http://www.sportscollectorsdigest.com August 16, 2019 / Sports Collectors Digest 13
ACTIVE INTEREST MEDIA AC-
QUIRES FOUR F+W GROUPS, IN-
CLUDING SPORTS COLLECTORS
DIGEST – Active Interest Media, North
America’s leading participant media com-
pany, has announced the acquisition of
four storied groups of enthusiast brands
from F+W Media.
“The addition of Writer’s Digest,
Popular Woodworking, Horticulture, and
the Collectibles Group signifi cantly ex-
tends our footprint in passionate markets
that fi t Active Interest Media’s vision for
future growth,” said President & CEO
Andrew Clurman. “These groups bring a
combined publishing histo ry of more than
300 years and audiences that demonstrate
incredible loyalty through their atten-
dance at events, participation in online
conversations, and high rates of member-
ship and subscription renewal.”
The brands will become part of the
existing Home Group of Active Inter-
est Media, a thriving operation based in
Des Moines, Iowa, that includes leading
woodworking and gardening brands such
as The Woodsmith and Garden Gate.
“We were attracted to this acquisi-
tion by the obvious synergies between
our audiences, content capabilities, and
consumer-focused products,” said Home
Group President Peter Miller. “These
brands have diversifi ed from their print
roots to include robust digital, event,
online education, and other business ex-
tensions, and there’s a lot both sides can
learn from each other.”
Writer’s Digest
As Writer’s Digest approaches its 100th
year, it remains the comprehensive, multi-
platform resource for professional writers
of all media, genres, and skill levels. Its
mission is to ignite writers’ creative vision
and connect them with the resources and
community they need to bring it to life.
Popular Woodworking
For more than 30 years, Popular
Woodworking has been the destination
for hardcore woodworking enthusiasts.
They have bigger shops, own more tools,
and build more projects, spending more
than $600 million on woodworking proj-
ects this year alone.
Horticulture
With more than 155 years in con-
tinuous publication, Horticulture is an
authority in the space with a focus on
the art and science of smart gardening.
Attracting a largely female audience,
Horticulture serves consumers who are
infl uencers within their community and
have spent on average more than 30 years
pursuing their hobby.
The Collectibles Group
The Collectibles Community covers
several categories including antiques,
automotive, music, sports, coins, and
military. Across eleven brands, passion-
ate consumers fi nd news, industry trends,
reviews, and Collectibles’ most important
area of distinction – its world-renowned
valuations, which are the gold standard
among insurers, auction houses, dealers,
and collectors.
“We’re thrilled to welcome all 67 staff
dedicated to these brands to the AIM
family,” said Clurman. “We will main-
tain the existing operations and teams in
Cincinnati, Ohio, and Stevens Point, Wis-
consin, while providing support that will
help drive growth from our video, digital
marketing, and creative services units in
AIM’s Boulder headquarters.”◆
JimBouton
JimBouton,formermajorleague
pitcherandtheauthorofthebook
‘BallFour,’diedJuly10.Hewas80.
Boutonspent 10 yearsinthemajor
leagues,compilinga 62-63recordand
a 3.57ERA.Hisbestseasonwasin
1963 whenhewon 21 gamesandwas
namedtotheAll-Starteam.Bouton
pitchedintwoWorldSerieswiththe
NewYorkYankees.Despitea 10-year
majorleaguecareer,Boutonis often
rememberedmostforauthoringthe
book‘BallFour,’whichwaspublished
in1970.Thebookrecountedthe 1969
seasonwhenhewasa memberofthe
expansionSeatlePilotsandtheHous-
tonAstrosaswellashisearlieryears
withtheYankees.
PernellWhitaker
Pernell“SweetPea”Whitaker,con-
sideredoneofthegreatestlighweight
boxersofalltime,diedJuly 14 after
hewasstruckbya vehicle.Hewas 55
yearsold.
Asanamateurboxer,Whitaker
compileda 201-14recordwith 91
knockouts.In 1984 hewonanOlym-
picgoldmedalat theSummerGames
inLosAngeles.Healsowongoldat
the 1983 PanAmericanGamesanda
silverat the 1982 WorldChampion-
ships.Whitakerbeganhisprofessional
careerafterthe 1984 Olympicsand
compileda 40-4-1recordasa profes-
sional.Inadditionhebecamea world
championinfourdifferentweight
classesbeforeretiringin2001.Hewas
inductedintotheInternationalBoxing
HallofFamein2007.
MitchPetrus
FormerNewYorkGiantsoffensive
linemanMitchPetrusdiedJuly 18 of
heatstroke.Hewas32.
Petruswasa walk-onat theUni-
versityofArkansas,eventuallyearning
all-SoutheasternConferencehonors.In
2010 hewasdraftedbytheGiantsin
thefifthround.HeplayedintheNFL
forthreeseasons,includingoneseason
whentheGiantswontheSuperBowl.
FollowingtheSuperBowlseason,
Petrusplayedbriefly fortheNewEng-
landPatriotsandTennesseeTitans.
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