Continuing a line of player-designed products, a press conference today was held at the Majestic Clubhouse Store on Yawkee Way where Red Sox players Kevin Youkilis, Carl Crawford, and Adrian Gonzalez unveiled the apparel designs.
The products will go on sale today at the Majestic Clubhouse Store, online at MLB.com and at Boston-area Olympia Sports, Modell’s and Hat World locations.
The products took two months to design in conjunction with Majestic. Last year, the Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and Twins players released products
Select the images below of the designs to see in high-res
IMAGE SOURCE: MAJESTIC/VF, MLBPA
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Who's the guy with the arms crossed? The Red Sox will don a modern version of these 1918 uniforms as part of a "turn back the clock" game commemorating the last time the Chicago Cubs played the Red Sox in Fenway. (Click to see in larger view)
Last night, the Red Sox hosted the Chicago Cubs for the first time since 1918. For tonight’s game, they will “turn back the clock” to mark 93 years since the clubs’ last matchup at Fenway Park. Both the Red Sox and Cubs will wear uniforms that replicate the style worn in 1918, the last time these two teams faced each other in Boston.
The Red Sox home uniform will be a blank button-up with no lettering and a slight off-white or ivory color. The hat will also have a blank off-white tint, and the socks will be a three-part white/red/white composition. The Red Sox used this uniform and hat combination as their primary home look for most of the 1910s, and did not have any lettering on the front of their uniform for the bulk of that decade and the entire 1920s. The team did not wear the familiar blue cap with a red “B” until the early 1930s.
The Cubs will wear navy blue pinstripes and lettering on a grayish uniform. On the front left-hand side of the uniform, there will be a horizontal outline of a “C” enclosing “UBS” in smaller, navy blue letters. The Cubs will sport a five-part sock with grey, blue, white, blue and grey color sections. The road hat will have a navy blue bill and pinstripes (but no “C” or any other lettering on the cap). The Cubs used this uniform for only one season, as they changed their road uniforms on an almost-yearly basis during the 1910s.
The uniforms were made by Majestic Athletic, the official apparel provider of Major League Baseball, and are made of the same 100% polyester material as the teams’ current uniforms.
Each Red Sox player will sign his replica uniform after the game, and all uniforms will be auctioned to support the Red Sox Foundation. More information will be announced soon.
There are also plans for additional elements of the Saturday pre-game ceremony and game presentation that will be reminiscent of the fans’ experience in 1918.
The Red Sox and Cubs last played at Fenway Park on September 11, 1918, in the sixth and final game of that year’s World Series. Concluding a season that was abbreviated because of the ongoing World War I conflict, the Red Sox won two of the series’ first three games in Chicago. Boston returned home to take Game Four, before the Cubs staved off elimination in Game Five. The Red Sox then closed out the series in Game Six with a 2-1 victory, clinching their fourth title of the decade and their third championship in the preceding four years.
Source: Boston Red Sox
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Maybe it was that scene in Bull Durham. You know, Millie and Jimmy decide to get hitched, and it happens at the ballpark.
For whatever reason, something about getting married on "the diamond" resonates more with ballparks than a football field, basketball court, and certainly, a hockey rink.
So, when MLB made this announcement today, it seemed to capitalize on the Americana of it all.
For the first time, as a part of 2011 MLB All-Star Week in Phoenix, Arizona, Major League Baseball will host a wedding at All-Star FanFest. Couples are invited to share their stories at allstargame.com/fanfestweddingfor a chance to win the All-Star FanFest Wedding, which will be held Tuesday July 12 at 11:00 a.m. Arizona time at the Phoenix Convention Center, site of MLB All-Star FanFest (I will be reporting from the All-Star Game that week and will see about crashing the wedding).
Since it's MLB, the All-Star Game, and all, this isn't going to be some "minor league" affair.
The winning couple will receive a wedding package which includes a ceremony on the Diamond at All-Star FanFest, a catered reception for 50 guests by Aventura Catering, a wedding ring package from Molina Fine Jewelers worth no more than $15,000 that will include either an engagement ring or two wedding bands, a wedding dress by Uptown Bridal, roundtrip airfare and two tickets to the 82nd MLB All-Star Game.
