Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa top Pro Player's list of
best-selling MLB players for player-likeness merchandise,
according to Andy Bernstein of the SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL.
McGwire goods represented 50% of total sales, while Sosa
goods represented 8%. Ken Griffey, Jr., Derek Jeter and
Nomar Garciaparra rounded out Pro Player's top five sellers
(Andy Bernstein, SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/26 issue).
NOT A FREE SWINGER: In Chicago, Elliott Harris writes
that "ad ventures have been an adventure with baseball's two
most prolific home-run hitters. Mostly, it has been nothing
ventured." Burns Sports Celebrity President Bob Williams:
"I see a trend forming here with Sammy Sosa-Mark McGwire
that's not going to allow baseball to capitalize on the
tremendous publicity that happened this season ... [McGwire
is] being choosy. ... It's really too bad for baseball's
momentum going into next season that it worked out this way
... What baseball needs right now is an athlete like Sosa or
Ken Griffey, a guy who's a little bit younger, a little bit
hungrier, who wants to make his name and reputation in terms
of endorsements" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 10/27).
