MLB Enterprises CEO Greg Murphy "is poised" to unveil a
package of "major deals with new sponsors" in the coming
days and MLB wants to make a "big splash" with the
announcement, according to Tom Haudricourt of the MILWAUKEE
JOURNAL SENTINEL. A management source said Visa, PepsiCo,
and Microsoft are "among those companies ready to jump on
board." Among current sponsors, True Value will sponsor
Opening Day activities in 20 cities, with souvenir baseballs
for fans. Chris Cantwell, account supervisor at Sports
Partners, a Chicago ad agency that represents True Value,
said they will spend "well in excess of seven figures" on
ads and promos this year (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 2/15).
In Atlanta, Dave Kindred followed Murphy at The Super Show,
where Murphy said he has "three national sponsors" ready to
put $150M into MLB (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 2/16).
LEADING OFF: In Chicago, Jerome Holtzman wrote on MLB
using executive firm Eastman and Beaudine to lead the search
for a new commissioner. Holtzman: "It doesn't appear a new
and 'permanent' czar will be chosen before the All-Star
Game, if then" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/16). Former MLB
Commissioners Fay Vincent and Peter Ueberroth spoke on the
state of the game to Pedro Gomez of the SACRAMENTO BEE.
Ueberroth: "Baseball has survived two world wars and will
certainly survive this very poor leadership period that's
been in place over the number of years. That's not to
criticize (Acting Commissioner Bud) Selig. The leadership
is really the owners and all the agents and legal and labor
representatives." Vincent, on corporate ownership in MLB:
"It's difficult with corporate ownership. Their interest is
to make money. That's a hard thing to do in baseball, where
the focusing isn't on generating an instant return on an
investment. I'm just not sure anyone knows where the game
is headed" (SACRAMENTO BEE/DETROIT NEWS, 2/15).
