Baseball and Hunting: America’s Pastime Meets the Outdoors

All-star catcher J.T. Realmuto showed out in Realtree-clad gear during Major League Baseball’s Players’ Weekend. Photo courtesy of J.T. Realmuto.

Cool mornings and changing leaves signal the beginning of Team Realtree’s two favorite seasons: post-season baseball and deer season. And when those passions collide, autumn looks even brighter.

As early bow season gets underway and post-season baseball ramps up, baseball gear decorated with Realtree camo shines in the spotlight, displaying how Realtree extends beyond the woods, connects with mainstream brands and creates a buzz — and sales — for camo baseball items. A number of high-profile camouflage baseball items are already available, and the baseball/camo market is expanding in 2026. That’s great news for fans and Major League ballplayers, many of whom — as you know if you’ve watched Realtree’s videos through the years — are avid hunters.

Atlanta Braves star Austin Riley is as much at home in the woods as he is on the baseball diamond. Photo courtesy of Austin Riley.

“What Realtree has been able to do in bringing camo to the baseball field has truly been incredible,” said Austin Riley, two-time all-star third-baseman/left fielder for the Atlanta Braves. “Being able to wear Realtree on my cleats, batting gloves, and infield glove makes me feel like it truly represents who I am. I have Realtree to thank for that.”

Realtree-licensed baseball items include Shot Caller bat weights, EvoShield elbow guards, Louisville Slugger bats, gloves from Wilson and Mizuno, and apparel from New Era and Champro. And in a unique collaboration between Realtree and Nike, Philadelphia Phillies all-star catcher J.T. Realmuto took the field during the MLB Players’ Weekend in three fully customized sets of head-to-toe Realtree gear. The camo equipment included his mask, belt, cleats, bats, shin guards and chest protector, all of which were exclusively commissioned.

Mike Cather, founder of Shot Collar, said the mindset on the baseball field and in the outdoors is more similar than people realize. Photo courtesy of Shot Collar.

Many see the baseball-camo crossover trend as a natural extension of two similar lifestyles.

“It’s been this way for years,” said Hall of Fame third-baseman Chipper Jones, who played 19 seasons with the Atlanta Braves. “So many guys back when I played used their time in the off-season to climb a tree and get away from the spotlight. We would watch Monster Bucks videos to kill time. We weren’t given the opportunity to have Realtree camo gloves or other gear back then, but rest assured, half of the team would have used them. Now, you see Realtree patterns on gloves, batting gloves, shoes, and catching equipment. And it looks sharp. We are in an age of expression, and this is how kids from the country who grew up hunting and fishing express themselves.”

Former Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Ben McDonald loves seeing his two passions — hunting and baseball — come together. Photo courtesy of Ben McDonald.

Ben McDonald, who pitched nine seasons with the Baltimore Orioles and Milwaukee Brewers, said he’s excited about the new branded gear and wishes it would have been available during his career.

“Back in the early 1990s, when I was playing, I was the first guy who was wearing a Realtree camo T-shirt underneath my jersey,” he said. “I always tried to promote hunting and the outdoors whenever I could. They weren’t making camo shoes or gloves back then or I would have had them. I only have two seasons in my life: baseball season and hunting season. One runs right into the other, and to see these come together is really cool.”

Wilson is one of several companies offering authentic baseball gear in Realtree patterns. Available in November 2025. Realtree photo.

Realtree’s baseball partners concur, pointing out the many synergies shared by hunting and the diamond, even though the activities seem different at first glance.

“Both require patience, focus and a respect for the process,” said Mike Cather, former Atlanta Braves pitcher and founder of Shot Collar. “After long stretches of the season, a lot of players find balance in hunting or fishing. It’s a different pace, but the same instincts carry over. You are reading the environment, staying disciplined, waiting for the right moment. That connection is why Realtree feels at home on our product. The mindset on the field and in the outdoors is more similar than people realize.”

Baseball fans are often avid hunters and anglers, which is one reason why Realtree patterns carry over so well to baseball apparel and other merchandise. Photo courtesy of New Era.

Mike Butler, senior product line manager for Louisville Slugger Bats, agreed.

“One of those interests we constantly see players have off the field is hunting,” he said. “It crosses over well because of being outdoors but also sharpens those skills of mental focus, patience and preparation, which can be used in baseball or hunting.”

Josh Shapiro, CEO and co-founder of Baseball 101, said those similarities will carry over to fans of baseball and hunting.

“We’re very excited to launch baseball specific gear with Realtree patterns that feel authentic to both worlds,” he said. “This gives both brands the opportunity to potentially connect with a new customer base that loves the outdoors and baseball. If this collaboration works out as well as we think it will, we’ll look to explore even bigger opportunities like custom drops and larger collaborations. Honestly, the possibilities are endless.”

And the shared attributes of baseball and hunting are huge reasons why observers are so optimistic about current and future baseball gear decorated in Realtree.

Realtree patterns on baseball gear from Mizuno and other manufacturers let players express their love for the outdoors. Realtree photo.

“This first iteration of J.T. [Realmuto’s] Realtree gear served as a true benchmark for us to continue to evolve and expand upon in the future,” said L Grant Davis, of CAA Sports. “It’s exciting to think about what could be next from a product perspective and how we can story tell through both J.T. and the brand moving forward. The challenge becomes connecting the dots and creating a vision that most people can’t see until it’s brought to life. Luckily, we have a good idea as to what the future holds and will rely on the same question that helped bring this amazing project to life in the first place: What if?”

As that buzz continues to build, fans of sports and hunting can expect many more Realtree baseball collaborations in the future, cementing the crossover of two enduring passions.

“Realtree is supportive of our ideas, incredibly helpful in ensuring we have the right patterns for the products we compete in, and truly interested in the integrations we are bringing to market,” said Clint Sammons, senior marketing manager for team sports with Mizuno. “We are very optimistic about the future of product we will be able to feature the Realtree patterns on and the impact it will hopefully have in the market for both brands.”