps include talking about a design, the manufacturer creating the design, sending you the proof, getting your approval, and then production.

This can be a couple of weeks process, so it is best to make arrangements early. You'll definitely be able to find softball pins for world series events.

Softball Trading Pins

Whether you're just getting into pin trading or have been trading for a while, there is always something new you can learn from trading pins. This tradition is going to keep growing, and the pins will become rarer.

If you're looking to get a quote for some new softball trading pins, be sure to check out our website today.

Softball Catcher Tips to Help Improve Your Game

It is difficult to be a softball catcher. If you want to learn about some of our best softball catcher tips, you should click here.

Whether you are the catcher or the coach for a softball team, you must always work to improve your game or your players' games. There is always room for improvement, even for the best softball catchers. Practicing each day is a great way to stay on top of your game, but there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind as well.

Being or coaching a softball catcher isn't always easy. There's a lot more involved with this position than simply catching a ball as the name would imply. If you want to keep up with the best in the game, you need to do a bit of research.

If you want to dominate the game and help your team succeed, check out this list of some of our best softball catcher tips!

1. Help the Pitcher

A good catcher helps the pitcher during a game. A great fast-pitch catcher will know how to catch a ball with a form that makes even an average pitch look like a perfect strike! But catching balls with style isn't the only responsibility that the catcher has.

The catcher also needs to know how to save runs from happening by blocking pitches that are thrown in the dirt. A great catcher should block the corners off as well to prevent runners from stealing a base. Softball catchers need to know how to call a pitch and know how to observe the batters.

Observing the batters helps the catcher know each batter's tendencies and weaknesses. The catcher will then use this knowledge against the batters.

2. Play the Leadership Role

Sure, the pitcher on the team might be in the spotlight more than the catcher, but this is not to take any glory away from the catcher. The catcher in softball is equivalent to the quarterback in football. Catchers are always facing towards the action of the game.

Catchers are the ones in control of where the ball goes. They are the ones who make that call. Because of this, the catcher has a strong leadership role in the game.

A great catcher shouldn't be afraid to yell out where the play should be and any other directions concerning the play.

3. Control Base Runners

The catcher also has control over the base runners. Keep in mind that in the catcher position, it's your job to stop the base runners from stealing bases. You'll need to be aware of yourself, the game, and a good strategy.

It's essential to keep in mind that you have to divide your focus into both the runners and the batters. This is one of the main reasons why the catcher position is such a hard one to play. In many cases, the catcher will need to keep the focus on the batter rather than the runner.

This is something that a good catcher will know how to determine. It's all about understanding the game, where the team stands in the game such as runs and runners on bases, and more. If a speedster is on first and there's one out in a close game, there's a good chance the runner will attempt to steal. The catcher will need to keep an eye on this player and call for a pitchout to cut the runner off if they think they're going to run.

4. Practice Throwing Drills

As a softball player, no matter what position you're playing, you can never get enough practice. As a catcher, you'll want to practice throwing drills when possible. The catcher's footwork needs to be quick and strong to pop up fast and hit the target directly.

The way you throw the ball is your throwing position, and it's something that you want to have down pat. Performing a throwing drill practice regularly is going to help with muscle memory. Once you build this muscle memory, you'll be able to quickly stand up and throw with strength.

5. Get Your Body Behind It

Don't always rely on your glove to catch the ball for you. You should work on getting your body behind the ball and your catches. Set yourself up behind the plate to catch the ball with your entire body, not only your glove.

Use your body to block the ball and stop it from getting behind you. To practice this skill, a coach can use tennis balls and throw them at the catcher. Each throw should become wider and wider.

This forces the catcher to move around and block the ball with their body. If you do this drill enough, blocking will become second nature to you.

6. Know Your Pitcher

If the catcher and pitcher work together during every game and practice, the catcher becomes familiar with the pitcher's tendencies and will know when there's a problem. A good catcher will notice any issues and walk out to the pitcher to communicate these issues to him or her.

The pitcher will then be able to correct the problem. The catcher has a front-row seat for each pitch, which makes them a real-time review tape. As a catcher, you should know the pitcher better than any other teammate. The pitcher should be the one that the catcher communicates with the most.

