On September 11, 1985, Pete Rose stroked an Eric Show fastball into leftfield at Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium, breaking the all-time major league baseball hit record previously held by the legendary Ty Cobb. Anticipation for the record knock had energized the baseball world and placed Roses' picture on the front page of magazines and newspapers across the nation.While just about everyone was talking about the big hit, one man was more interested in the bat Rose was swinging, the cleats on his feet, and the batters gloves that adorned his hands. In the mind of Jim Darby, Vice-President of Promotions and Marketing for Easton and Mizuno gear, the exposure for the products could be turned into sales for the company.Right Off the Bat focuses on the side of sports not normally seen by sports fans. The book tells the story of how both Easton and Mizuno became household names across America by marketing the brands to top athletes including Rose, Goose Gossage, Rickey Henderson, Joe Montana, John Elway, Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, and Steve Yzerman. Darby also describes how Easton became the leading aluminum bat in the world while constantly having to battle politicians and the governing bodies of the sport.This book is a must-read for the serious fan and anyone interested in sports marketing.