Moneyball Steps Into Rare Air, Releases New Product

With 517 Day as a backdrop, The Moneyball Sportswear team celebrated the MB95

LANSING - Of all the 365 days in a year that Desmond Ferguson, owner of Moneyball Sportswear, could have launched his newest product, he chose the perfect one: May 17th, or “517 Day” as it’s known to locals. On a day that celebrates the area code and culture of the Greater-Lansing region, Moneyball launched what they call “The Genesis.”

Quick lesson: the definition of "genesis" is “the origin or coming into being of something.”

Now that you know that, let's welcome The Genesis of Moneyball shoes, the MB95. 

Yes, you read that correctly. Moneyball Sportswear is officially in the shoe business! The region’s most popular sportswear brand, loved for its lifestyle appeal, has now upped its game with its first ever sneaker. The sneaker marks a new challenge and a new frontier for Desmond and the Moneyball team, and a rare “Genesis” moment for a business that has been around for 20 years. Known for their uber-popular clothing and sports uniforms that don the widely-known Moneyball logo, the brand is now stepping into waters that few in the area have navigated. 

The Mixer

I pulled up to interview the man behind the brand. To celebrate 517 Day and the release of the MB95, there was a mixer thrown at Moneyball HQ. A DJ was spinning rap classics from 1995, the Moneyball office was full of eats and drinks, and Fergusson was in a relaxed state strolling the aisles of his Moneyball Headquarters. The HQ is in a historically culture-rich neighborhood on the Westside of Lansing, across the street from Toolan’s, the legendary Lansing deli. Being the ultimate people’s person, Desmond was greeting friends and shoppers alike. In the showcase room of the building, the brand new MB95’s were displayed in their red and blue colorway – a nod to his amateur hoop days at Lansing Everett High School and University of Detroit Mercy. Those "origins" of the eventual professional hooper no-doubt having influence on "The Genesis" title.

Sidenote: It was moving to see Mr. Moneyball himself, without a hint of ego, pop down on a knee in the showcase room and help an OG try on shoes. That was my favorite part of the mixer.  

"The Genesis" MB95

The Interview

After a drink and some shopping–I had to cop a size 13–I was able to catch up with Desmond about all things MB95.

Did you know that Moneyball previously worked on a shoe? Nope, I didn’t either. And the amount of detail in the shoes is crazy! Coordinates to the capital city on a shoe is a first for me. One of Lansing's foremost faces gave me a couple of minutes of his time and shed light on the new drop: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_4e4ev2VE

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