Will Cliff Lee Be Better Celebrated in Philadelphia?

Cliff Lee’s decision to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies and leave millions on the table had some fans scratching their heads. But Lee also gave up the chance to make even more money through endorsements, advertisements and other business opportunities that he might have made playing in New York for the Yankees.
Maybe, though, doing celebrity endorsements isn’t his thing. Perhaps he prefers to let other athletes take center stage. Possibly, his five-year, $120 million contract will provide him with more than enough money.
Lee is certainly likable. His Q-Score, which measures consumer awareness and appeal, rose to 16 this summer, from 9 last year. Lee’s negative Q-Score, which tracks how many people do not like him, fell over that period.
By comparison, Derek Jeter has a 19 positive Q-Score, while Lee’s new teammate Jimmy Rollins has an 8.
But until now, Lee was not a household name, perhaps a function of having played in smaller cities like Cleveland and Seattle. Only 23 percent of consumers surveyed were familiar with Lee. That’s up from 18 percent, but still only as high as Jamie Moyer or Rollins.
Cliff Lee’s decision to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies and leave millions on the table had some fans scratching their heads. But Lee also gave up the chance to make even more money through endorsements, advertisements and other business opportunities that he might have made playing in New York for the Yankees.
Maybe, though, doing celebrity endorsements isn’t his thing. Perhaps he prefers to let other athletes take center stage. Possibly, his five-year, $120 million contract will provide him with more than enough money.
Lee is certainly likable. His Q-Score, which measures consumer awareness and appeal, rose to 16 this summer, from 9 last year. Lee’s negative Q-Score, which tracks how many people do not like him, fell over that period.
By comparison, Derek Jeter has a 19 positive Q-Score, while Lee’s new teammate Jimmy Rollins has an 8.
But until now, Lee was not a household name, perhaps a function of having played in smaller cities like Cleveland and Seattle. Only 23 percent of consumers surveyed were familiar with Lee. That’s up from 18 percent, but still only as high as Jamie Moyer or Rollins. Read Full Story