OUR STORY

Emerging from the legendary sporting incubator that was Eugene, Oregon in the late 1960s, the Richardson story began when Howard Wicklund and Neil Richardson opened Howard Wicklund Sporting Goods, a wholesale distributor of athletic equipment offering everything from balls and bags to golf accessories and catcher’s gear.

In 1970, the Richardson family purchased the company and the Richardson brand was born.

The business grew over the next 20 years, with distribution expanding across the United States. It was during this period that baseball emerged as a primary focus for the brand, born out of Neil and family’s deep love for the game.

This emphasis on America’s favorite pastime, combined with Neil’s steadfast commitment to quality, led the brand to evolve from distributor to designer and manufacturer of equipment and apparel for all levels of play. The quality of these new product lines fueled demand and increased the brand’s presence on fields across the country.

The sport headwear market exploded in the early 90s, and the once humble ball cap became ubiquitous. Suddenly, baseball caps were more than just sporting goods—a new generation of sport-obsessed fans made them into a canvas for personal expression.

The Richardson brand seized the opportunity and began to innovate and diversify its headwear offering, creating new products and further expanding distribution into new markets, including licensed, collegiate, retail, private label, and corporate/promotional.

Still family owned and operated, today Richardson is a vertically integrated designer and manufacturer of premium headwear, uniforms, apparel, and accessories. We’re also the leading custom made-to-order headwear brand, serving everything from baseball and softball teams to world-renowned consumer brands, businesses large and small, and even your neighborhood brewery.

For over 50 years, our commitment to excellence has shaped every stitch, delivering quality and authenticity to our customers and fans. We celebrate moments of triumph and champion self-expression, igniting the spirit of competition and adventure for all who proudly wear the R.