Company History

As one of the oldest Sporting Goods manufacturers in the U.S., Gait knows & believes in Innovation, Performance and Integrity.

Gait Lacrosse begas as J. deBeer and Son, Inc. which was founded in 1889 by Jacob deBeer, a German Dutch immigrant tanner began making his own baseballs in a converted barn in Johnstown, NY soon after baseball's origin.

Paul Gait demonstrates the features of a new lacrosse stick.

In 1916 the business grew and was moved to Albany where Jacob was joined by his son Fredrick (Fritz) deBeer. Fritz developed and patented the Clincher softball with its unique protected seam in 1934. Clincher softballs are synonymous with sport cultures of New York and Chicago, and remain the most popular balls in those cities today.

Three generations including Dick Pollack and Jim Muhlfelder, expanded the family business in sports equipment manufacture. When Worth Inc acquired the baseball division in the 1980's, which in turn sold the business to K2, Inc., Muhlfelder guided deBeer in a new direction of lacrosse equipment manufacture and distribution.

In 1994, Muhlfelder saw opportunity for innovation in lacrosse by creating handles using the same alloys softball bats are made with. These alloys are high in strength and low in weight. The CU31 handle was the 1st high strength/light weight aluminum alloy handle. Soon after came C405, C555, and db803, all high strength/light weight alloys.

In January of 1994, Muhlfelder met Paul Gait, legendary lacrosse player, at the National Men's Coaches Convention in Connecticut and from there a new era of innovation began. 1n 1997, as a consultant, Gait helped deBeer become a full line provider of men's lacrosse equipment; today known as Gait Lacrosse. Gait began designing equipment that enhanced a player's natural ability to perform. This has been the foundation for all of deBeer's equipment design.

Today Gait is proud to be affiliated with teams such as the 2006 Men's Lacrosse National Champions, the University of Virginia, and many other top men's lacrosse programs. Although the torch has been passed to a new generation, 117 years later, Gait's mission is still to design quality, innovative equipment that enhances the player's natural performance and ability.