BETA
Chapter 1
From slaughterhouse to stadium
Chapter 2
Engineering the perfect bounce
Chapter 3
Pop culture and the global stage
YOUR GOAL
Master of Wilson sports balls
Ch 1 · From slaughterhouse to stadium
gertrude Stitch and lace the leather panels to discover how cowhide becomes an MVP football.
gertrude Wilson Sporting Goods Origin
From Chicago's old stockyards, hear the tale (whoa-oh!) / Wilson made strings, then balls prevailed! (It's true!)
gertrude Discover the surprising history of Wilson sports balls and how a 1915 meatpacking executive named the brand. Click to see the fascinating story!
Fun Fact
Slaughterhouse strings: Wilson Sporting Goods actually began as a way to recycle leftover animal parts, turning sheep intestines into high-performance tennis racket strings!
Glossary
cowhide (noun)
The durable leather used to manufacture Wilson footballs, sourced as a meatpacking byproduct. It’s how a humble farm animal gets upgraded to a stadium superstar.
The durable leather used to manufacture Wilson footballs, sourced as a meatpacking byproduct. It’s how a humble farm animal gets upgraded to a stadium superstar.
Quiz
What material, traditionally called 'catgut', was actually used to make early Wilson tennis strings?
Quiz
What other medical product did the early Ashland company make using animal byproducts before expanding into sports?
Quiz
Who was appointed president of the reorganized company in 1915, giving it his name?
Quiz
To which rival sports equipment brand did Thomas E. Wilson initially try to sell the company in 1914?
Quiz
In what city was the Ashland Manufacturing Company, the predecessor to Wilson Sporting Goods, founded in 1913?
Quiz
Which meatpacking subsidiary was the original parent company of Ashland Manufacturing Company?
Quiz
During World War II, what did Wilson temporarily pivot its factories to produce for the military?