The couple will also receive items from Major League Baseball partners including a $500 MasterCard prepaid gift card, beverages for the reception provided by Budweiser (What? No Dom Perignon?), hotel stay provided by InterContinental Hotels Group, and a $500 Newlywed Lawn & Garden Kit donated by Scotts featuring a wide array of Scotts Miracle-Gro products (we're assuming that will not be part of the wedding night activities).
Host of NBC’s “The Marriage Ref” Tom Papa will join WE tv’s “My Fair Wedding” celebrity wedding planner David Tutera, MLB All-Star Ambassador Luis Gonzalez and Jenni Croft Badolato from ABC’s “The Bachelor” to assist Major League Baseball in selecting the winning couple.
“Baseball fans are so passionate about their sport that I expect many will jump at the opportunity to get married at a great event like MLB All-Star FanFest. This is something unique to Phoenix, and I’m incredibly excited to help make a memorable day for a special couple,” said Gonzalez.
According to MLB, couples can enter by going to allstargame.com/fanfestweddingand submitting a short video explaining why they should win the All-Star FanFest Wedding. Eligible entries will be reviewed and judged by Major League Baseball and the celebrity judging panel based on criteria including the couple’s connection to Major League Baseball and the creativity and quality of their online submission.
Scottsdale wedding planner, Charlee Geisler of Signature Events has been selected by MLB to coordinate the big day. “I have been planning weddings for more than 20 years and have never done anything quite like this,” said Geisler. “The winning couple will not be disappointed. I have a great plan for this event and it is anything but ordinary.”
Additional services donated by local Phoenix businesses for the wedding include:
• Angelic Grove – Wedding and event décor
• Eyes 2 See Photography – Wedding photography
• Serendipity Video – Wedding videographer
• Classic Party Rental – Specialized party supplies and rentals
• F/X Entertainment – Ceremony and reception music
• Celebrations in Paper – Invitations and wedding program
• Cheryl Roberts with Steven Paul Salon – Hair and make-up
• Julia Baker Confections – Wedding cake
• Men’s Wearhouse – Tuxedos
The online contest entry period for the All-Star FanFest Wedding closes Wednesday, June 1.
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It’s rare that television ads that don’t focus on the product are deemed a success. But, when they do, they can resonate above the noise, cross into demographics you might not otherwise reach, and become water cooler talk for months. Remember, the 1984 Macintosh ad, which aired just once during the Super Bowl, and never showed a Mac, has been regarded as the greatest television ad in history.
And while we’d never say that the ad below is on the 1984 level, it is, none the less, getting incredible buzz.
In the second of series of ads by cap maker New Era (see the first one, here), John Krasinski (The Office), and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) play themselves as diehard MLB fans, with Krasinski rooting for Red Sox and Baldwin for the Yankees, obsessively so. In this ad, Baldwin runs up the stairs to Krasinski’s apartment after he thinks the Yankees have lost to the Red Sox. When Krasinski opens the door, well… the “punch lines” begin to fly (my fav is “You drove all the way over here to punch me in the face?!” “No. I ran. I was too angry to drive.”).
There’s been some controversy around this ad in light of the beating of a Giants fan after a game at Dodger Stadium that left him in a medically induced coma. The line being, this ad will send the message that it’s acceptable to beat on opposing fans of your team. I get that only insofar that saying if you watch Bugs Bunny or the Three Stooges, you’re more likely to commit violent acts.
(LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS: IS THE AD IN POOR TASTE, OR IS IT COMEDY?)
What the ad is is pure comedy. Take a peak, and prepare to laugh.
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What's it going to be? The Pork or Turkey sandwich? You can try them out at Minute Maid Park and help decide.
They say, free is a very good price. And while, this isn’t the same as getting a free ticket (or a whole sandwich), it’s a great promo idea: try out some food offerings for free and help determine what will be served at the ballpark.
Fans attending Astros games tonight and tomorrow afternoon will have the opportunity to try complimentary sandwich samples at the All-Star Carvery located behind Section 156 at Minute Maid Park.
The Houston Astros and ARAMARK, who is the club’s exclusive food and beverage partner are putting on the promotion. For the first hour after gates open tonight (5:30-6:30 pm) and Wednesday afternoon (11:30 am-12:30 pm), fans will be treated to complimentary samples of Minute Maid Park’s signature sandwich finalists from the All-Star Carvery.
