Only High-End Baseball Shop Between New York & Boston: Here in Middletown

Middletown Patch is beginning a brand new feature that highlights small local business owners and their livelihood. 

It's a tough job market out there. That's why entrepreneurs who start their own business — creating a product or service for the local community and employing themselves and others in the process — are an inspiration to others.

If you'd like to be featured in our next installment or know of any Middletown entrepreneurs who may be willing to participate, email cassandra.day@patch.com.

We asked Pat McGuire, owner of Middletown's McGuire Baseball Co., to tell us a little bit about the shop he began six years ago.

Q. What is your business, what makes it unique and when did it begin?

We began in 2007 and we are the only high-end baseball shop between New York and Boston. We feature fine quality leather gloves and wood bats and fit our customers to ensure the right piece of equipment for the player ... from Little League through the pros. We are the largest Brett Brothers dealer in Connecticut, featuring a full line of Brett bats and gloves.  

We also carry Dream Bats which are made right here in Connecticut. All of our Dream Bats are engraved with the player's name for free. We custom engrave 34-inch full-sized gift bats for awards, coaches, businesses and 18-inch souveneir mini bats. We sell custom bat racks, displays and do professional baseball glove repairs.

Q. Tell us how you came about owning your own business.

I needed a job.

Q. What's a fact about your business that most customers probably don't know?

Where we are located. We are on the second floor of 400 Plaza Middlesex, on College Street just a few doors down from Main Street. Look for the sign of the crossed bats.

Q. What's your most popular product or service?

Old baseball. Real baseball. Excellent wood bats and fine leather gloves. Try finding pure neatsfoot oil anywhere else!

Q. Why did you choose to open your business in Middletown?

I live about 500 yards from the shop.

Q. How does your business connect with the community?

We have many customers from Middletown and provide them with products that they can't get in the big box stores. We also sponsor an Ahern Whalen Baseball team.

Q. Do you have advice for anyone who'd like to start a small business in this area?

Open a restaurant.

Q. Do you have any upcoming events that the public should know about?

Just good bats, gloves and baseball accessories and personal attention like a small, local shop is supposed to have, and personalized 2013 Red Sox World Series bats for the holidays.  

McGuire Baseball Co. also offers: 

• Professional Baseball Bats & Gloves 
• Custom Made Bats 
• Brett Bats 
• Dream Bats 
• Over 200 wood bats in stock 
• Engraved Gift Bats for Any Occasion 
• Engraved Coaches Bats 
• Engraved 18-inch Mini Bats 
• Custom Bat Racks 
• Glove Repairs 
• Baseball Accessories
• Team Discounts 

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