Tuesday, March 4, 1997 | 11:59 a.m.
In a union of pinstripes and three stripes, the New York Yankees and adidas are joining in a marketing deal that could spark competition for corporate money among baseball teams.
The sponsorship deal announced Monday is said to be worth about $95 million for 10 years, giving adidas the right to put its name and logo all over Yankee Stadium.
Details were not released, and it is not clear if it violates the Yankees' agreements with Major League Baseball Properties Inc., the licensing wing of the sport. But the deal is likely to set off a scramble among the large-market teams to sign similar agreements.
"Does this mean I should go out and make my own deal?" one National League team president said on the condition he not be identified.
Just as Greg Murphy, baseball's new marketing head, was detailing the sport's new marketing plan, the Yankees finalized their announcement, another sign of the collapse of central authority in the sport.
"A significant component of this arrangement will be the association of adidas in and around Yankee Stadium to further the presence of adidas in the New York market," the team and the company said in a joint statement.
"Adidas and the Yankees will also collaborate on joint programs involving certain athletic equipment and apparel. All facets of the Yankees media, signage and publications outlets will be used to strengthen the association between the two companies."
The deal does not cover the actual uniforms, one adidas official said on the condition he not be identified. MLBP sells uniform licensing rights, and they are held by Russell Corp. under a contract that ends following the 1997 season.
However, the Yankees and adidas intend to publicize their relationship and tie their identities to such an extent that the team's uniform rights might not be desired as much by other sporting goods companies.
"Obviously, until and when we see the deal, any comment coming from me would be most inappropriate," acting commissioner Bud Selig said.
The agreement also does not cover shoes, said the official of adidas, known for its three-stripe logo. Under the settlement of a grievance filed in 1982 by the players association against the Cincinnati Reds, each player is free to make his own shoe deal and display whatever equipment mark he chooses on their shoes.
The Yankees and the company signed the deal last weekend, the adidas official said. The agreement between major league teams and MLBP requires clubs to clear sponsorship deals in advance with baseball officials before they are signed, but the Yankees apparently did not do so.
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