Kent Mercker hasn’t slowed down since retiring from Major League Baseball in 2008. Following an impressive 17-year career, the 55-year-old and an equally impressive lineup of MLB, NHL and NFL alums have set their sights on hitting the pickleball courts with one of the sport’s latest ventures in PBX Pickleball (PBX).
Mercker’s playing career began in 1986 with a fifth overall selection by the Atlanta Braves in the MLB draft’s first round. He was a part of the National League’s first combined no-hitter in 1991, where he pitched for six innings and followed that up with a solo no-hitter on April 8, 1994 against the LA Dodgers. Mercker featured eight times in the playoffs and made three World Series appearances that included a World Series title in 1995 over the Cleveland Indians.
Mercker’s introduction to pickleball came through an invitation to play from a local friend with pickleball courts on his property. It didn’t take long—minutes in fact—for Mercker to know he had found his new obsession.
“I immediately became addicted to the sport,” said Mercker. “I don’t know what it was. I don’t have a tennis background or any kind of paddle or racquet background, but the first ten minutes, I knew I was going to enjoy it. Something about it is very addictive and I’ve played it for almost five years now. It’s just the people that play it, they’re just happy people…it’s a community, it really has become a community.”
Mercker is now taking his talents to PBX alongside athletes such as Tino Martinez, Golden Tate, Kris Draper, and others. Alums will feature for their respective associations on tour in PBX, which will also play host to pro-am matches, ‘Dream Weekends’ experiences and corporate events.
“PBX came up with a concept,” added Mercker. “They realize that a lot of former players in the four major sports, they’re starting to play this game and they came up with this concept that, ‘Why don’t we start a league where we can pit these athletes in these sports against other athletes and kind of start our own tour?’”
In addition to seeing their favourite former athletes in (pickleball) action, fans will have the opportunity to join with, or go against athletes in a pro-am setup.
“I think it’s another aspect of PBX that’s really unique that no one else is doing,” said Mercker. “It’s going to give an opportunity to fans to play with and against their favourite athletes that are now retired. They don’t just get to watch them play from the seats, they actually get to come down on the court and play with, or against them and then sit down next to them after a game and talk to them, take a picture, get an autograph…I think it’s going to be very intimate that way. This isn’t about the players so much. This is about the fan experience.”
With a growing list of former pros being added to the PBX lineup, Mercker expects to see the competitive spirit of athletes from each sport on the court.
“We love to compete, we always have,” explained Mercker. “People ask me when I was done playing baseball, what do I miss the most about it. I said, ‘I miss competing.’ It’s a cool job, but I miss competition. Yeah, you can get it in golf, you can get it playing rec basketball, but this is an opportunity for me, and I won’t speak for the other sports, but I know they feel the same way.
“When I get around a former NFL or NHL player which I play with and against in pickleball now, we always have the debate of, of the four majors, which group is the most athletic? Of course I say baseball. Now, we can finally put it to a test. The better athletes are going to win these tournaments, that’s my theory.”
PBX plans to launch in Fall 2023.
“I’m really, really excited for this,” said Mercker. “I think it’s going to be a home run. Or a touchdown. Or a goal or a three-pointer, however you want to say it.”
About PBX Pickleball
PBX Pickleball creates memorable experiences by uniting well-known retired professional athletes with amateur pickleball players and fans. Established in 2023, PBX Pickleball consists of four experiences: the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Experiences. The company is part of The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading resource for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. To learn more about PBX Pickleball, go to https://pbxpickleball.com or follow @pbxpickleball on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
ABOUT HAUS PICKLEBALL
Haus Pickleball is a media brand covering the sport of pickleball by connecting and collaborating with on-court stars, front office leaders, media personalities, and future-shaping brands. For editorial and general inquiries, please send us an email at info@hauspickleball.com.