Supreme x Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball
The original behind the Supreme x Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball is the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball — $10 retail vs Supreme's $32.
Supreme vs. Original
Supreme version
About the original
The Franklin Sports 8.5-inch Rubber Playground Ball is an inflatable rubber ball with a textured cross-hatch surface grip, used for kickball, dodgeball, four square, and general recess play. It inflates through a standard needle valve. Franklin Sports was founded in 1946 in Stoughton, Massachusetts by Irving Franklin and his brother Sydney, initially producing stuffed footballs during postwar rubber rationing before expanding to a full sporting goods line. The company later pioneered the signature-athlete batting glove with Mike Schmidt and remains family-run. Franklin is the official ball supplier for several US youth recreational programs. The Supreme SS24 collab prints the box logo on the panel and retailed at $32.
About Franklin Sports
Franklin Sports is an American sporting goods manufacturer founded in 1946 by brothers Sydney and Irving Franklin in Brockton, Massachusetts, where it remains headquartered and family-run. The company began producing footballs, basketballs, and baseball gloves from scrap leather sourced from local Brockton shoe factories. In 1984, Franklin invented the Pro Classic with input from Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, the first purpose-built baseball batting glove. Franklin has been the official on-field batting glove of Major League Baseball since 1984 and is worn by roughly 44 percent of MLB players. Supreme has collaborated with Franklin Sports on co-branded batting gloves and youth-style sports equipment.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $32 |
|---|---|
| Franklin Sports retail | $10 |
| Hype tax | +220% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball just the regular 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball?
The Supreme x Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball, released in Spring/Summer 2024, is based on the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $32 for the Supreme x Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball; the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball retails for $10. That's a 220% markup — buying the original saves you $22, or 69% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball?
You can buy the Franklin Sports 8.5" Rubber Playground Ball from Amazon or direct from Franklin Sports. Retail price is $10. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
Related items
All Franklin Sports items · All Accessories · Spring/Summer 2024