Foam Asterisk A Home Run With Fans But Baseball Balks at the Effort



Despite a good measure of popularity, a number of retailers and manufacturers have declined to sell or produce a 's8220;foam fan asterisk's8221; for fear of upsetting Major League Baseball.



Los Angeles movie producer Tom Wilson says, 's8220;I love baseball, that's8217;s why I's8217;m doing this.'s8221; Wilson is the inventor of the 's8220;Foam Asterisk.'s8221; The Foam Asterisk is a 's8220;#1 foam finger's8221; type of product that is molded in the shape of an asterisk. The 16's8221; x 16's8221; foam asterisk can be worn by baseball fans who wish to show their dissatisfaction with the baseball's8217;s steroid era.

Wilson first approached Major League Baseball to check their interest. He took his product to the New York Mets in April. 's8220;I understood when they declined, if baseball doesn's8217;t want to sell the asterisk in their ballparks, that's8217;s their business.'s8221; Wilson then contacted several retailers near Major League stadiums; they passed on carrying the asterisk. 's8220;One even said he needed Major League Baseball (MLB) approval for what he carries in his store! I's8217;m guessing that they just don's8217;t want to piss off Major League Baseball,'s8221; said Wilson.

An internet site that sells the asterisk, www.756myasterisk.com, has had steady sales according to Wilson. 's8220;The Newsday and ESPN.com coverage helped create some good traction and an interview on Sirius radio with a well known radio personality really helped sales. There is no doubt that there is a demand for this.'s8221;

With increased interest Wilson attempted to reduce his cost of the asterisk. He said he was told by a major concessions company, that he would have to get his cost down to $2 to get it into their concession stands.

's8220;I tried to go to the big boys in the foam finger business. At first they were interested in me as a new customer's8230; that is until they found out that I was asking them to manufacture an asterisk. The company then came back and told me that they didn's8217;t do 's8216;controversial's8217; products.'s8221; As it turns out, the company Wilson approached holds licensing agreements with Major League Baseball.

Radio Stations have shown interest in doing promotional campaigns using the asterisk. 's8220;None of them are associated with Major League Baseball's8230; go figure,'s8221; says Wilson. 's8220;We are now doing promotions with various companies and radio stations that feel strongly about America's8217;s sense of fair play. I encourage any company that feels strongly about this issue to give us a call. We's8217;ll get the asterisk out to the fans one way or another. A lot of people feel the way we do.'s8221;

On the website Wilson has posted his statement of purpose - 's8220;Because We Love Baseball.'s8221;

756 Asterisks are also available on the site, www.756myasterisk.com





Foam Asterisk A Home Run With Fans But Baseball Balks at the Effort