From today's Cape Cod Times:
Rob Duca - MLB plays hardball with Cape League
The annual operating budget for the Cape Cod Baseball League is between $1.5 million and $2 million – not much more than the yearly salary of a backup infielder in Major League Baseball.
Yet the volunteer-staffed Cape League and the multimillion dollar MLB are locked in a struggle over money in what could be labeled a David vs. Goliath battle, with the Cape League’s $100,000 annual grant from MLB hanging in the balance.
...
MLB is also requesting an 11 percent royalty on sales next summer of existing inventory from the six Cape League teams. Nonclothing items such as coffee mugs and teddy bears that are not available through MLB vendors could no longer be sold.
Full Version: MLB puts squeeze on Cape Cod League
Gotta think Bud's hand is in this pot. What doooooch move. If I had the money, I'd give the $100k to the Cape Cod League and ask them to tell MLB to stick it.
It seems they have an out after this season:
EXCERPT - All six teams are considering changing their nicknames rather than shutting out local merchants, according to sources. But it is too late to adorn uniforms and merchandise with new logos before the June opening of the 2008 season.
Nike, Reebok or someone else should step up now (helllloooo PR) & provide new unis reflecting just the town's name.
CC League should send this message to MLB - 'Kiss off'
EXCERPT - All six teams are considering changing their nicknames rather than shutting out local merchants, according to sources. But it is too late to adorn uniforms and merchandise with new logos before the June opening of the 2008 season.
Nike, Reebok or someone else should step up now (helllloooo PR) & provide new unis reflecting just the town's name.
CC League should send this message to MLB - 'Kiss off'
A good piece by Eric Wilbur
Sooner or later, you’ll be charged a few bucks, here and there, for talking about your favorite team by name.
Sooner or later, you’ll be charged a few bucks, here and there, for talking about your favorite team by name.
This is really one of the saddest things MLB has done in a while. Cape games are my favorite part of the summer
Man, **** the mlb.
Just hearing that those 6 teams might change their nicknames sickens me. I don't know how long they have had those nickname but in my 22 years they were always the Hyannis Mets of Chatham A's. Granted I like the name Kettleers a little more but these are traditions in those towns.
What a sleazy move to make, and shutting out coffee mugs and such? Micromanaging to a ridiculous extent.
Just hearing that those 6 teams might change their nicknames sickens me. I don't know how long they have had those nickname but in my 22 years they were always the Hyannis Mets of Chatham A's. Granted I like the name Kettleers a little more but these are traditions in those towns.
What a sleazy move to make, and shutting out coffee mugs and such? Micromanaging to a ridiculous extent.
QUOTE(Kettleer @ Mar 7 2008, 06:19 PM) 
Man, **** the mlb.
Just hearing that those 6 teams might change their nicknames sickens me. I don't know how long they have had those nickname but in my 22 years they were always the Hyannis Mets of Chatham A's. Granted I like the name Kettleers a little more but these are traditions in those towns.
What a sleazy move to make, and shutting out coffee mugs and such? Micromanaging to a ridiculous extent.
Just hearing that those 6 teams might change their nicknames sickens me. I don't know how long they have had those nickname but in my 22 years they were always the Hyannis Mets of Chatham A's. Granted I like the name Kettleers a little more but these are traditions in those towns.
What a sleazy move to make, and shutting out coffee mugs and such? Micromanaging to a ridiculous extent.
I propose new names.
Bourne Braves? Bourne Ultimatums.
Hyannis Mets? Hyannis Dead Kennedys.
Chatham A's? Chatham Codpieces.
Harwich Mariners? KEEP IT! But pronounce it "Ma-REEN-ers".
Orleans Cardinals? Orleans Originals (as opposed to "New" Orleans)
Dennis Red Sox? Dennis Menaces.
There ya go.
This is a disgrace. Hopefully MLB backs off this draconian measure.
Rob Duca, Cape Cod Times - CCBL dispute confounds Vincent
Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent knows how he would handle the trademark dispute between Major League Baseball and the Cape Cod Baseball League.