FAN TASTING
During the sampling, fans can taste the ballpark’s two signature sandwich finalists:
1. Hill Country Pork Hoagie: Slow Roasted Pulled Pork with Garlic, Red Pepper & Herbs, Spicy Chiptole Aioli, Sweet Vinegar Slaw on a Sourdough Hoagie with a side of Kettle Chips and a pickle spear.
2. Texas Tom Turkey Sandwich: Roasted Turkey Breast, Pepper Jack Cheese, Spicy Chipotle Aioli, Lettuce, Corn Salsa on a Jalapeno-Cheddar Kaiser with a side of Kettle Chips and a pickle.
FAN FEEDBACK
The sandwiches are vying for a permanent spot on the Minute Maid Park menu. Fans can vote for their favorite sandwich during the sampling or by visiting www.astros.com/sandwich. The winning sandwich will be announced after the All-Star break. Chow down!
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But will they have needles? MLB unveils their annual statues for the All-Star Game, this year featuring these cactus statues (Click to see in larger view)
As part of the celebration of All-Star Week in Phoenix, the cactus will take its place alongside recent luminaries such as the Statue of Liberty for the Yankee Stadium All-Star, the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and Mickey Mouse in Anaheim last year, by being commemorated in baseball-themed statue form.
MLB has teamed up with licensee Forever Collectibles to design a series of MLB-themed cactus statues. A total of 10 statues in four different designs measuring seven and a half feet tall and weighing more than 700 pounds will be stationed at key locations around the greater Phoenix area.
The statues will be uniquely decorated with bold graphics celebrating the 2011 All-Star Game, the D-backs and each of the 30 MLB clubs and the American and National Leagues. In addition, one of the statues will commemorate significant milestones in D-backs history. The statues will be placed throughout the greater Phoenix area in late-May and displayed until after the 2011 All-Star Game. Specific locations and further details will be announced at a later date.
Collectible versions measuring 7.5 inches tall will be available at local retailers and through MLB.com later this spring. Additionally, limited edition pins will be sold at MLB All-Star FanFest.
Source: Major League Baseball
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Just short of 2 weeks after a Giants fan attending an Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium was beaten so severely that he is hospitalized in critical condition with head injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that half-price alcoholic beverages are no longer part of the Dodgers’ Half Price Food & Drink Promotion, set to begin with the game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, April 21. The announcement was made one day before a press conference which will be held at Dodger Stadium outlining new security measures at the historic ballpark. The press conference will be attended by Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck, and former LAPD Chief and Kroll Chairman William J. Bratton who has been hired by the Dodgers since the brutal beating.
The six-game promotion that runs throughout the season will continue to include half-price food and soft drinks and a half-price six-game ticket package.
The promotion is set to take place at six midweek day games throughout the 2011 season. At each of these games, Dodger players will wear 1940s retro uniforms, voted on by the fans during the off-season.
The six-game promotion is set for the following dates:
Thursday, April 21, Dodgers vs. Braves, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, May 4, Dodgers vs. Cubs, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, June 15, Dodgers vs. Reds, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, June 22, Dodgers vs. Tigers, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 10, Dodgers vs. Phillies, 12:10 p.m.
Wednesday, August 31, Dodgers vs. Padres, 12:10 p.m.
Bryan Stow, a 42-year-old paramedic was leaving Dodger Stadium after the home opener when he was part of an unprovoked attack by two individuals wearing Dodgers fan gear. Stow remains in critical condition in a drug induced coma at Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center. Doctors have had to remove part of Stow’s skull to reduce brain swelling.
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Using athletes in commercials is nothing new. Using solid comedians in ads for athletic wear, is.
Case in point, Friday, New Era unveiled their new MLB marketing campaign that looks into epic rivalries and team pride. If that sounds like something that evokes the “This is Beyond…” ad campaign that MLB has run in recent years, think again.
