By Robert Nolin, South Florida Sun-Sentinel Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Dec. 8--So what will the consummate Florida Marlins fan be doing Christmas morning? Maybe sipping coffee from a souvenir team mug, unwrapping an expensive team photo, or admiring an autographed baseball that came in a stocking with an official team logo.
Santa may as well trade in his traditional red and white for Marlins teal and black this season, as items featuring the World Series champs are becoming one of the holiday's favorite things. It's the spirit of Marlins presents as the team's winning season lingers on, bringing a sweet aftertaste to memorabilia mongers and delight to fans who don't want to let the fever die.
'It's definitely what people are looking to get for this holiday,' said Jeff Sacks, owner of All Star Cards and Collectibles in Davie, where Marlins baseballs and photos are big sellers.
'They've been hauling them out of here as fast as you can grab it,' John Murphy, manager of the Sports Immortals Museum in Boca Raton, said of his Marlins stock. 'It's parents buying them for the son or daughter who are big fans, wives buying for husbands.'
Murphy peddles the kinds of goodies that would stir visions of sugar plums in the heads of diehard fans: balls signed by Josh Beckett or Miguel Cabrera, for $159 and $99 respectively; or even, on special order, bats, balls or jerseys from actual playoff games. The museum even offers a home plate, signed by the 1997 World Series winning team, for a mere $995.
Team photo plaques, ranging in price from $69 to a couple of thousand dollars, are popular. But less extravagant clothing such as Marlins T-shirts or caps are moving well.
'Anything with the World Series logo, it flies out the door,' said Jason Diaz, assistant manager of the Champs sports clothing store in Coral Springs. 'We had to re-order Josh Beckett jerseys.'
Besides decorating his body with Marlins mementos, a real dedicated fan can decorate his house. There are Marlins plaques, clocks, cups, cup warmers, pennants, pens, calendars, bobblehead dolls and posters. You can pick through Marlins umbrellas, trash cans and mouse pads -- all sporting that billed fish with the big stylized 'F.' You can grace your mantelpiece, where your Marlins stocking is hung with care, with a Marlins snow globe that plays 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game.' Or hang a snazzy Marlins ornament on your Christmas tree.
'A lot of people are buying Marlins stuff for Christmas,' said Scott Cohen, general manager of the Gadget and Sports Experience, a high-end sports memorabilia shop at the Coral Square Mall in Coral Springs. 'You can't hold on to it.'
One Parkland woman, who asked that her name not be used for fear of exposing her Christmas surprise, bought a large, framed and signed Marlins photo for her husband. Price tag: $450. 'He's gonna love it,' she said. 'He has a lot of signed memorabilia.'
At the other end of the mall, Mike Marx, co-manager of The Sports Fanatic souvenir store, is stocking more Marlins gear than in past years. People don't hesitate to shell out big bucks for the goods, especially the coveted -- and costly -- autographed items.
'The signed stuff's flying out,' Marx said. 'People are willing to spend more at holiday time,' he said.
All the variety makes it easy to find something right for that hard-to-please baseball buff. And the recipient can take equal pleasure in getting something besides a tie or cologne.
'If you know someone who's a Marlins fan, and you get them a Josh Beckett autographed ball, it doesn't get any better than that,' Murphy said.
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(c) 2003, South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
