(Getty Images)
Last year on this very date I posted proudly regarding The Brewers Bar’s sponsorship of the player pages of current Milwaukee catcher Jonathan Lucroy and former Brewer Charlie Moore on Baseball-Reference.com.
A year ago the prospect that Lucroy would go unsponsored on B-Ref when all that was required was $60 was too much to bear. Well, times have changed…
Lucroy, after a 2014 campaign in which he solidified his place as the heart, soul and face of the franchise, is now worth a whopping $150 in sponsorship contribution, which sadly I cannot abide.
As much as I support Lucroy’s variety of cool beards, quiet, brooding leadership, and pitch framing…and adore the 2014 numbers which included several career highs (176 hits, 53 doubles, 66 walks) that’s a pretty penny for a little advert.
What’s interesting is that part of the impetus for sponsoring Lucroy a year ago, aside from the fact that he’s the golden child, was that baseball bastard and former Brewer Yuni Betancourt had the same going rate as Lucroy ($60). That seemed criminally misguided and incongruous.
Apparently the wizards at B-Ref agree, because Yuni B’s sponsorship requirement is now a mere $25.
Striking me as somewhat screwy and strange is that the page featuring “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks, who recently passed away, is unsponsored. In addition, the sponsorship requirement for the Banks page is $135, less than Lucroy’s. That seems a bit out of whack, but I’m not sure how they come up with such figures.
One of our sister (brother?) blogs on the Bloguin network, Obstructed View, had some nice thoughts and collected tweets regarding the legendary Mr. Banks in a post Saturday.
According to the Chicago Tribune, Ernie Banks had his first multi-homer game against Milwaukee (Braves) at Wrigley in 1954. He also appeared in the ’55 All-Star Game at County Stadium, and was voted the NL MVP in ’58 despite the Cubs finishing 20 games behind Milwaukee. Did not know.
After a cursory search through the Baseball-Reference player pages, though, it’s easier to understand why Ernie Banks, Roberto Clemente ($255), Paul Molitor ($255), Lou Gehrig ($405) and soon Lucroy are among the unsponsored on Baseball-Reference. Sponsorship becomes a weightier and therefore more expensive proposition when a player is elevated in status by his exemplary play on the field and perhaps impact beyond the field as well.
In any case, I can still afford Charlie Moore and the associated fee of $10. That’s something to smile about. I won’t miss that six-pack of 9% ABV beer, and Charlie will be with us another year.
Also unsponsored (and overpriced): Yadi Molina.
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