B45 becomes the Official Bat of the French Baseball Federation
B45, the Canadian Baseball Bats and Equipment Company is pleased to announce that it will become the wood bats official supplier of the French Federation of Baseball and Softball (FFBS) until 2020.
B45 will provide its first quality yellow birch baseball bats to the French national teams and the Pole France for the seasons 2017 to 2020. This agreement thus leads both parts to the Olympic Games of Tokyo, where baseball will be back as an official Olympic sport. France will then try to earn a place after winning a first game in a World Baseball Classic Qualifier, back in March 2016.
"It is a great honor for us to be associated with the FFBS, a federation that is constantly growing and is doing a tremendous job in developing baseball throughout France," said Éric Gagné, Chairman of the Board.
"For us, it is a very natural alliance, given the strong links already existing between Québec and France, but especially between our company and the Federation and all its dedicated staff," adds the former Big Leagues pitcher.
The links between B45 and the FFBS were already present, notably through its ambassador Andy Paz, the only French player in affiliated professional baseball. Éric Gagné was also the Manager of the national team from 2013 to 2016 and several players of the national program already swing B45 bats.
This new partnership also demonstrates the enthusiasm for the B45 brand in Europe. Already present in the main European retailers of baseball equipment, Québec’s products will certainly be more in demand in the coming years, propelled by the growth of baseball on the Old Continent. B45 also distributes its products in the United States, Mexico and Australia, among others.
The FFBS welcomes the partnership
For its part, the FFBS is delighted to add B45 among its partners.
"I am very pleased to announce this partnership with B45 as the wood bats official supplier of the French Federation of Baseball and Softball. B45 becomes the bat of choice of the Federation, a bat appreciated by many players of the French baseball team and professional players playing in affiliated baseball, " says Didier Seminet, president of the FFBS and newly appointed as President of the Confederation of European Baseball.
"This also allows the Federation to strengthen its ties with Éric Gagné, former Manager of the French Baseball Team and co-owner of B45," adds Seminet.