Toys R Us and Major League Baseball Team Up to Celebrate 2005 Opening Day

WAYNE, N.J., April 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Toys "R" Us and Major League Baseball Properties have teamed up to celebrate the national pastime and the opening of the 2005 Major League Baseball season. As part of this partnership, Toys "R" Us stores nationwide will showcase MLB merchandise in special feature shops and select Toys "R" Us stores around the country will host a variety of special events including personal appearances by MLB players.

The MLB shops at Toys "R" Us will feature a broad assortment of officially licensed MLB merchandise including apparel, video games, baseball cards, sporting goods, collectibles and more. In addition, the shops will offer a number of items exclusive to Toys "R" Us, including a 3" figure of Yankees great Don Mattingly by McFarlane Toys, a boxed set with 6" figures of Barry Bonds and Willie Mays from McFarlane Toys, a 2005 Opening Day Relic Edition Card Set featuring an exclusive chrome parallel card from Topps and more (items vary by store/market). On Opening Day in ballparks around the country, fans will receive a mini-catalog of MLB merchandise available in Toys "R" Us stores. Customers who purchase $20 or more from the MLB Feature Shop at Toys "R" Us will receive a commemorative MLB Opening Day pin while supplies last.

"We are very excited to extend our relationship with Toys "R" Us by forming this Opening Day retail partnership," said Howard Smith, Senior Vice President, Licensing, Major League Baseball Properties. "Opening Day of the Major League Baseball regular season is a true national sports holiday, and to celebrate Opening Day with feature shops and merchandise presentations in nearly 700 Toys "R" Us stores nationwide is a fantastic way to extend the excitement of the 2005 Major League Baseball season."

Fans will have the opportunity to meet many of their favorite players during personal appearances at Toys "R" Us stores in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis. Other MLB events will include a personal appearance by Todd McFarlane, who will sign MLB McFarlane's Sports Picks figures at Toys "R" Us Times Square on April 14.

"This partnership with Major League Baseball allows us to expand our team specific offerings to our customers across the country and provides kids with the opportunity to personally meet their favorite players," said Jim Feldt, President, Merchandising, Toys "R" Us.