A month after the Nationals cut ties with Papa John's after comments made by Founder John Schnatter, the team said that it has "re-established the relationship." In Louisville, Kate Talerico noted the Nationals help "promote discounts on Papa John's pizza." In return, Papa John's donates 10% of the "discounted purchase price to the Nationals Youth Baseball Academy." Several teams have "started to restore" their partnerships with Papa John's, including the Yankees, Orioles and Twins (Louisville COURIER-JOURNAL, 8/18).
HITCH A RIDE: The Indians named Lyft as their "official ride-share partner" in a deal that runs through '19. In Cleveland, Marc Bona notes the deal "began with this weekend's series" against the Orioles. The Indians and the Cardinals are the only MLB teams with "exclusive Lyft agreements" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 8/20).
NO CUBS NO: In Chicago, Robert Channick noted a lifelong Cubs fan is "crying foul" over the team’s marketing of a '16 World Series ivy leaf commemorative, an idea he "allegedly invented more than 30 years earlier." Dan Fox "struck a deal with the Cubs" during the team’s '84 playoff run, "partnering on an ivy leaf commemorative to celebrate a rare division championship after decades of futility." Fox was “'aghast' when the team rolled out an ivy leaf commemorative" in spring '17. He said that it was "'stunningly' similar to the one he had created" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 8/18).
