Major League Baseball Properties and Reebok International Ltd. have reached a multi-year, global licensing agreement which will make Reebok the MLB Authentic Collection official supplier of footwear. This new agreement brings Reebok into the Major League Baseball licensing business and further solidifies the company as one of the premier athletic footwear brands.
The Reebok MLB Authentic Collection product line, which includes both baseball and softball footwear, will feature the MLB silhouetted batter logo and will be exclusively promoted and marketed by Reebok. Starting in 2005 all Reebok-contracted Major League Baseball players, as well as other non-contracted players, managers and coaches, will wear the specially designed MLB Authentic Collection performance footwear. The agreement also allows Reebok to develop and market footwear products for MLBP in other product categories.
“We are very excited to partner with one of the preeminent global sports brands in Reebok,” said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball Properties. “Reebok is committed to building the Major League Baseball footwear business, and, given its experience and commitment, we are confident this relationship will be extremely successful.”
“We are proud to have the Reebok name associated with Major League Baseball,” said Reebok Chairman and CEO Paul Fireman. “This partnership with Major League Baseball Properties is another example of how we are continuing to build our global sports licensing business, and when combined with our other league relationships, gives us a significant presence in several of the major sports leagues in the country.”
The MLB Authentic Collection is the line of products identical to what is used on the field of play by all 30 Major League Baseball Clubs. Consisting of apparel, headwear, footwear and equipment, all products in the MLB Authentic Collection prominently feature the Major League Baseball silhouetted batter logo. The official licensees of the program each produce specific products for the line.