Every Softball Catcher Needs a Trading Pin!

Knowing these six softball catcher tips is the best way to ensure that you play every game to the best of your abilities. Do you want to improve the teamwork on your team? To raise your spirits more, you and your entire team need softball trading pins!

Trading pins are a fabulous way to show team spirit and keep everyone on the field motivated.

Do you need to purchase trading pins for your softball team? Click here for a free quote!

How Softball Trading Pins Boost Team Spirit

If you're a coach of a softball team, your job goes a lot further than just what happens on the field. You owe it to your organization to boost team spirit as much as you can.

Softball trading pins and team spirit go hand in hand, and you would do well to get your hands on them.

These tips below will help you out so that you can do right by your softball team.

The Trading Pins and Colorful and Fun

Coaching a softball team can be one of the biggest areas of fulfillment in your life. Whether you have a daughter on the team or not, passing on the skills of the game, and teamwork among friends and classmates, lets you mold a young generation.

Team spirit is a big part of running a softball team and using trading pins can help with this.

These trading pins are great because they're colorful and fun, and can use team colors and logos. By trading them among teammates, or even other teams within the league, it builds a sense of camaraderie and belonging that makes playing for a team memorable.

Companies that sell these pins have lots of different options, which incentivize the players to want to collect them all. They are fun and decorative and allow an opportunity to socialize and communicate.

Trading Them Builds Belongingness and Teamwork

When you implement trading pins into your team, everyone will feel a sense of belonging. It gives your players a chance to make friends with other girls that they otherwise might not have.

Youth softball brings together kids from different schools that otherwise might never meet each other. By throwing the trading pins into the mix, it allows them to form bonds that can last well throughout grade school.

When they're friends off the field, they'll also have better communication and play on the field.

It Provides an Excellent Fund Raiser

It costs money at every level to host a softball team or league. Players will need money for equipment and uniforms, in addition to the cost to rent different fields.

Trading pins provide an excellent softball fundraiser opportunity.

It's especially important to hold fundraisers if you have an all-star or travel team. Playing on a travel team helps your child learn discipline and teamwork at higher levels, and exposes them to greater levels of competition.

You can also find some trading pin specials that let you get a great discount for your fundraiser. This way, you will be able to pay for everything from uniforms and transportation, to hotels, meals, and fun while on the road.

Coaching one of these travel teams can be incredibly rewarding, as can the pursuit of bringing home bigger trophies and accomplishments.

Softball Trading Pins: Team Spirit Builder

Softball trading pins and team spirit go hand in hand. When you use these pins, you will create an experience with some bright kids, that can last a lifetime.

Get in touch with us so you can get a quote on softball trading pins.

History Of Softball Trading Pins

Did you know that softball was originally invented in 1887 as an indoor sport?

While it was supposed to be an indoor sport, softball has now grown into a large outdoor sport, with tons of leagues and teams playing around the world. These teams not only play their hardest, but they also take part in pin trading, as well!

Want to know the rich history of softball trading pins? Read on to dive deeper into what makes pins so special, and the people who made them so popular!

Trading Pins: Origin Story

The story of trading pins begins in 1896 at the first modern Olympics in Athens. The pins were not like the ones you see today, but instead little cardboard markers that athletes and officials would wear. The cardboard markers were colorful to help identify themselves, which they then traded as an act of good sportsmanship.

Just like that, the sports trading pin was born.

Olympic Games and the Start of Pin Trading

While pin trading started in 1896, it wasn't until the 1908 Olympic games in Paris that pins trading really took off. Pins were then created to represent different groups like sportsmen, judges, and media journalists. It wasn't until 1912 that there became specific pins for spectators of the games.

The 1924 Olympics in Paris cemented pin trading as a tradition of the Olympic games. The opening of the first Olympic Villiage for athletes to stay in made it even more possible for everyone to come together and trade pins as a sign of goodwill towards other contestants and nations.

The excitement around collecting pins at the Olympics made pins even more popular until, at the 1948 games, organizers of the Olympics told countries to limit the number of pins produced. This way the pins would be valuable because they are rarer.

