With some Rangers fans having a hard time finding merchandise celebrating the team’s first trip to the World Series, some vendors are filling the void with unlicensed gear.
Rangers fan Chad Thomas spent his afternoon in search of a Rangers pennant. The Carrollton resident went to Academy Sports and Outdoors, Albertson’s, Tom Thumb and Walmart before stumbling across a pop-up shop in a parking lot in far North Dallas.
The operator of the tent came to Texas from Michigan to capitalize on the Rangers' success. She declined to be interview, but showed her permit to operate in the city of Dallas.
Her T-shirts, hats and other gear say things such as "league champions" and "got Michael?" with plenty of red, blue, antlers and Texas flags -- but no Texas Rangers or MLB logos.
The merchandise is not authorized by the Texas Rangers or MLB, which has warned fans to be careful of counterfeit tickets and merchandise.
“You need to look for that hologram that tells you it is our stuff and that it is authorized and trademarked merchandise,” said John Blake Rangers spokesman.
But some fans who are desperate to get their claws on some Rangers merchandise don’t seem too concerned if the gear is licensed or not.
“I just want to show that I have love for them,” Thomas said. “I could care less if it’s real.”
MLB-sanctioned merchandise will have a hologram sticker or holographic hang tag with raised-looking red baseball stitching. It may also have a sewn-in label or screen-printed notice identifying an approved licensee.
Selling counterfeit merchandise in Texas is an offense ranging from a Class C misdemeanor to a first-degree felony depending on the retail value of the items being sold.
