By Sally Tippett Rains
What do three former players from the Belleville East High School softball team have in common with Cardinals infielder Brendon Donovan? Headbands. The photo, above, was taken Monday morning as he was ready to take the field for morning practice at spring training wearing one of his new headbands.
Kristy Northway, Jen Poirot and Teri Hebner are business partners who own True North Glove Company and they are teaming up with Donovan in several ways including headbands, wrist bands, and a meet-and-greet where fans can meet the super utility player at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Years ago, when the company was started, they mainly produced headbands and golf gloves. Today it is a thriving successful business including pickleball gloves and softball and baseball batting gloves—and they sell the headbands that Brendan Donovan wears.
“I started at a glove company and then I decided to go out on my own,” said Kristy Northway. “I have a marketing background and I have always loved sports, so it’s a good fit.”
Fits like a glove you might say— and also a headband. Donovan was a natural to represent their headbands with his full head of hair.
Donovan is known for being a hard working, hustling type of player. He likely will play mostly at second base this season but also will be used in a variety of other roles. Since he was promoted from Triple A on April 25, 2022, he has played his way into becoming a regular in the Cardinals’ lineup, even if he doesn’t always have a regular position.
Donovan made his 2024 spring training debut in the Cardinals’ opening game on Saturday, recording two hits. He is coming off surgery for a torn ligament in his right elbow that ended his 2023 season in August.
The photo, right, shows him in action; he’s running so hard his hat came off and he had a headband under it. His use of headbands caught Northway’s eye.
Northway and her partners played softball at Belleville East High in Illinois and became good friends. Jen Poirot and Northway graduated in 1991, Teri Hebner in 1992.
Their friendship has continued through the years all due to their love of sports; and they have turned their love for sports and each other into a career.
“We’ve been loyal friends since we were teens,” she said. “We have each other’s back in the business as well. It’s awesome to have the opportunity to work and grow a business together. I’m a firm believer in it always takes a team. Being best friends with Teri and Jen for many years we know each other’s strengths. We are all sports-minded people that work well together and have a great time at it.”
Some of them will be heading to spring training, to meet with Donovan and do some promotions for the headbands. This spring training is not her first but it will definitely be an exciting one working with the Cardinals infielder.
“The headbands are just kind of part of me at this point with the long hair to try to keep it out of my eyes,” said Donovan, “I love doing cool things and helping out local companies and this came on our radar.”
“I approached him,” Northway said, “He liked the idea.”
“I had actually purchased some headbands from them and they asked what I thought about doing a possible partnership and that’s kind of what we’ve got right now,” he said.
Now he has his own headbands through True North: the Brendan Donovan Collection.
“He was very involved in the design of the headbands,” Northway said. “We got together and went back and forth with the designs until he found some that he said, ‘hey, that works!’ So we designed the headbands together.”
“Yes, we kind of collaborated on the designs,” said Donovan. “I’m just going to wear the one with my number on the forehead on field. I have more of them that they are going to sell.”
Said Northway, “He is a leader on and off the field. It is a great opportunity for our company to have such a distinguished, hard-working player, and a Gold Glove winner to represent us. We love his commitment to his team and his charities especially the Veterans.”
The headbands are available at the Team Store and they will be doing some special events at spring training.
“We will be doing a ‘meet-and-greet’ with Brendan on Friday March 1 in the Cassidy Cool Zone area of Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium after the Cardinals game.”
Those who want to purchase a headband can get it autographed by Donovan that day.
“All fans who attend the game and purchase a headband in the store will have the opportunity to participate in a meet and greet in the Cassidy Cool Zone with Brendan Donovan,” said Mike Bauer Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium General Manager. “The meet and greet will take place about an hour after the game and will include a photo with Brendan.”
To get more specific information about the event we checked with Justin Valverde Event Operations Coordinator at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
“Your ticket to the meet-and-greet is the purchase of the head band while being at the game,” said Valverde. “You will need to have a game ticket and a Brendan Donovan headband to participate. There will be no re-entry if a fan leaves the game. Our Team Store stays open 30 mins post-game so last-minute fans will have a chance to purchase the head band.”
To recap, there will be no headbands for purchase at the meet-and-greet, and admission is your headband and your game ticket.
Northway and her partners have other promotions in the works. Representatives from her company will be in Jupiter March 3-8 and they will have a promotional table set up at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium.
Anything they do in conjunction with Donovan and the Cardinals will be a labor of love as they have always been Cardinals fans.
“All of us and our extended families are huge Cardinal fans,” she said. “We attend Winter Warm up, travel to Spring Training every year and several away games during the season.
“We are excited about the 2024 season and the Brendan Donovan custom headband collection.”
“I think they (the headbands) will be cool for passing out to kids and things like that,” said Brendan Donovan.
To see the headbands as well as the Brendan Donovan wristbands: CLICK HERE.
(Photo credits:Main feature photo by Rob Rains, STLSportsPage.com. Other photos by: STLSportsPage, True North Glove Company; feature photo courtesy AP and KSDK.com)
