Tommy Bahama Announces 2013 "Collector's Edition" Major League Baseball Shirts

SEATTLE, Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tommy Bahama and Major League Baseball Properties celebrate two of baseball's greatest players, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, with the release of the 2013 "Collector's Edition" series of premium, collectible apparel for the true baseball fan.  

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130227/LA67280)

To launch the 2013 baseball season, Tommy Bahama has created two remarkable new shirts that feature iconic photographs of baseball legends Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. The classic images have been incorporated into dramatic custom designed artwork that wraps around the shirt and includes the player's name, team logo, key stats and landmarks of his home team. Only a limited number of shirts will be produced and each one will be numbered.

As part of the launch, Tommy Bahama in association with Major League Baseball will host a special event "Tommy Bahama Presents an Evening with Willie Mays," on March 7^th in Scottsdale, Arizona. An intimate group of 75 lucky guests will have the chance to meet baseball legend Willie Mays and hear him speak about his life in baseball. Guests will also have their photo taken with Willie, receive an autographed Rawlings baseball in a commemorative case and will be able pre-order the "Collector's Edition" shirt before it is officially released in early April. The event will be held at the Tommy Bahama Restaurant, Bar and Store at Kierland Commons in Scottsdale, Arizona. Tickets for this once in a lifetime event are $395 and are available now through March 7^th by calling Tommy Bahama Guest Services at (866) 986-8282 (Monday-Friday, 5am-8pm PST and Sat-Sun, 6am-6pm PST).

"Tommy Bahama is proud to work with MLB to honor baseball legends Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle," said Terry Pillow, CEO of Tommy Bahama. "Our long-standing relationship the MLB has given us the opportunity to offer our customers special items like the 2013 'Collector's Edition' shirts, which are truly works of art." 

"As Major League Baseball looks towards the start of the 2013 Baseball season, we are excited that Tommy Bahama is offering fans the exclusive 2013 'Collector's Edition' series that pays homage to two of the most iconic players ever to have been apart of the game," said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing Major League Baseball. "Our relationship with Tommy Bahama continues to grow season after season and we are proud that it is creating unique and creative designs and offerings that our fans have come to expect from this great partnership."

The San Francisco Giants with Willie Mays and New York Yankees with Mickey Mantle shirts are part of Tommy Bahama's "Collector's Edition" series. In early April, the shirts will be available exclusively at http://www.tommybahama.com/TBG/Men/MLB_Shop.jsp, select Tommy Bahama stores and in the New York Yankees' and San Francisco Giants' stadium shops. The "Collector's Edition" shirts will retail for $250.  

• The San Francisco Giants with Willie Mays shirt:
  Hand painted artwork wraps around the entire shirt and features a 1968 photo of Willie Mays "walking" on the waters of McCovey Cove, a silhouette of the Golden Gate Bridge and the AT&T ballpark scoreboard in the background. Embroidered elements on the shirt include Willie Mays signature, his World Series titles dates, Giants team logos, Tommy Bahama logo, and on the left sleeve, Willie's number "24", which was retired by the Giants in 1972. The inside of the shirt has a woven label that features a San Francisco Giants logo inside a baseball glove. The shirt comes packaged on a wooden hanger inside a custom designed garment bag with the same artwork as the shirt and all of Willie's stats verified by MLB. 
  
• The New York Yankees with Mickey Mantle shirt:
  Hand painted artwork wraps around the entire shirt and features a 1958 photo of Mickey Mantle at bat. The background highlights Yankees stats from 1921 to 2009 layered over the facade of old Yankee Stadium. Mickey's retired number "7" is collaged with a vintage New York Yankees ticket.  Embroidered elements on the shirt include Mickey's signature, official Yankee team logos and the Tommy Bahama logo. The inside of the shirt has a woven label that features the New York Yankees logo with a tonal baseball stitch pattern in the background. The shirt comes packaged on a wooden hanger inside a custom designed garment bag with the same artwork as the shirt and all of Mickey's stats verified by MLB.

Tommy Bahama will also offer a variety of camp shirts and knits with different MLB team logos for the 2013 baseball season, along with Spring Training shirts for the Cactus and Grapefruit Leagues. These products will be sold at http://www.tommybahama.com/TBG/Men/MLB_Shop.jsp, select Tommy Bahama retail locations and some team shops.    

Tommy Bahama's relationship with Major League Baseball Properties began in 2009 with the first "Collector's Edition" shirt to celebrate the World Series, followed by the launch of the collection of shirts for the 2010 baseball season. This complements an established array of Tommy Bahama lifestyle products, which include apparel, accessories, home furnishings, restaurants & bars, and retail stores. The relationship between Tommy Bahama and MLB epitomizes the natural affinity that exists between these two lifestyle brands. Legions of baseball players and fans alike embrace Tommy Bahama products as well as the company philosophy to Make Life One Long Weekend."

About Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama is part of the Tommy Bahama Group, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Oxford Industries, Inc. (NYSE:OXM).  Established in August 1992, with corporate headquarters in Seattle, Tommy Bahama is an island-inspired lifestyle brand that defines relaxed, sophisticated style in men's and women's sportswear, swimwear, accessories, footwear and a complete home furnishings collection. The company owns and operates over 100 Tommy Bahama stores worldwide, with 14 of those locations offering a Tommy Bahama restaurant & bar. Tommy Bahama products are also available at the country's finest retailers, including Nordstrom and other specialty retailers and TommyBahama.com ships to over 100 countries. Additional stores will be opening this year.  More information, please visit www.tommybahama.com.

About Major League Baseball Properties
The Major League Baseball Clubs formed Major League Baseball Properties (MLBP) in 1966 as the Clubs' agent for marketing and trademark licensing and protection. Major League Baseball Properties is responsible for managing consumer licensing activities, developing national advertising campaigns, cultivating sponsorship opportunities with major consumer brands and corporations, growing the game and the business of baseball outside the United States and creating national marketing programs in conjunction with Clubs, broadcast rights holders and national sponsors. MLBP also operates a full-service video and audio production unit (Major League Baseball Productions), a publishing division and stock photo licensing agency, and manages logistics for the All-Star Game and World Series as well as all other special events. For more information on Major League Baseball, log on to www.MLB.com.

SOURCE Tommy Bahama