MLB teams usually are "not allowed to use a player's name or image until he makes the 40-man major league roster, as those players are not considered part of the union," but Tim Tebow "signed a bridge agreement with the official jersey supplier Majestic Athletic last week, which allows the company to merchandise him before he makes the majors," according to sources cited by Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. Products with Tebow's name and jersey No. 15 started appearing on the Mets' online shop over the weekend, and the site is currently "selling a pinstriped Mets replica jersey in both men's and women's cuts; a couple of jersey T-shirts are available in men's and women's sizes." As Tebow yesterday morning took the field for the instructional league in Port St. Lucie, Fla., a golf cart full of his jerseys was seen "making its way to the field." Mets Exec Dir of Communications Harold Kaufman said that there are "currently no Tebow items being sold at Citi Field" (ESPN.com, 9/19). ABC’s T.J. Holmes notes the Mets when theu signed Tebow earlier this month claimed it "not a publicity stunt, this was not a merchandising scheme.” But Holmes displayed a No. 15 uniform and said, "For $119.99, you too can have your very own Mets Tebow jersey.” When he was asked Tebow’s strengths are as a baseball player, Holmes said, “He’s a seat filler. He’s Tim Tebow, he brings in the crowd” (“GMA,” ABC, 9/20).
TEBOW-MANIA: USA TODAY's A.J. Perez notes Tebow "presents the rare case of a player not on the active or 40-man rosters who has the marketing appeal to sell jerseys." Teams' 40-man rosters typically "consist of the active roster and disabled list, and top prospects closest to the major leagues." The MLBPA will "occasionally -- albeit rarely" -- enter into bridge agreements for players "expected to make a major league roster" (USA TODAY, 9/20). USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale notes the Mets’ minor-league complex yesterday was "swarming with 70 media members, a hovering news helicopter, and 577 fans, many wearing the new Mets Tebow jerseys" (USA TODAY, 9/20). ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick noted the activity surrounding Tebow was a "stark contrast to the typical quiet of the Florida Instructional League scene." Mets Florida Operations Dir Paul Taglieri said, "It's usually crickets" (ESPN.com, 9/19). In N.Y., David Waldstein notes not even Baseball HOFer Mike Piazza, at the height of his fame with the Mets, "drew this kind of attention" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/20). ESPN's Pedro Gomez added, "I’ve been covering baseball 30 years and I’ve never been to an instructional league before" (MIAMI HERALD, 9/20).
