As the London Series between the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees approached, we found ourselves disappointed when we did not come across any compelling promotional products to tout the occasion. All hope was not lost from a branding perspective, though, thanks to the teams competing and a little royal intervention. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex (say that 10 times fast), paid visits to the squads’ clubhouses as a part of Saturday’s action, receiving swag for their newborn, Archie.
For fans of Major League Baseball’s growing enthusiasm for promoting America’s pastime internationally, the two-game series between the longtime American League East Division rivals marked yet another home run in the billing of the sport. Among those whose passions lie not with baseball but with all things royalty, the stop by the aforementioned duo certainly led to many smiling faces as the two fraternized with arguably the game’s most well-known franchises. Finally, to spectators and viewers who have a love for baseball and monarchies, Harry and Meghan’s participation had to be like a combination of a ninth-inning grand slam in Game 7 of the World Series and a wedding involving global dignitaries.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex pose with the Boston Red Sox players
Top pic from @PBANicholls / @Reuters #DukeOfSussex #Royals #DuchessMeghan #PrinceHarry #harryandmeghan #BostonRedSox pic.twitter.com/FSYTwo6EEC— 𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕦𝕣𝕖 𝔼𝕕𝕚𝕥𝕠𝕣 (@BenJonesPicEd) June 29, 2019
To commend their hosts, the Red Sox, reigning World Series champions, and the Yankees, who hold a six-and-a-half-game lead in their division, made sure that the aristocrats could up their baby’s style, with the Boston bunch giving them a branded onesie, or babygro, as a United Kingdom publication referred to it, and the New Yorkers offering them a team shirt with the No. 19 on the back and the name “Archie” above the digits.
Since they have retired so many numbers, the Yankees are lucky that the trip across the pond occurred in 2019, as had it gone down, say, next year, they would have had to rethink their apparel gift. (Jorge Posada donned No. 20 when playing for the Bronx Bombers.) Regardless of which items they chose to thank the royals—come to think of it, wouldn’t it have been great if MLB had sent the Kansas City Royals to play in London—the Red Sox and Yankees made expected moves in giving branded goods to Harry and Meghan, as the garments will likely become mementos, especially if the Duchess, a Californian by birth, helms their upkeep.
Since the Yankees and the Red Sox hold the top-two spots on this power rankings list based on market size, they will obviously peddle plenty of merchandise as the summer unfolds, and Archie, set to turn two months old on Saturday, has each covered should the Yankees continue to sit atop the standings or if the Red Sox mount a furious second-half comeback. Enjoy, little guy!
