Appliance maker partners with MLB

Appliance maker partners with MLB

One “Maytag Man” makes baseball signs, while the other “Maytag Man” works on a load of clothes in an ad on the appliance maker’s partnership with MLB. Photo via twitter.com

An appliance maker is heading to the ballpark as part of a new partnership.

Maytag, a brand of Whirlpool in Benton Harbor, said last month that it’s teaming up with Major League Baseball as its official washer and dryer for the 2015 season.

“We are thrilled to bring Maytag into our family of sponsors," said Noah Garden, EVP of business, MLB.

Filthiest plays

As part of the partnership, Maytag and MLB are rolling out the “Filthiest Plays of the Week,” where fans nationwide are asked to vote to determine the filthiest play in baseball each week.

Baseball hall of famer and former Cincinnati Red shortstop Barry Larkin has been recruited to announce each week’s "Filthiest Plays of the Week."

Qualifying Larkin for the job are his 19 professional years of sliding, diving and getting dirty as an exceptional shortstop.

“Throughout my career, I have always strived to be a player who gave 100 percent for my team, even if that meant getting a little dirty sometimes,” Larkin said.

Million-dollar home run

Maytag is also offering the Boys & Girls Clubs an opportunity to get in on the action with its “Million Dollar Home Run” campaign.

Maytag will be installing its newest top-load washer in the bullpen or outfield stands at the stadiums of four teams — the Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers — with the promise that if a player from either the home or visiting team hits a home run, and it lands inside the washer, Maytag will donate $1 million to the local Boys & Girls Club in that city.

Made in America

Maytag’s campaign will focus on laundry appliances designed, engineered and assembled in America.

In conjunction with the MLB partnership announcement, Maytag has launched a full-scale integrated marketing campaign, its first in 2015.

The campaign includes a national television advertisement featuring Maytag employees and the “Maytag Man,” which first aired during the MLB All-Star Game in July.