Are the Dodgers the most popular team in the National League?

The Dodgers posted a losing record last year, for the first time in five years. Manny Ramirez was indifferent, injured and ultimately waived. Joe Torre left a contract extension on the table. The McCourt divorce proceedings enveloped the season, with damaging revelations about how the owners spent money on themselves that might otherwise have gone to improve the team.

Does this sound like the most popular team in the National League? If the standard is the sale of licensed merchandise, the answer is yes.

According to this news release from Major League Baseball, the Dodgers trailed only the (shock) New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the sale of officially licensed products last year.

The Philadelphia Phillies ranked fourth, followed by the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals. The Chicago White Sox, Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins and Detroit Tigers rounded out the top 10. MLB did not release rankings for the other 20 teams, including the Angels.

If your initial assumption is that Ramirez jerseys still sold well last year, then guess again. The release also includes the top 20 best-selling MLB jerseys last year, and Ramirez's name is not on that list.

Derek Jeter ranks first, followed by Joe Mauer, Roy Halladay, Chase Utley, Cliff Lee and Albert Pujols. The NL West is represented by two players, both from the San Francisco Giants: Tim Lincecum at No. 10, and Buster Posey at No. 19.

On the surface, it would not appear to be good news that none of the Dodger players were popular enough for that list. But the list of team sales rankings offers hope for the Dodgers' future.

If fans are still buying Dodgers gear at a league-leading rate, then even an incredibly turbulent year does not appear to have permanently damaged the team's stature (or brand, as the MBA-types say). When the Dodgers' ownership situation is resolved, and when the team wins again, Dodger blue ought to generate plenty of green.

-- Bill Shaikin

Comments

[ty]

This is exactly why Frank will not sell. The "fans" keep supporting his mismanagement of this organization. So much for that boycott I keep reading about.

[Skyharbor]

Anyone who thinks the current Dodgers are the most popular team in the National League is barking up the wrong statistic. There is only one list that is going to return the Dodgers (and fans) to their glory days and that is the list of shareholders. We are talking about a team STILL trying to unload opening day tickets. How popular is that?

[Scott]

How much of this is from sales of baseball caps and other gear with the LA logo? I suspect this reflects the popularity of the logo itself rather than the popularity of the team. And not just the Dodgers, but Yankees, Giants and other popular logos. I've seen plenty of NY Yankee baseball caps but few jerseys, clothing proclaiming them World Series Champs, etc. 

[alanw19]

Beauty of statistics - you can make them say whatever you desire.

The Dodgers are certainly not the most popular destination for the most valuable of free agents or trade acquisitions.

[OldBrooklynFan]

Except for an occasional note on the "sorry state of the McCourts", nothing much else is mention about this team in my morning papers.

[Skyharbor]

Good news for Frank....Forbes says Dodgers value has increased by $70,000,000.

Bad news for Frank......He now owes Jamie another $35,000,000

[Campy]

Could the fact that an overwhelming number of gangs across the country wear Dodger blue have anything to do with it?

[Striker]

"According to this news release from Major League Baseball, the Dodgers trailed only the (shock) New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox in the sale of officially licensed products last year."

The operative words here are LAST YEAR.

Boycott, NOW!

[Rocky]

I will say I'm not a fan of Frank McCourt, but being a GM in any sport is much harder than being an owner. Cubs GM was heralded for the Soriano 8 year $127 million dollar signing. Now with 4 years left he might not be their everyday starter. I think 5 years is about the most you should ever give a guy unless he is the best like Albert Pujols. Good 80% of all the $100 million dollar contracts have been busts.

[KoufaxFan]

The interlocking LA logo does it and their rich history. McCrap has ruined the Dodger mystique, pride & tradition but has kept the interlocking LA logo.

[KoufaxFan]

The interlocking LA logo is the 3rd most recognizable logo in all of sports, behind the Dallas Cowboys star & Yankees NY.

[JM]

Very misleading! Reason being that gangmembers where LA apparel. More than half of every suspect description has a male wearing a Dodgers hat, or Dodgers jacket, etc. Funny thing is, the majority of those idiots couldn't tell you the name of a single Dodger...I swear!

[Dodgers R Irrelevant]

Idiots abound!

and misery loves company ...

[Joe]

I guess according to some of these posts every Latino with a LA Dodger hat is a gangmemmber. These poor excuses for human beings are all ignorant and racist! Latinos support the Dodgers and that's that! It's called loyalty to a team. By going with that same stupid theory I would guess every person wearing a suit is a corporate criminal!

[HighSkoolStuff]

geesh, this "popular" stufF ought to play well in high skoolZ, butt most grown-ups (THANKFULLY) outgrow such non-cents (& those who sadly neva do are then-called "politicians"!!!).........

& what's up neXt, who's the dods "BFF"????

[JM]

"ignorant and racist" - Joe
Here we go... not one person has said a thing about race or Hispanics, with the exception of you, Joe. Last I checked gangmembers are/could be any race, or any color under the rainbow. Who is the one being ignorant and racist here?

Striker is right, bottom line is boycott Dodger gear altogether and whatever is keeping this current regime afloat, its the only way we can get our team back... yes Joe, no matter what race you may be.