Hello, Wisconsin: Brewers Seeing Rise In Merchandise Sales

Brewers' On-Field Success Leads To Strong Merchandise Sales

The Brewers' on-field success "is being matched by robust merchandise sales," according to Don Walker of the MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL. Brewers Exec VP/Business Operations Rick Schlesinger said, "The sense of the marketplace is that we are ascending." MLB VP/Business PR Matt Bourne said that sales of Brewers items at MLB.com "are up 30% compared with the same period last year." Schlesinger added sales at Miller Park are up 25-30% from the year-ago period. Schlesinger: "The big sellers are the player T-shirts from Majestic. Majestic has told us we are the No. 1 team in baseball in terms of player T-shirts" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL, 8/16).

HOLLYWOOD STAR: In N.Y., Billy Witz reported the Dodgers averaged 50,391 fans for the first eight home games after acquiring LF Manny Ramirez on July 31, an increase of nearly 6,000 per game. The team has "tried to piggyback on Ramirez's popularity by stocking concession stands" with Ramirez-related items. The club has sold 5,000 Ramirez T-shirts, and Jody Hagedorn, who runs a souvenir stand at Dodger Stadium, said, "T-shirts haven't sold like this since [Hideo] Nomo and [Mike] Piazza." However, one item "that has not moved much is the long-haired Manny wig" -- only 300 had sold in the first two nights it was available (N.Y. TIMES, 8/16).