Major League Baseball's licensing arm has signed a five-year sponsorship extension with Chevrolet to keep the General Motors brand as the league's official vehicle.
Terms of the deal between the brand and New York City-based Major League Baseball Properties were not disclosed in today's announcement.
The original deal, signed in 2005, reportedly was worth $50 million for three years.
As part of the deal, Chevrolet will continue to be the presenting sponsor of three baseball awards:
- Roberto Clemente Award: Given annually to the MLB player who combines a dedication to giving back to the community with outstanding skills on the baseball field.
- Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.
- World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
Chevy also will continue to sponsor the annual All-Star Red Carpet Show, which takes place today in Phoenix before the All-Star Game.
The auto brand has a long association with baseball. And one of its iconic advertising campaigns was "Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie, and Chevrolet" in the mid-1970s.
MLB and General Motors didn't sign their first sponsorship deal until 1985, according to the New York Times. It expired in 1996, and no new deal was signed until the 2005 Chevy agreement.