The 1980s brought in more corporate pin sponsors like Coca-Cola, which set up their own pin trading booths at the games. Other big names like the Hard Rock Cafe soon followed in suit.

Little League: An Epicenter of Pin Trading

The first official Little League Series pin was made in 1983 and with that came a new place to find and trade rare and unique pins.

With the Little League Softball World Series, comes an opportunity to meet with players from all over the world and collect pins from each of the teams. Not only is it a great way to meet new people, but it is also a great way to create memories that will last for years to come.

The Exciting History of Softball Trading Pins

With such a rich history, its no wonder that trading pins are so popular!

The next time you are at a game and showing off your pins, remember these historical facts to tell fellow team-members and pin collectors. Not only will you be sharing some cool history, but you'll also be carrying on the legacy of pin trading!

The history of softball trading pins is full of interesting facts that can help you get inspired for your next pin design. Contact us today for a free softball pin quote and start trading pins at your next softball game!

Home Run Softball History: A Brief History of Softball, How It Started and Why

Softball may not be as mainstream popular as football or baseball, but it is a respected sport in its own right. The sport has its own iconic players, memorable games, and storied history. The sport has been around since the late 1800s and has experienced several iterations since its creation.

And while the sport's popularity has waxed and waned over the years, it's expected to gain a boost this year and next. In 2020, Softball will return to the Olympics following a 12-year absence. In fact, softball is going to kick off the 2020 Tokyo games.

With the upcoming spotlight on the sport, it's the perfect time to revisit its history and origin story. Read on to learn more about the fascinating history of softball. Whether you're a longtime fan or a curious outsider, you're sure to find this interesting.

Why and How Softball First Came to Be

First, it's important to note that the games of softball and baseball are different, and softball wasn't created because of baseball. In fact, football is part of the story of softball's creation. Softball was first created on Thanksgiving of 1887, at Farragut Boat Club in Chicago, during a watch party for the Yale vs. Harvard football game.

Yale won the game, and the Yale alumni were so excited that one of them threw a balled-up boxing glove at a Harvard alumnus. The Harvard supporter swung at and hit the glove with a stick. That night the group created and played the first game of softball.

The Early History of Softball as a Legitimate Sport

One of the people at this first game was George Hancock, a reporter from the Chicago Board of Trade. Hancock created the first official rulebook for softball in 1889. Then in 1895, he organized the game outside a Minneapolis firehouse for firefighters to pass time and exercise while waiting for an alarm.

At the time, people called the game "kitten league ball," and then the shortened, "kitten ball." In 1922, the name became "diamond ball," but over the years it was also called "mush ball" and "pumpkin ball," before the name softball became official in 1930.

How Softball Came Into Its Own

The sport's organizers did advertise softball as an indoor game for baseball players in the offseason. But once softball gained more recognition and popularity, it became its own official sport. The first national amateur softball tournament took place in conjunction with the Chicago World Fair in 1933.

A reporter at the event established the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) soon after. The sport saw its biggest growth during World War II when American servicemen would play and teach the game to others. It continued to gain popularity, and today 113 countries belong to the International Softball Federation (ISF).

Learn More Softball Facts and Get Helpful Tips

If you're looking to read more about the history of the sport or anything softball related, you're in the right place. Browse our blog to read about when softball season starts, helpful tips for finding the right softball glove, and more.

Also be sure to check out our softball trading pins instagram page for specials and cool pinspiration. Interested in getting softball pins for your team? Get a free no obligation quote or call us at 888-574-6118

Let's Play Ball: The Top 5 Benefits of Playing Softball

Thinking about joining a softball team?

Good idea! Playing softball means more than just participating in a fun game. It has some serious health benefits that come along with it. 

It can help you lose weight, tone up, and can also help your mental health and build essential skills that can translate into your life off the field. 

Read on for more information about why softball could be the right sport for you! 

Burns Calories 

Softball is a way to get in much-needed cardio in a fun environment. If you're not a fan of running on the treadmill, hitting the stair master, or navigating other complex workout machinery, this could be the right move for you. 

