Yadier Molina sued over appearances, autographs

By CHERYL WITTENAUER, Associated Press Writer Oct 13, 4:45 pm EDT

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ST. LOUIS (AP)—A New York sports marketing firm has sued St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina(notes), saying he ignored their agreement to make appearances and sign autographs.

Steiner Sports Marketing’s lawsuit, filed Friday in New York, said the sports memorabilia company had a contract with Molina dating to October 2006. It says Steiner paid Molina $90,660 in advance when the contract was renewed in July 2008, but he later refused to attend autograph signings and will not return the money.

Steiner is seeking damages in excess of $175,000. The suit was filed in state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

“He owed us autographs and appearances, but he was not willing to do that,” CEO Brandon Steiner said by phone. “He thought he could blow us off.”

Molina’s agent, Melvin Roman, said Tuesday he would have detailed comments on the lawsuit later in the day.

“We will throw out our side of the story. We haven’t done anything wrong,” he said.

Steiner, whose company markets athletes, creates collectables and licenses products, said he was disappointed Molina would not fulfill his contractual obligations to make appearances and sign autographs, especially “after we had paid him all the money.”

Steiner’s attorney, