Fireflies merchandise sales among best in Minor League baseball

The Columbia Fireflies merchandise was a hot seller even before the arrival of Tim Tebow this year.

The Fireflies cracked the top 25 of the Minor League Baseball’s merchandise sales, released Monday. The numbers are based on total licensed merchandise sales from Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2016. It wasn’t announced until March 21 that Tebow would play for the Fireflies.

With the popularity of Tebow and the success of the team in the second season, it’s a good bet Columbia will stay on the list next year.

Columbia was one of seven teams to make the list after not appearing in the top 25 in 2015. Minor League Baseball set a record of $68.3 million in total merchandise sales, up from $65.1 million the year before.

The list didn’t rank the teams in order of sales. The Top 25 list includes (alphabetically, with Major League affiliate): Charlotte Knights (White Sox), Columbia Fireflies (Mets), Columbus Clippers (Indians), Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros), Dayton Dragons (Reds), Durham Bulls (Rays), El Paso Chihuahuas (Padres), Fresno Grizzlies (Astros), Frisco RoughRiders (Rangers), Indianapolis Indians (Pirates), Iowa Cubs, Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres), Lehigh Valley IronPigs (Phillies), Louisville Bats (Reds), Nashville Sounds (Athletics), Oklahoma City Dodgers, Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), Portland SeaDogs (Red Sox), Richmond Flying Squirrels (Giants), Sacramento River Cats (Giants), Salt Lake Bees (Angels), South Bend Cubs, Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners), Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers) and Trenton Thunder (Yankees).

This story was originally published June 12, 2017 at 11:47 AM with the headline "Fireflies merchandise sales among best in Minor League baseball."