Phillies know that being champions brings perks

After Cole Hamels was named MVP of last season's World Series, after his dominant 2008 postseason, he became a recognizable face around the country, not just a name. Hamels did an ESPN commercial and an often-played, and quite humorous, television spot for New Era, the official hat of MLB.

Right after the Series, Hamels appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. John Boggs, the pitcher's business manager, said the show agreed to provide a helicopter to get him back to the team's victory party.

Hamels also moved into a 44th-floor luxury apartment at Two Liberty Place, appearing in advertisements for it with his wife, Heidi, in a video on the Two Liberty Place Web site. What did Hamels, who recently bought a home in Delaware County, get for all that?

"I can't add to that at all," Boggs said. "That's confidential information. I'm not going to give the terms on that."

All the exposure begets more exposure. For Hamels, that included an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Two days after the World Series, Hamels also joined teammate Shane Victorino and Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt on QVC to hawk memorabilia.

When it comes to perks, the memorabilia component is key.

"One thing I did, when the year was over, I went back to Colorado and said, 'I'm not going anywhere,' " said Phillies relief pitcher Brad Lidge, who ended his perfect 2008 season by getting the last out of the World Series. "But I was pretty fortunate that a lot of people would ship stuff out to our house, and I would sign stuff out of the basement.

"There were lots of opportunities I had to fly back to Philly and New York and do different appearances and stuff like that, [but] for me when the season's over, the season's over, and I like to go back home and relax."

So how many items did Lidge sign last winter?

"Over several thousand, whether it be balls, pictures, jerseys," Lidge said. "By the time everything was said and done, 5,000 to 10,000 maybe. I mean, more than you can imagine."

Asked if Hamels signed as much stuff, Boggs said, "Oh yeah, very easily."

How much the Phillies were paid for signing memorabilia is between them and the IRS, but an authentic Brad Lidge signed baseball is listed on sportsmemorabilia.com for $137.60. On the same Web site, a Hamels ball goes for $144.48. Victorino's ball goes for $119, while Ryan Howard's is at $150, and Jimmy Rollins' tops the list at $311.63.

Obviously, that is determined by supply and demand. The site doesn't sell an Eric Bruntlett signed ball, for instance, although you can get a photo of Bruntlett crossing the plate with the winning run in the last Series game.

Lidge said he didn't complain about providing a lot on the supply side. The way he looked at signing: "Every time you do it, you remember what you did. I'll take it."

Chad Durbin, who can boast of a 0.00 ERA in two appearances against Tampa Bay in last year's Series, was asked if the tales of free drinks and meals are true. He said, "You know what, maybe we got a little leniency on the booze."

But Durbin was just being playful. Not booze, he immediately said.

"Not b-o-o-z-e but b-o-o-s," Durbin said, noting there were fewer boos this year at Citizens Bank Park. He definitely saw that as a perk.

"This town wants to win, and so do we," Durbin said.