"I would have everybody come to a meeting in New York, they'd all get a chance to speak, and when the meeting was over the problem would be solved," he said yesterday in a telephone interview from his winter home in Vero Beach, Fla.
...
Vincent expressed surprise at MLB's position. "I hope that somebody can step in and bring a little common sense to it," he said.
Asked if MLB is being "petty," he said, "Petty is a nice word. Stupid is a better word."
Former baseball commissioner Fay Vincent knows how he would handle the trademark dispute between Major League Baseball and the Cape Cod Baseball League.
"I would have everybody come to a meeting in New York, they'd all get a chance to speak, and when the meeting was over the problem would be solved," he said yesterday in a telephone interview from his winter home in Vero Beach, Fla.
...
Vincent expressed surprise at MLB's position. "I hope that somebody can step in and bring a little common sense to it," he said.
Asked if MLB is being "petty," he said, "Petty is a nice word. Stupid is a better word."
They got to find someway to pay Selig his 14 million dollar salary.
QUOTE(Edmund Dantes @ Mar 12 2008, 08:08 AM)
They got to find someway to pay Selig his 14 million dollar salary.
Plus his $140k in traveling expenses.
Rob Duca, Cape Cod Times - Cape League: Negotiations continue with MLB
The Cape Cod Baseball League and Major League Baseball have yet to reach a resolution to the trademark dispute involving six Cape League teams that share nicknames with MLB franchises, but there are signs an agreement could be in the works.
The Cape League was originally working under a deadline of today to sign a deal with MLB that its teams would purchase future uniforms and souvenir merchandise from MLB-licensed vendors or risk losing a $100,000 annual grant from MLB. However, Cape League president Judy Walden Scarafile said last night there is no longer a deadline that would impede progress toward a settlement.
A joint statement released yesterday by the Cape League and MLB said, "Conversations have been positive, and we are confident that a workable resolution will be reached in the near future."
The Cape Cod Baseball League and Major League Baseball have yet to reach a resolution to the trademark dispute involving six Cape League teams that share nicknames with MLB franchises, but there are signs an agreement could be in the works.
The Cape League was originally working under a deadline of today to sign a deal with MLB that its teams would purchase future uniforms and souvenir merchandise from MLB-licensed vendors or risk losing a $100,000 annual grant from MLB. However, Cape League president Judy Walden Scarafile said last night there is no longer a deadline that would impede progress toward a settlement.
A joint statement released yesterday by the Cape League and MLB said, "Conversations have been positive, and we are confident that a workable resolution will be reached in the near future."
Nate Sandals, Cape Cod Times - Cape League, MLB cut deal on names
The Cape Cod Baseball League is nearing an agreement with Major League Baseball regarding the sale of merchandise for local teams that share the name of an MLB franchise.
As of yesterday afternoon, the league and five of the six teams in question had reached an agreement with MLB, Cape League president Judy Walden Scarafile said.
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Brewster player remains in serious condition But with one team still holding out, the other five teams and the league must wait to announce the agreement, delaying what appears to be an amicable conclusion to a three-month long conflict.
Scarafile called the holdout a "non-story" but said she would be "very happy" when the agreement was finalized.
Scarafile would not say which team was holding out. Nor would she release the terms or length of the agreement that had been reached. "We have a very workable agreement with Major League Baseball," Scarafile said.
The six teams that have to reach an agreement with MLB are the Bourne Braves, the Chatham A's, the Harwich Mariners, the Hyannis Mets, the Orleans Cardinals and the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Four Cape League teams do not share their names with MLB franchises.
...
A joint statement released by the Cape League and MLB on March 20 said, "Conversations have been positive, and we are confident that a workable resolution will be reached in the near future."
MLB also wanted the six Cape League teams to pay an 11 percent royalty fee for remaining inventory sold this summer. Under the proposed agreement, that royalty fee would not be paid by the six teams this summer, Scarafile said yesterday.
MLB has raised the issue of using its teams' names in amateur leagues across the country. MLB contends that it must protect the value of contracts it has reached with licensed merchandise providers.
