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                                                                       EXHIBIT 4


                   [BancBoston Robertson Stephens Letterhead]



                               September 17, 1999

Steve Powell
Prudential Securities Inc.
Fourteen Piedmont Center, Suite 310
Atlanta, GA 30305

Dear Mr. Powell:

Thank you for your continued interest in pursuing a business combination
transaction with our client, Rawlings Sporting Goods Company, Inc. ("Rawlings"
or the "Company"). On behalf of Rawlings, I would like to outline the
procedures and timeline anticipated with respect to the submission of final,
binding offers ("Offers") to acquire Rawlings. As we have discussed, the
process is proceeding on an expedited basis.

We are enclosing the form of transaction agreement (the "Agreement") that we
are asking all prospective bidders to mark-up to show any proposed
modifications or additional terms and conditions they suggest or require as
part of their definitive proposal. As you will see, we have structured the
proposed transaction as a two-step cash tender offer followed by a cash merger.
However, we are prepared to consider alternative transaction structures if you
prefer. You will receive a copy of the Company Disclosure Schedule referred to
in the Agreement within the next week.

All proposed changes should be marked clearly on the enclosed form of
Agreement. PLEASE DO NOT RETYPE THE AGREEMENT, AS THIS WILL DELAY ITS REVIEW.
Any proposed changes to the Agreement will be an important and integral
component of your final Offer. We strongly encourage you to discuss any
questions you may have about the Agreement and any changes you expect to
suggest to the Agreement with us or with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
LLP, which is acting as special counsel to the Finance Committee of Rawlings'
Board of Directors, prior to the submission of your Offer in order that all
Offers can be reviewed on a comparable basis. Questions


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or comments concerning the Agreement should be directed to Richard Easton at
(302) 651-3040 or Ron Fisher at (302) 651-3125 at Skadden, Arps.

In setting forth the due date for Offers, we have allowed substantial time to
complete your due diligence, arrange any external financing and take all other
steps necessary to provide a definitive Offer. Accordingly, your Offer should
include the following:

1.   The price that you propose to pay for 100% of the outstanding shares of
     the Company, including stock options and other common stock equivalents.
     Only Offers which are specific as to the amount of consideration will be
     considered. Any Offer which contains provisions which trigger an automatic
     increase in the consideration offered depending upon the consideration
     offered by others will be declared void and will not be considered.

2.   A list of all corporate, shareholder, regulatory or other approvals, and
     any material conditions, required to consummate the transaction and your
     timetable for obtaining these approvals.

3.   A description of your plans regarding senior management and employees of
     Rawlings.

4.   A description of your plans for financing the acquisition. Offers that are
     conditioned on financing will be at a considerable disadvantage. To the
     extent that your Offer is contingent upon the receipt of third party
     financing, provide a description of the expected sources of funds, the
     status of the discussions with your financing sources and the steps
     necessary to obtain funding commitments, if not yet obtained (with as much
     specificity as possible in order to assist the Company in its assessment
     of the value of your proposed consideration). Please also provide us with
     the names (and contact telephone numbers) of the lending institutions and
     equity participants involved so that we may contact them to discuss the
     details of such financing.

5.   A mark-up of the Agreement. As noted above, the extent and nature of any
     changes to the Agreement suggested or required by prospective bidders will
     be taken into consideration by Rawlings in evaluating Offers. Any changes
     that could subject Rawlings to continuing liability or make an Offer
     subject to further business investigation will place a prospective bidder
     at a competitive disadvantage. Any changes which could delay consummation
     or increase the risk of non-consummation of the purchase also will be
     viewed negatively.


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6.   A statement that you are prepared to execute the marked-up Agreement as
     submitted and that all necessary internal corporate approvals have been
     received.

All Offers which are submitted must be in accordance with the rules set forth
in this letter. Rawlings, with the advice and assistance of BancBoston
Robertson Stephens and its counsel, will evaluate the Offers expeditiously. In
reviewing the Offers, Rawlings and BancBoston Robertson Stephens may need to
discuss with interested parties the terms and conditions of their Offers for
the purpose of clarifying such terms and conditions. As a result, please
indicate the names and contact numbers (including home and weekend telephone
numbers) of those individuals, including advisors and financing sources, who
should be contacted in order to discuss your Offer.

To protect the confidentiality of the Offers which are submitted, Rawlings will
not disclose the terms of any Offer or the identity of any party which has
submitted an Offer except for disclosures made to governmental authorities and
Rawlings' financial and other advisors and as may be required by law.

The following rules will govern the submission of Offers:

1.   Three copies of your complete Offer should be sent by messenger to the
     attention of Joe Pellegrini, Principal, BancBoston Robertson Stephens, 555
     California, 26th Floor, San Francisco, California, 94123, no later than
     5 p.m. San Francisco time, on Monday, October 4, 1999.

2.   Offers cannot be made by any person acting as agent for another, whether
     his principal or principals are disclosed or undisclosed, and accordingly
     only Offers from a principal will be considered.

3.   Rawlings reserves the right to discuss with any prospective bidder the
     terms of its Offer for the purpose of clarifying its terms. However, any
     such discussions are not designed to provide an opportunity for the
     prospective bidder to rebid or otherwise increase the amount of the Offer.

4.   Each Offer will constitute a binding offer for fifteen business days after
     the final due date of submission, unless it is sooner returned or rejected.

5.   An Offer will be deemed accepted only when a definitive Agreement shall
     have been executed and delivered by Rawlings. Until such time, Rawlings
     shall not


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have any obligations to any prospective bidder, and following such time,
Rawlings' only obligations will be those set forth in the definitive Agreement.

6.   Rawlings reserves the right, in its sole discretion and without any
     liability therefor, to withhold any or all information from any party or to
     modify the terms and conditions of or terminate this process at any time
     (including, negotiating with any prospective bidder and entering into a
     definitive Agreement without prior written notice to any person). The
     Company also reserves the right to reject any and all Offers without
     providing reasons therefor.

As of 5 p.m. San Francisco time, on Monday, October 4, 1999, we will assume
that all parties have submitted their best Offer. You should not assume that we
will provide you with an opportunity to increase your Offer. It is Rawlings'
intention to promptly evaluate the Offers with the objective of selecting a
purchaser and entering into a definitive Agreement and consummating a
transaction as expeditiously as possible. Therefore, prospective bidders should
be available to commence negotiations at the offices of Stinson, Mag & Fizzell,
P.C. in St. Louis beginning soon thereafter.

Should you have any questions regarding the procedures outlined in this letter,
please do not hesitate to contact me at (415) 693-3558 or Anand Gowda at (415)
676-2945. Management or employees of Rawlings should not be contacted directly.

On behalf of Rawlings, we look forward to receiving your Offer.


                                                        Sincerely,

                                                        /s/ Joseph A. Pellegrini

                                                        Joseph A. Pellegrini
                                                        Principal


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