With 75 minor league clients, an entrepreneur is hoping to win collectors and prospecting freaks over with a philosophy of the early bird getting the worm…or at least the game-used bat.
An Arkansas company is carving out what it hopes is a unique niche in the game-used baseball memorabilia market.
Beyond The Dugout focuses on establishing business partnerships with minor league prospects aimed at selling the young players’ game-worn and game-used items.
The company recently announced the addition of its 75th professional client, Jarred Cosart of the Philadelphia Phillies. Cosart was recently named by Baseball America as the #1 Overall Pitching Prospect in the Gulf Coast League (Rookie) and the Phillies’ #8 Overall Prospect.
Cosart joins Beyond The Dugout’s client roster, which features fellow Phillies’ prospect Michael Taylor (a 2009 Topps AA All-Star and Phillies’ Minor League Player of the Year), 2009 American League All-Star Jason Bartlett (Rays), and a number of former 1st Round Draft Picks, including Drew Stubbs (Reds), Jemile Weeks (Athletics), Hank Conger (Angels), Cesar Ramos (Padres), Trevor Crowe (Indians), Chris Nelson (Rockies), and Mike Trout (Angels). Beyond The Dugout’s client roster also includes multiple Minor League All-Stars, League MVP’s, Arizona Fall League alumni, and Top 10 Organizational Prospects.
“We are excited to begin our marketing relationship with Jarred and continue the tremendous growth we have experienced during the last three years,” said company founder and President Matthew Elliott. “The talent and promise he has shown at this point in his young career fit well into the marketing model we have established with our existing clients, allowing us to provide unique game-used equipment direct from our clients to fans and collectors worldwide at prices that are fair to both the player and the collector.”
Ryan Ware, Cosart’s agent, adds, “Beyond The Dugout is well-positioned as a key resource for young players and their agents to capitalize on the tremendous growth of the sports memorabilia market. The opportunity they provide our clients, along with the experience and market modeling they offer us as agents, is unmatched in the industry and provides terrific advantages for both their clients and their customers.”
Jordan Brown, recently added to the Indians’ 40-man roster after winning the 2009 Triple-A International League Batting Title, has been a Beyond The Dugout client since 2007. “Matt has proven to be a great resource, not only for providing a method to generate additional income from items we as players would have typically thrown away at the end of a season, but also as an advisor for other game-used items/signing deals offered from other dealers and collectors. His clients can count on candid, honest feedback about the current market and future possibilities.”
Game-worn minor league jerseys on eBay
