MLB Franchise Notes: White Sox Design Campaign Around New Manager

In Chicago, Ed Sherman noted the White Sox' slogan for '12 is "Appreciate the Game," and Senior VP/Sales & Marketing Brooks Boyer said that he "understands the risks involved in the slogan." In '05, when the "slogan was 'Win or die trying,' nobody made fun of it when the Sox won the World Series." Sherman: "But last year's 'All in' was a disaster." Boyer said, "That's the risk you take." He added that the new slogan "will make more sense once the team rolls out its TV ad campaign later this month." The slogan is "based on new manager Robin Ventura's approach to the game," and Boyer said that the upcoming campaign will feature Ventura "preaching this philosophy" (CHICAGOBUSINESS.com, 2/13).

BACK IN THE NEST: In Baltimore, Jack Lambert reports the Orioles will be handling their "marketing in house this season." The club's marketing had previously been handled by the Baltimore-based Leffler Agency. Orioles Dir of Communications Greg Bader noted that the team "could look for a new advertising agency soon." Bader: "We'll consider that on a year-by-year basis. Even a month-by-month basis is not out of the question" (BALTIMORE BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/10 issue). 

FIVE GUYS: In West Palm Beach, Joe Capozzi reports the Marlins are "un-retiring the No. 5 so left fielder Logan Morrison can wear it to honor his father, but the family of the Marlins' first team president isn't happy about it." Carl Barger served as team president from '91 until his death in December '92, and the Marlins "retired No. 5 before the franchise's first game" in '93 in Barger's honor. Marlins President David Samson said that it was his "understanding that the Barger family had signed off on the plan." But Barger's daughter said that neither she "nor her mother and sister has heard from the team" (PALM BEACH POST, 2/14).

PRINCE PAYING OFF: In Michigan, James Schmehl noted two weeks after the Tigers signed 1B Prince Fielder, team President & GM Dave Dombrowski said that the club has "already surpassed last year's full-season ticket sales." Tigers officials confirmed Friday that this year's ticket sales "have exceeded the 15,002 and 13,300 tickets sold in 2011 and 2010 respectively" (MLIVE.com, 2/11).