Red Sox DH David Ortiz tops the list of most popular MLB player jerseys sold on MLB.com/shop since the conclusion of the '13 World Series. The list, released Thursday, ranks Yankees SS Derek Jeter third overall but first since he announced on Feb.12 that this would be his final season. Young players also are well represented, as 12 of the top 20 are age 30 or younger and five -- Orioles 3B Manny Machado, Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig, Nationals LF Bryce Harper, Angels CF Mike Trout and Mets P Matt Harvey -- are age 25 or younger. Players representing 13 different clubs make up the top 20 (MLB). ESPN's Michael Wilbon asked if it makes sense that Ortiz had the best-selling jersey. ESPN's Tony Kornheiser: "After the World Series he had, after what he said after the Boston Marathon bombing, very popular figure" ("PTI," ESPN, 4/3).
| MLB.COM/SHOP TOP 20 PLAYER OFFSEASON JERSEY SALES RANKINGS |
| RK | PLAYER | RK | PLAYER |
| 1 | Red Sox DH David Ortiz | 11 | Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig
|
| 2 | Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia
| 12 | Nationals LF Bryce Harper
|
| 3 | Yankees SS Derek Jeter
| 13 | Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera
|
| 4 | Cardinals C Yadier Molina | 14 | Angels CF Mike Trout
|
| 5 | Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw | 15 | Mets P Matt Harvey
|
| 6 | Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen | 16 | Rangers 1B Prince Fielder
|
| 7 | Giants C Buster Posey
| 17 | Cardinals P Adam Wainwright
|
| 8 | Mets 3B David Wright
| 18 | Red Sox P Koji Uehara
|
| 9 | Mariners 2B Robinson Cano
| 19 | Rangers P Yu Darvish
|
| 10 | Orioles 3B Manny Machado
| 20 | Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury
|
GOOD AS GOLD? In Phoenix, Jay Dieffenbach wondered why D-Backs 1B Paul Goldschmidt's jersey is "not among the top 20 in sales" even though Goldschmidt was the runner-up for NL MVP last season. It "could be that the sales are just now ratcheting up and the next survey will have Goldschmidt's jersey among the top 10," but the list "shows a strong lean toward East Coast (and St. Louis) players" (
AZCENTRAL.com, 4/3).
BREAKDOWN: MLB.com's Spencer Fordin noted 17 of the top 20 players "were All-Stars last season." By position, seven of the top 20 "are infielders, five are pitchers, five are outfielders and two are catchers, with Ortiz the only designated hitter on the list" (MLB.com, 4/3).
