It’s Labor Day, time for a few notes and shout out.
Dated Tees. Last week at the US Open a longtime colleague of mine pointed out that a majority of the tee-shirts now being sold did not have the year on them. He mentioned as an annual visitor it was a source of pride to pick one up and then wear and look back over the years. Other than one or two, and the ones with the tournament’s Althea Gibson artwork, sure enough, most were generic. I thought that was unusual until during a Friday podcast recording with MLS’ Chris Blivin, who oversees a good deal of the collectable memorabilia strategy for the league, he pointed out that in a mass market one location event like the US Open, the risk you run in leftover inventory is still very high, even with an on demand economy. There is really no way for a mass event to print on demand in large quantities and in quality, so having no date actually plays in their favor. Now for an on demand online service like Fanatics, it’s different. They print as the orders come in, so there is little waste. He also pointed out that a majority of fans looking for souvenirs to gift people prefer no date. After all, the recipient wasn’t there, so wouldn’t he/she/they want something timeless? Now it’s different say, for a team that has a longer run, or a concert tour that can print and then use for multiple dates throughout the year. But for an event like The Masters or the US Open, keep the date sequence by color or memory or purchase the artwork. It makes much more sense.
Anyone wanna have a catch for a record? Ther is no simpler bonding experience than a simple game of catch, and The Yogi Berra Museum and Learning Center wants to make sure everyone gets to celebrate one more time for the Yogi Berra Centennial. On Sept. 21 at Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, NJ, fans of any age can come out to participate in “Yogi’s Big Catch Challenge,” an official attempt to break the Guinness world record for the largest game of catch. The proceeds go to the learning center, with the hope that several thousand show up to set a new mark. Nothing better to do on a Jersey Sunday.
Fans for the Cure: Lastly, September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, and our friends at Fans for the Cure have come up with another fun challenge to raised awareness and funds. Mets bench coach John Gibbons created the Fighting .474’s (Gibbons hit 9 for 19 for that average during the Amazin’s ’86 Championship season) and has donated for every Mets homer and win this season. Now the program is being expanded for hopefully, a playoff push in Flushing, and fans can donate with Gibbons, just $1.00 for every Mets homer and win in the month of September. Who knows maybe it will help tur things around. For details email info@fansforthecure.org.
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