From backyard games in Arizona to owning one of America’s most recognizable sporting brands, the Rose family is taking Wiffle Ball into a new era.

What started as a backyard pastime for two Scottsdale brothers during the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a remarkable Arizona business success story.

The Scottsdale-based Rose family has acquired the iconic Wiffle Ball brand, ending more than seven decades and three generations of ownership by the Connecticut-based Mullany family.

The acquisition puts 20-year-old Logan Rose, a sophomore at Southern Methodist University, in charge of one of America’s most recognizable recreational brands. His younger brother, 17-year-old Carson Rose, will serve as chief growth officer, while their mother, Jordan Rose, founder of Scottsdale-based Rose Law Group, will become chair of the board.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The deal includes the Wiffle Ball name, intellectual property and its signature yellow plastic bat and white perforated ball, which have been fixtures in American backyards since 1953.

“Almost everyone has a Wiffle Ball memory, whether it’s a home run derby in a cul-de-sac, turning your backyard into a field or playing at the beach with friends,” Logan Rose said. “It’s one of America’s great backyard traditions, and for my family, it’s always been part of our lives.”

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From backyard to national brand

The Rose brothers’ journey began when Logan, then 13, organized backyard Wiffle Ball games with friends during the pandemic.

What started as a neighborhood competition quickly grew into something much bigger.

By the following year, the family was hosting a tournament at Scottsdale Stadium featuring 25 teams.

That venture evolved into Big League Wiffle Ball, a professional league featuring 10 franchises, celebrity ownership and games broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN+.

The league has attracted high-profile names, including actor Kevin Costner, and has established itself as an emerging sports entertainment property.

Now, the family that helped transform a backyard game into a professional competition owns the brand that made it possible.

The Wiffle Ball company and Big League Wiffle Ball will remain separate businesses.

“Wiffle Ball is more than a game. It’s the definition of pure joy, and we’re excited to share that with even more families,” Carson Rose said.