Wiffle Ball Story

The Short Story –
Official Wiffle Ball Website.

Unfortunately life isn’t always fair. If it were you’d get to meet the Mullany family; the originators and owners of Wiffle ball. As you’ll see, there are many “Dave’s” in this family, but they are all truly the, “salt of this earth”. This is particularly true of Dave A. who is the cause of this whole story in the first place.

Back around 1950, Dave was a great baseball player for a 12 year old. The cry “Play Ball” was frequently heard in the family’s backyard and the broken windows in the neighbor’s house stood as a testament to the fact that he and his friends were all pretty good with a bat. Broken windows were only part of the problem, however. The yard wasn’t big enough and all of the neighborhood kids together couldn’t field 2 complete teams. As a result, the kids developed their own brand of ball, using a broomstick, a plastic golf ball and a smaller field. A strike out was called a “Wiff”.

Dave was also a good pitcher and was determined to make all the batters “Wiff”. He was really straining his young arm, however, trying to throw a curve or a slider with the plastic golf ball . . . Using knowledge, ingenuity, and a bunch of trial and error, Dave’s father, David N., developed the Wiffle perforated plastic ball to act like a true hardball without the snap required of a young arm. The new ball, in Dave’s hand, caused a lot more “Wiffs” and the name stuck; a name now known around the world. It also resolved the broken window bill once and for all.

As it turned out, there were [and are] millions of families with not enough room, not enough kids, and too many windows. As a result, almost every young boy and girl, ever since, have learned to play baseball with a Wiffle ball and bat.

Dave “A” is the president of the company, backed up admirably by his sons, Dave J. and Stephen who will bring the wonder of Wiffle ball to both current and future generations as well. The company by the way, is in Shelton Connecticut, in the same place where it all began as a wonderful example of “Made In Connecticut”.

Author’s Note:

In the 1950’s my Dad taught me to play baseball with a Wiffle ball. Today, I’m teaching my daughter and son to play ball, again with a Wiffle ball. I’ve also had the extra-ordinary privilege to watch the balls being made and I’m very proud to be able to consider the Mullany’s as friends. It simply doesn’t get any better than that.

With Respect,
Hank Paine, President
The Connecticut Store- Made In Connecticut ! ! !