In Buffalo, Samantha Maziarz Christmann notes for the second year in a row, New Era will "produce limited-edition headgear whose sales will benefit cancer research and patient care programs at Roswell Park Cancer Institute." The royal blue cap is "emblazoned with the word 'BELIEVE,' with the letters that spell out the word 'LIVE' embroidered in oversize white letters." The cap is "available in men’s, women’s and children’s sizes, as well as several styles and a knit version." About 300 caps are "expected to be produced" (BUFFALO NEWS, 4/17).
EASTERN FRONT: Hanmi Financial yesterday announced that it has signed Reds CF Shin-Soo Choo and Dodgers P Hyun-Jin Ryu to endorsement deals. Choo's deal is a two-year extension of an agreement originally signed in '11. Ryu inked a six-year agreement. The bank will engage in marketing efforts featuring the two athletes, both of whom are from South Korea (Hanmi Financial).
LIFETIME OF LOYALTY: Baseball writer Murray Chass noted Michigan-based Eternal Image Group last week announced the "availability of a line of memorial products licensed by" MLB. Eternal Image Managing Partner & VP/Licensing & Brand Communication Clint Mytych said the cost will be "$2,399 for MLB caskets and $599 for MLB urns." The use of team logos for caskets "isn’t new, but the arrangement is." The MLB caskets and urns are "distributed by" Indianapolis-based Buchanan Private Label, which also is the "parent company of Fewell Monuments, which builds monuments with team logos" (MURRAYCHASS.com, 4/14).
MIX & MATCH: Dodgers LF Carl Crawford said that his agent "received a call from the league office instructing him not to wear either the blue or white special edition Nike Jordan PEs in a game again." ESPN L.A.'s Mark Saxon noted Crawford "got the idea to wear one blue shoe and one white shoe" after seeing Phillies SS Jimmy Rollins "had changed shoes between his at-bats Monday night." It is "likely a fine will be forthcoming" (ESPNLA.com, 4/16).
