The Cardinals Albert Pujols ranks sixth amongst major leaguers in the number of jerseys sold with his number and our name on them, according to a report released by major league baseball.
He's the only Cardinals player to crack the top 10 which is crowded with three Phillies and two Yankees. New York's Derek Jeter, despite criticism from baseball pundits that he's lost range and that his swing has slowed at the plate, was the top seller.
While the Redbirds count on the income from Pujols' merchandise sales as part of their revenue stream, baseball's best player could see his jersey sales skyrocket if he switches teams because his name and number on a different jersey will become baseball's must have item in 2012.
Here are MLB's top 10 individual merchandise sellers:
1. Derek Jeter, Yankees
2. Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins
3. Roy Halladay, Phillies
4. Chase Utley, Phillies
5. Cliff Lee, Phillies
6. Albert Pujols, St. Louis Cardinals
7. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
8. Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox
9. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees
10. Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Pujols shoot to number one if he signed with the Yankees. New Yorks jerseys are consistent. Besides a slight difference in the patches, it's hard to tell the difference between a 2001 Jeter jersey and a 2011 Jeter jersey. So fans likely won't feel the need to replace the togs they already have.
It's remarkable, however, despite the size of New York City and the Yankees fan base around the world that a player who has spent his entire career with the same club is tops in jersey sales at this late stage of his career.
Here's how the major league clubs break down in terms of overall merchandise sales.
1. Yankees
2. Red Sox
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Phillies
5. Chicago Cubs
6. Cardinals
7. Chicago White Sox
8. Atlanta Braves
9. Twins
10. Tigers
Pujols, no doubt, helps to propel the Cardinals to sixth against clubs in much larger cities. I don't think it is a coincidence that the Birds are sixth in sales overall and Pujols is sixth in individual sales since more than half of the fans in the Busch Stadium stands wearing personalized gear sport the number 5.
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