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Benjamin Hill reflects on his unexpected 20-year journey chronicling minor league baseball's unique culture, business, and fan experiences. His career path from temp jobs to becoming baseball's preeminent voice on minor league culture demonstrates the surprising ways passion can turn into profession.

• Started in 2005 through a recommendation from ball hawk Zach Hample, whom he met on Craigslist
• Created his own beat covering "the business and culture of minor league baseball" when no such position existed
• Witnessed the evolution of team names from traditional to outlandish (El Paso Chihuahuas, Hartford Yard Goats, Rocket City Trash Pandas)
• Conducts regular road trips to document minor league ballparks, developing his "designated eater" concept after being diagnosed with celiac disease
• Shares nostalgic memories of defunct teams like the Bakersfield Blaze and Jamestown Jammers
• Uses baseball as a "contextualizer" to explore cities across America that might otherwise be overlooked
• Observed the evolution of ballpark food from basic concessions to creative regional specialties
• Collects minor league t-shirts for his four-year-old son with plans to eventually make them into a quilt

You can find Ben Hill on Twitter/X @Ben's Biz, Instagram @TheBen'sBiz, through his newsletter "The Baseball Traveler," and on the "Before the Show" podcast.

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Sandlot Goods transforms from a small leather goods company to a thriving hat manufacturer after pivoting to make face masks during the pandemic. Thomas McIntyre shares the entrepreneurial journey behind their handcrafted products, including their popular Yard Ball and partnership with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.

• Building a brand identity while also functioning as a manufacturer for other brands
• Finding marketing success by showcasing the manufacturing process rather than hiding it
• Approaching collaborations strategically to elevate the Sandlot brand
• Creating the Yard Ball from a ball of blue painter's tape around the office
• Pivoting from face mask production to hat manufacturing during the pandemic
• Partnering with the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum to preserve baseball history
• Setting ambitious 10-year goals while staying true to handcrafted quality
• Future aspirations to create licensed NFL and MLB hats

Find us on Instagram @SandlotGoods and check out our products at sandlotgoods.com.

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Thomas, CEO of Sandlot Goods, shares the story behind their American-made hats and leather products, explaining how quality manufacturing and positive workplace culture create products meant to last generations.

• Founded with the belief that everyone needs their own "sandlot" – a place where they work hard at something they love
• Started as a leather goods company before expanding into high-quality, American-manufactured hats
• Produces approximately 1500-1600 hats weekly through a meticulous 20+ step sewing process
• Uses duck canvas as their signature material, creating durable hats that develop character with wear
• Maintains rigorous quality control standards while balancing production needs
• Employs core values like positivity and pride in work to shape company culture and reduce turnover
• Creates custom hats for companies and other brands, including the New Heights podcast
• Planning limited edition releases featuring rare, unique materials in the coming year
• Focused on making high-quality products accessible rather than luxury-priced

Check out their Negro Leagues partnership hats and other merchandise at the Sandlot Goods website, where you'll find American-made quality that's built to last.

Sandlot Goods: https://sandlotgoods.com/

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