Most amateur leagues and teams across the country have been working with MLB on a year-to-year basis.
"We've been dealing with it for two years," said Paul Welker, general manager of the Hornell (N.Y.) Dodgers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
The Cape Cod Baseball League is nearing an agreement with Major League Baseball regarding the sale of merchandise for local teams that share the name of an MLB franchise.
As of yesterday afternoon, the league and five of the six teams in question had reached an agreement with MLB, Cape League president Judy Walden Scarafile said.
Related Stories
Brewster player remains in serious condition But with one team still holding out, the other five teams and the league must wait to announce the agreement, delaying what appears to be an amicable conclusion to a three-month long conflict.
Scarafile called the holdout a "non-story" but said she would be "very happy" when the agreement was finalized.
Scarafile would not say which team was holding out. Nor would she release the terms or length of the agreement that had been reached. "We have a very workable agreement with Major League Baseball," Scarafile said.
The six teams that have to reach an agreement with MLB are the Bourne Braves, the Chatham A's, the Harwich Mariners, the Hyannis Mets, the Orleans Cardinals and the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Four Cape League teams do not share their names with MLB franchises.
...
A joint statement released by the Cape League and MLB on March 20 said, "Conversations have been positive, and we are confident that a workable resolution will be reached in the near future."
MLB also wanted the six Cape League teams to pay an 11 percent royalty fee for remaining inventory sold this summer. Under the proposed agreement, that royalty fee would not be paid by the six teams this summer, Scarafile said yesterday.
MLB has raised the issue of using its teams' names in amateur leagues across the country. MLB contends that it must protect the value of contracts it has reached with licensed merchandise providers.
Most amateur leagues and teams across the country have been working with MLB on a year-to-year basis.
"We've been dealing with it for two years," said Paul Welker, general manager of the Hornell (N.Y.) Dodgers of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.
Katie Thomas - In Cape Cod League, It’s Tradition vs. Trademark
“To your average Joe, it is probably the most pure baseball you can watch,” said Damon Collins, the owner of Advanced Embroidery, a Cape Cod business that supplies many of the teams with T-shirts and other merchandise. “It’s Americana at its supreme.”
Now, Cape Cod teams are being forced to choose between maintaining a link with the major leagues and remaining true to their homespun heritage. In the case of the Chatham Athletics, homespun is winning out. The team has changed its name to the Anglers to sidestep a trademark dispute with Major League Baseball. The teams have a Nov. 1 deadline to abandon their names or purchase team uniforms and merchandise exclusively through licensed vendors.
“We found that too constrictive,” said Peter Troy, Chatham’s president. “We have longstanding relationships with local vendors.”
I understand the trademark issue, and it really wouldn't hurt the teams much because they could get donations to cover costs, it is the way the MLB is going about it, threatening to take away the grant, throwing this 11 percent royalty at them and most importantly taking business away from people like the members of my family's golf course that screen print out of their house. And countless others that create mugs and posters and any number of things that aren't MLB sanctioned and from MLB vendors. Now they can't provide those and won't be making any summer money off of it.
It all seems so unnecessary and heavy handed.
It all seems so unnecessary and heavy handed.
Will these rules eventually reach little league? When I played Tee-Ball and little league, we used MLB team names (I was on the Yankees for a year or two, which I believe was specially constructed to be the worst team in town). I always thought having local companies sponsor the teams was better anyway (probably because I was on the Yankees), although I don't know anything about the legal/financial issues involved.
QUOTE (MoVaughn.Org @ Oct 24 2008, 11:50 AM)
(I was on the Yankees for a year or two, which I believe was specially constructed to be the worst team in town).
Are you secretly me?
I was on the Yankees. Our uniforms were shit brown with piss yellow lettering. And in my first season we went 0 and however many games we played. We did not have a mercy rule. We lost one game 35-0.
I didn't care for it much at the time (Actually, I had nothing but bad experiences playing Little League. It's a wonder that I even like baseball at all.), but that's the way it should be if you're going to make someone be the Yankees.
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