Shop Talk

Check Out Line: Play on Fenway Park grass … in your yard

Check out where Scotts is staking out new turf.

ScottsMiracle-Gro, the No. 1 U.S. lawn-care company, is taking a swing at winning over baseball fans with its latest sponsorship deal, which allows customers to buy the same grass seed and fertilizer used to grow the lush, green fields at the ballparks of such teams as the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox.

Scotts has signed a multiyear, multimillion-dollar deal with Major League Baseball that includes licensed products, baseball-themed advertising and partnerships with eight of the teams. A source close to the deal who asked not to be identified said Scotts’ annual commitments are in the high seven figures, with overall spending on baseball in the eight figures.

“It’s a powerful feeling when you walk through the concourse and see that emerald green field in front of you,” Scotts brand manager John Price said of entering a ballpark.

“I don’t mean to get Field of Dreams-ish, but it’s a powerful emotion for consumers and really tapping into that emotion and showing off what Scotts products can do, there’s no better product showcase than that,” he said in a telephone interview.

MLB officials are also excited, given how the weak economy has hurt corporate spending on sponsorships. They expect 2010 league sponsorship revenue to rise double-digits percentage wise.

Free tacos for baseball fans

If your favorite baseball team is not playing in this year’s World Series, please accept a free taco as a consolation prize.

For the second consecutive year, Major League Baseball sponsor Taco Bell is giving away millions of free tacos as part of its “Steal a base, steal a taco” campaign that offers free tacos after the first base is stolen in the World Series.

For four hours on Tuesday, the fast-food chain will hand out one free taco to every person who shows up at its U.S. restaurants.

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Jason Bartlett stole second base in the bottom of the fifth inning of Game 1 of the 2008 World Series, netting free tacos for people with time to stand in line. On Monday, heavy rains forced a suspension of Game 5.

This year’s series pits the Philadelphia Phillies against the Tampa Bay Rays — a matchup that lacks the big name appeal of teams from Boston, Los Angeles, New York or Chicago.

Last fall, Boston Red Sox center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury stole second base in the bottom of the fourth inning of game 2.

(Photo: Taco Bell)