The campaign features 30 Rock’sAlec Baldwinand The Office’sJohn Krasinski in a series of commercials where they demonstrate the true meaning of team rivalry. In the TV spots, which will begin airing on April 8th, Alec Baldwin, an avid Yankees fan, and John Krasinski, a passionate Red Sox fan, exchange some friendly back and forth trash-talking about each other’s teams (The Philles actually bear the brunt of the funniest line when Baldwin retorts regarding Cliff Lee signing with the Phillies for less money than the Yankees saying,”First of all, Yankees fans don’t consider Philadelphia to be a legitimate sports town, John. You know that.”) The tagline, “Rivals Are Forever,” is part of the TV, social media, in-stadium and retail campaign promoting the brand’s Authentic Collection (AC) on-field cap.
According to New Era, in-store, ads pay homage to other great baseball rivalries including the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers, and Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals.
The series spots will run during Yankees/Red Sox games throughout the season on ESPN, FOX, YES Network and NESN. Cable channels including Comedy Central, Adult Swim, Spike, FX, SNY and others will also participate.
Watch the first installment below, and prepare for a good laugh:
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As giveaways go, the traditional tee-shirt still gets the most traction. But, for one that might have purchased select tees from say the Baseball Hall of Fame, getting the names of players on one can be an educational endeavor, especially for kids.
That’s why when the Angels celebrates the home opener of its 50th anniversary against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, each fan will receive a commemorative T-shirt from Nitto, the high performance tire manufacturer. The front of the spiffy red shirts features the Angels’ official 50th Anniversary logo and will signify the start of a year-round celebration.
But what's certain to make this a collector's item for diehard Angels fans is the back of the shirt. That's because, in ever-so-fine print, it bears the names of all 853 Angels’ players, coaches and managers who have donned the uniform since the club’s founding in 1961.
As a bit of history, the Angels joined Major League Baseball as an expansion team in 1961 with entertainer Gene Autry as their owner. The team’s competitive history began with a 7-2 win against the Baltimore Orioles on April 11, 1961. Ted Kluszewski, a veteran slugger, clubbed two home runs to lead the way.
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LeBron James has made it known that he’s a big New York Yankees fan, but today, he’s become a partner with the Yankees most hated rival, the ownership of the Boston Red Sox.
James and his LRMR Marketing & Branding have entered into a business partnership with Fenway Sports Management who has a portfolio of sports holdings that include the Boston Red Sox, the Liverpool Football Club of the English Premier League, New England Sports Network (NESN) and 50% of Roush Fenway Racing – all of which are owned by John Henry and Tom Werner. The partnership will see FSM in an exclusive partnership with LRMR to secure global marketing and sponsorship opportunities for LeBron James.
FSM will work with the two-time NBA MVP and his business partner Maverick Carter/LRMR on James’ future business, marketing, endorsement and philanthropic endeavors all over the globe.
As part of the agreement, James and Carter will acquire a minority ownership stake in Liverpool FC.
“I am thrilled to be working with John Henry and Tom Werner,” said LeBron James. “These guys, like me, have a passion for sports. You can see the drive and commitment they have for their teams. For me, this is about being in business with an organization that loves sports as much as I do.”
“We believe this will be a powerful collaboration between FSM and LRMR and LeBron. There are very few athletes who can match his global reach, appeal and iconic status,” said Tom Werner. “We are very excited that LeBron will be part of the Liverpool FC family. LeBron and Liverpool each has a powerful presence internationally, with particular strength in Asia, but we feel the business opportunities for both working and being identified together in emerging international markets will result in unforeseen opportunities that neither would have been able to realize alone.”
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Maybe it was that scene in Bull Durham. You know, Millie and Jimmy decide to get hitched, and it happens at the ballpark.
Just short of 2 weeks after a Giants fan attending an Opening Day game at Dodger Stadium was beaten so severely that he is hospitalized in critical condition with head injuries, the Los Angeles Dodgers have announced that half-price alcoholic beverages are no longer part of the Dodgers’ Half Price Food & Drink Promotion, set to begin with the game against the Atlanta Braves on Thursday, April 21. The announcement was made one day before a press conference which will be held at Dodger Stadium outlining new security measures at the historic ballpark. The press conference will be attended by Dodger Owner and Chairman Frank McCourt, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Charlie Beck, and former LAPD Chief and Kroll Chairman William J. Bratton who has been hired by the Dodgers since the brutal beating.
