MLB Marketing Notes: BofA Launches Credit Card Reward Points

With the MLB All-Star Game set for tomorrow, second-year MLB sponsor DHL will take the wraps off a second-half marketing platform today in Pittsburgh. The delivery service is sponsoring "Hometown Heroes,” a program that will allow fans to elect the top "hero” in the history of their favorite MLB franchise, with both on- and off-field contributions used as criteria. IMG is DHL's sports marketing agency. Fans will be able to vote at DHL.com or at DHL stores (Terry Lefton, THE DAILY).

BofA: Bank of America launched the MLB Extra Bases credit card, which allows customers to “redeem their rewards points for World Series tickets or the opportunity to throw the ceremonial first pitch” at an MLB game (BIZJOURNALS.com, 7/7).

WATCH THE RIVER FLOW: In a “bit of guerilla-style marketing,” Pennsylvania-based Consol Energy is attaching two, 100-foot lighted signs to one of its barges, which “is supposed to travel up and down Pittsburgh’s rivers with an occasional docking on the Allegheny River near” PNC Park, which is hosting events around the MLB All-Star Game. The signs will carry messages like, “This coal creates enough energy to cook every hot dog ever served at baseball’s big game.” Pittsburgh-based ad agency Blattner Brunner handled the creative (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 7/8).

FOR MORE: See today’s Closing Bell and this week’s SportsBusiness Journal for more on sponsor activation around this week’s All-Star events.