Trevor Story Merchandise In High Demand, Low Supply
DENVER (CBS4) - Shortstop Trevor Story is the hot Rockies rookie, but if you were hoping to buy a Story jersey or even a t-shirt with his name on it, you'll have to wait.
Story's six home runs in his first four games as a major leaguer is unprecedented. No player has done that in baseball's 147-year history.
The demand is so high for a Story shirt, sporting goods stores sold out last Thursday.
"Well I think he's going to be rookie of the year this year," said Rockies fan Alex Cain.
At Mike's Stadium Sports Cards in Aurora, it's a similar story -- Story.
"Have you ever seen this kind of buzz before?" CBS4's Howard Nathan asked the store's owner, Michael Fruitman.
"We've seen Shaq mania and LeBron mania, but for the Rockies we haven't seen interest like this since 2007," Fruitman replied.
The Rockies went to the World Series in 2007.
"So everybody's hoping he's their next (Troy) Tulowitzki?" Nathan asked Fruitman.
"Hopefully he can make us forget about Tulowitzki," he replied.
Sorry, not yet. The old shortstop still lives in the hearts of many at Coors Field.
(Tulowitzki) was the Rockies' leader," said fan Arlen Bentley.
But there are converts -- as in fans taping Story's name over Tulo's and a No. 7 placed next to Tulo's old No. 2 to make 27, the number Story wears now.
In referencing the Story name taped over Tulo's, Nathan told Karen Wright of Fort Collins, "You did this really clever thing. You're the only one who's doing this?"
"I haven't seen anybody else, so that's cool," Wright said.
But when she went into Coors Field she probably learned she wasn't alone.
The story on the Story baseball cards is they should be available by next Friday for about $10.
Ten-year-old J.J. Smolen of Parker said he'll add Story's card to his collection.
"You mean you're not going to put it in the spokes of your bicycle?" Nathan asked Smolen.
"No," he replied.
"Why not?" Nathan asked.
"Because it's worth a lot of money," Smolen said.
Story is on a pace to hit more than 200 home runs.
The Story jersey should be available by Tuesday or Wednesday. Call your favorite sporting goods store first. You'll need to bring more than $100.
Howard Nathan is a veteran newsman. Decades later, he still enjoys writing a clever sentence, asking the tough question and talking to people in Colorado. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Howard and read his bio.