Throughout the game, you're moving your body and burning calories. You'll be required to run back and forth in the outfield or run between bases. 

This is another way to perform interval training. Sprinting from one base to the next will get your heart rate up and you'll get a little rest in between, so you'll always keep your body guessing. 

During an average softball game, you can burn between 300-500 calories. Plus, you're having fun, so the time will fly by! 

Builds Upper Body Strength

In order to play softball, you'll need some serious upper body strength. Between throwing and swinging at the ball, your shoulders, biceps, triceps, and chest muscles will be working overtime. 

This sure beats lifting weights at the gym or doing a bunch of pushups. 

You'll also increase movement and flexibility in those parts of the body due to the repetitive motions you will be performing. 

Mid and Lower Body Conditioning 

When you're up to bat, your swinging power will also come from your core and lower body.

Strength in that area will propel your upper body to do the swinging. You become stronger and more powerful in your legs and lower body. 

When you swing the bat, you're engaging the oblique muscles in your stomach and building a stronger midsection.

Mental Health 

Engaging in a sport can do more than just help you burn calories and tone up. It also does wonders for your mental health. 

Research shows that exercising increases your endorphins and reduces stress. When you're concentrating on the task at hand, like softball, you're able to forget about anything that's bothering you and focus all of your attention on the present moment. 

Teamwork 

Listening to your coach and other teammates requires compromise and builds camaraderie. This is a helpful life skill you can take into the workplace or even your personal life. 

It allows you to see what it's like to come up with a solution and move toward a goal, which is a helpful trait to have in many aspects of life. 

Start Playing Softball Today

After reading the information above, you know all the amazing benefits that can come with playing softball. 

Trading pins are an extra perk of playing softball and a must-have when you join a team.

Check out our site today for anything and everything you'll need to get started! Need some pinspiration? Check out our instagram page for softball pins!

Softball and baseball season both typically start in the spring. But when exactly do you or your daughter start getting ready with your team?

In this article, we'll answer the question of "When does softball season start?" in addition to discussing the origins of the game.

If this is your first softball season, buckle up for an amazing ride.

What is Softball?

Softball was invented in the 19th century as a joke during a Yale versus Harvard football game. While awaiting the outcome, one alum swung at a balled up glove with a stick. As a result, they started a pick-up baseball game that eventually was called softball.

By 1930, "mush ball," "pumpkin ball," "indoor baseball," and "kitten baseball" had evolved with its own set of rules. Although similar to baseball, it is played with a larger ball than a baseball. Softballs are, in fact, not soft, but are harder than baseballs. The pitcher throws underhanded instead of overhanded, and the diamond is typically smaller than a baseball diamond.

When Does Softball Season Start?

If your daughter, or you, are playing for a college, Olympic or semi-professional team, you'll likely start conditioning in November. This can also apply to serious high school teams or other competitive teams.

Conditioning starts the players on a "work out" session to ensure that they can physically handle the game itself. Softball players need to be able to run and have quick reflexes, so conditioning is essential for competitive players.

Depending on where you or your child is playing, practices typically start at the end of January. If your child is playing a more casual form of softball, it may start a little bit later in the year.

It is at this point where you or your child will begin to actually play the game. During the time, players will play their own team. They will also polish their pitching, running and swinging with drills to make sure they're on point for when the games begin.

Let the Softball Games Begin!

Most often, softball games start at the beginning of March. The season typically runs til the end of April. However, this may vary depending on your school or league. You should check with them to learn the official start date of the softball games you or your child will play.

Regionals, Sectionals, and Championships

In some leagues, or in college softball, the best teams of the season will go on to compete in the regionals. This is typically done at the end of April through the month of May.

The best teams advance to sectionals, in which you or your daughter will battle it out with other regional winners. This will take place in May or June.

After sectionals, teams typically compete in a state championship game or series of games in June.

Starting Softball

Whether you're a fan of softball or just starting to play, the answer to the question of "When does softball season start?" varies from league to league. Generally, it should follow the pattern listed above.

If you're interested in having unique pins made for your softball team, visit our site here.

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