Franklin Sports, maker of the Official Batting Glove of Major League Baseball, is well represented with hot hitters in the 2011 playoffs, with Tampa Bay Rays Kelly Shoppach, teammate Johnny Damon, St. Louis Cardinals Lance Berkman and Ryan Theriot, Milwaukee Brewer Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera, and the Rangers’ Mitch Moreland all making key contributions in their team's first two games. More than 30 Franklin glove wearers are post-season bound, led by All-Star Game MVP Fielder, A.L. batting champion Cabrera, and 2010 A.L. MVP Josh Hamilton of the Texas Rangers.

Though Cabrera and Fielder, who both had home runs to help their teams to victories, were heroes for their teams, it was Tampa Bay's Shoppach who overshadowed them all, blasting two over the fence in a 3-hit, 5-RBI performance in Tampa's game one victory. His Rays teammate Damon also slugged a home run and drove in three runs in the win. Other Franklin stars making significant early contributions include Berkman (game one, 3-run homer) and Theriot (critical game two double, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI) of St. Louis, Ordonez (game two, three hits) and Cabrera (game 2, two-run home run) of Detroit and Moreland (game two, huge eight-inning home run) of Texas.

American Leaguers playing in the first round include: Cabrera (.344 avg., 30 home runs, 105 RBI), Brandon Inge (.197, 3, 23), Ordonez (.255, 5, 32), Jhonny Peralta (.299, 21. 86), Ryan Raburn (.256, 14, 49), Donny Kelly (.245, 7, 28), Omir Santos (.227, 0, 0) and Wilson Betemit (.285, 8, 46) of Detroit; Hamilton (.298, 25, 94), Moreland (.259, 16, 51), David Murphy (.275, 11, 46), Matt Treanor (.214, 3, 22), Esteban German (.455, 1. 4) and Endy Chavez (.301, 5, 27) of Texas; Damon (.261, 16, 73), B.J. Upton (.243, 23, 81), Shoppach (.176, 11, 22) and Elliott Johnson (.194, 4, 17) of Tampa Bay.

The Senior Circuit of Franklin players includes: Carlos Ruiz (.283, 6, 40), Chase Utley (.259, 11, 44) and Ross Gload (.257, 0, 8) of Philadelphia; Fielder (.299, 38, 120), Casey McGehee (.223, 13, 67), Josh Wilson (.227, 2, 4) and Rickie Weeks (.269, 20, 49) of Milwaukee; Aaron Hill (.246, 8, 61), Justin Upton (.289, 31, 88), Paul Goldschmidt (.250, 8, 26), Willie Bloomquist (.266, 4, 26), Geoff Blum (.224, 2, 10), Lyle Overbay (.234, 9, 37) and Ryan Roberts (.249, 19, 65) of Arizona; Berkman (.301, 31, 94), Skip Schumaker (.283, 2, 38), Daniel Descalso (.264, 1, 28), Theriot (.271, 1, 47), Tony Cruz (.262, 0. 6) and Yadier Molina (.305, 14, 65) of St. Louis.

Franklin Sports (www.franklinbaseball.com) is the maker of the official batting glove of Major League Baseball which is worn by many of the world’s finest hitters. Franklin Sports, founded in 1946 and located in Stoughton, Massachusetts, has been the provider of sports equipment for almost 65 years. Franklin Sports is a well-known and respected worldwide brand of sports equipment, including the batting glove of choice for more than 150 Major Leaguers. Franklin offers creative and innovative products for all who enjoy sports -- from professional athletes to kids who aspire to be their best. Last year, for the first time in its history, both MVP awards were won by players who wore Franklin gloves. Joey Votto of the Reds in the National League, and the Rangers' Josh Hamilton in the American League, wear the Franklin batting glove. This year's All Star MVP Prince Fielder, and American League Batting champion Miguel Cabrera also wear Franklin gloves.

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This release was published on openPR.