MLB Says Sales Of Playoff Gear Off To A Fast Start

Stores Having Trouble Keeping Up With Demand For Rockies Merchandise

MLB playoff merchandise “is selling so fast that [MLB] is having a hard time keeping up,” as the combination of “big markets, rabid fan bases and potential storybook endings is pushing memorabilia sales,” according to the AP’s Randy Pennell.  MLB Senior VP/Licensing Howard Smith: “We never give out numbers, but suffice it to say it is at a record pace, for sure. We’re struggling to keep up with the demand as we speak.”  Smith said that MLB during a typical playoff year “might see the postseason produce about 5[%] of its merchandise sales,” but that “could be as high as 20[%]” this season.  Pennell reported the Sportsfan location across from Coors Field had not received Rockies playoff apparel, and assistant manager Clayton Reed said that the phone “has been ringing off the hook from people requesting the merchandise.” Earl Shaevitz, a co-owner of the Sports World store across from Wrigley Field, said, “Internet sales are through the roof. We can’t even keep up with it, selling all over the country and to Europe.” (AP, 10/3).

ROCKIES: In Denver, David Migoya writes with the Rockies winning 14 of their last 15 games to earn the NL Wild Card, many local stores that carry MLB-licensed apparel “had a rough time ... keeping up with the demand.”  After Monday’s play-in game win against the Padres, Rockies fans “so badly wanted anything with a Rockies logo that all eight Sportsfan stores in Colorado were sold out of thongs and panties by midday -- except the extra-larges.” Pete Martinez, manager of a Sportsfan store in Denver, said, “People were waiting outside the door first thing [Tuesday] morning. And it wasn’t much different at all our other stores.” Playoff-related items were expected to arrive yesterday. New Era VP/Brand Communication John DeWaal said that the “driver of merchandise volume for each team ... is fan interest.” However, Migoya noted teams with a short history, like the Rockies, “aren’t in demand as much as long-standing teams” like the Red Sox and Yankees, and that can “affect production and sales volumes” (DENVER POST, 10/3).