Unused Championship Merchandise, Where Does It Go?

[SoCal Pinstriper]

NPR details the final resting place of all of those unused championship hats and Ts on a sport by sport basis.

Each league has its own policy. Major League Baseball prints up victory merchandise in three phases: for each league's division and Wild Card winners (eight teams total); for each pennant winner; and for the World Series champ. MLB prints fewer than 200 sets of hats and shirts per event. If they do have to print up merchandise for both teams, like when the World Series is tied 3-3, the losing team's shirts and hats get shredded to avoid confusion and embarrassment.

Other leagues donate the extra apparel. The National Football League prepares approximately 300 sets of merchandise for each conference-championship winner and the Super Bowl victor. That means there will be at least 900 hats and shirts commemorating a win that didn't happen. The NFL donates that merchandise to World Vision, a charity that passes the apparel to people in impoverished, war-torn, or otherwise needy countries.

http://www.slate.com/id/2133753/
I really didn't know that NPR had anyone on their staff that followed sports.

[Tifoso]

I really didn't know that NPR had anyone on their staff that followed sports.

Or anything, for that matter.

[Big_E]

Imagine all those poor people in Africa running around with Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl Champions T-Shirts.

[penfold]

Waste not, want not

[yankees27]

I think it's great that the unused merchandise is given to impoverished countries. I'm sure it goes to great use after natural disasters, when people are displaced without clothes.

[jonnyc39]

I saw a piece about this elsewhere a while back. Selig really should rethink the "shredding" approach.

[Smithers]

back when i was interning at SI, my boss had a Carolina Panthers Super Bowl Champion hat in his office.

it took every ounce of conscience not to steal it.

[SuperMario66]

It would be strange to see someone wearing a piece of merchandise commemorating something that never happened. I like that they give it to charity though.

[WTrain44]

Imagine all those poor people in Africa running around with Buffalo Bills, Super Bowl Champions T-Shirts.

They think they are the champs!
I thought MLB did the same thing... I always figured that poor kids all over the world though the Braves were a dynasty. They should jump on the donation train instead of shredding them.

[WTrain44]

It would be strange to see someone wearing a piece of merchandise commemorating something that never happened. I like that they give it to charity though.

I have a 1994 World Series ball.

[yankeesAZ]

A friend of mine here in Seattle has M's 2001 WS Tickets.

[NYDCYankee]

I used to intern for World Vision and I never knew they did that. That's pretty cool.

They are kind of like error cards. I would like to get my hands on a 2004 Yankees American League Championship shirt. I should make some calls.

[SoCal Pinstriper]

I used to intern for World Vision and I never knew they did that. That's pretty cool.

They are kind of like error cards. I would like to get my hands on a 2004 Yankees American League Championship shirt. I should make some calls.

There are several (Yankee related) from recent years that I would not want. That one tops the list.

[grsharky27]

I have some unused Red Sox World Series tickets from 98 and 99..lol. I remember right after the 2004 ALCS, MLB accidently put a 2004 AL champs t-shirt on their website for the Yankees. I still have the screen shot some place.