Rangers P Yu Darvish has reached a multiyear deal with Topps that "grants the company exclusive rights for autographed trading and game-used memorabilia cards." The deal, announced yesterday, is the first in the U.S. for Darvish. Topps will also "use Darvish for social media and on packaging and promotion for the company's products" (AP, 3/5). BECKETT.com's Chris Olds noted Darvish's "first autograph will arrive in '2012 Topps Tribute,' which arrives later this week." Those cards will be "redemptions and limited to just 25 copies as part of the exclusive deal covering autograph, memorabilia, insert and base cards" (BECKETT.com, 3/5).
MUTUAL BENEFIT: In Detroit, Brent Snavely wrote Chrysler's Ram Brand CEO Fred Diaz had no idea the Red Wings would break the NHL’s record for “consecutive home wins when the Ram marketing team negotiated to sponsor a special-edition truck for the Wings.” Diaz said, “The initial plan was to do 1,000, and that ended up being a gross underestimation.” Now area dealers “expect to sell nearly 2,000 of the $36,684 Red Wings Ram.” While the truck “benefits from the added sales, the Wings benefit from the advertising.” Ram has “run a commercial called 'Ram vs. Mule,' comparing the toughness of the truck with the toughness” of Red Wing F Johan Franzen, whose nickname is the Mule. Olympia Entertainment President & CEO Tom Wilson said, “Every once in a while, from a partnership point of view, you catch lightning in a bottle” (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/5).
SCRATCHED START: THATSRACIN.com’s Jim Utter reported NASCAR driver Elliott Sadler “will not be doing five Sprint Cup races this season for Michael Waltrip Racing after all.” Over the weekend, MWR announced Sadler “would drive the No. 55 Toyota in five of the races this season not on Mark Martin's schedule.” By Sunday night, “rumors were flying the deal was off and Sadler on Monday confirmed he was no longer driving for MWR in an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio” (THATSRACIN.com, 3/5).
