Less than 100 miles from the Iowa cornfield, where Major League Baseball was held Field of Dreams game celebrating the small town of America, a small town in Minnesota is preparing the proposed closure of a partially league-owned factory.
For more than two decades, Miken has been one of the largest entrepreneurs in Caledonia, Minnesota, a community of about 2,800 people. His factory currently manufactures christening helmets worn by all major league baseball players and softball bats.
But soon, batting hull production will move to Missouri and bat production will move to China. For Caledonia, a city sunk in the southeast corner of Minnesota, change means well-paid jobs that leave the city and most leave the country.
Pre-pandemic, the factory employed up to 150 people and paid better than a living wage. Now, the nearly 80 people who still work there will soon be out of work.
The fact that the nation’s hobbies can help outsource jobs makes residents crying.
“We are very proud of this company,” said resident Kari Neuman. “It’s very sad that the new owners don’t respect this work ethic of small towns and just move it to China to get more money.”
CBS Evening News
Miken was bought by Seidler Equity Partners and included in sporting goods giant Rawlings. Rawlings is partially owned by Major League Baseball and the Seidler family also owns the San Diego Padres baseball team. Closing the factory will save Rawlings at least $ 4 million a year.
“That’s infuriating … it’s America’s game,” said Sarah Glasrud, the owner of a restaurant and bar next to the Miken factory. The company and its employees account for about a quarter of its business.
“It was difficult before the pandemic hit, so now it will be even harder,” he said. “Not good”.
“I thought they would have more respect for the United States and little America, which supports all of its baseball teams,” Caledonia Mayor DeWayne Schroeder said. “I think a lot of fans will lose.”
Major League Baseball owns less than 20% of Rawlings and says the decision to close Miken’s facility was made independently.
“MLB plays no role in Rawlings’ day-to-day operations, especially when it comes to articles that aren’t made for use, ”a league spokesman told CBS News. “The only MLB product manufactured at this facility will continue to be manufactured in the United States, as will all MLB gown helmets, field uniforms and hats.”
But Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said the league could play a more important role in keeping the factory open. “I keep thinking what would happen if the baseball commissioner called the guy who runs this company and said,‘ Hey, I don’t think we should do that, ’” he said.
Smith sent a letter to Major League Baseball commissioner and Seidler Equity Partners urging them to reconsider their decision to close the Miken factory. He said the decision should outrage Americans.
“We should expect more from the American hobby than this kind of thinking, ‘put the dollar first,'” he told CBS News.
CBS Evening News
Rawlings executives have met with local leaders and plan to continue discussions on “exploring options on Caledonia’s bat installation,” according to a company statement. Executives confirmed to CBS News that their plans to close the factory have not changed despite ongoing meetings.
Seidler Equity Partners did not respond to CBS News’ request for comment.
“I think it’s ridiculous,” said Dee Slinde, who helps displaced workers in southeast Minnesota find work. He said many of the upcoming job offers pay less than Miken’s.
“This becomes a kind of talent leak because those individuals who have to earn that income level will go where the money is,” he said, “It’s definitely a way to drain a community of their blood and It’s not a good decision. ”
The factory could cease to operate within 18 to 24 months, leaving the field dreams of a community on the brink of an economic nightmare.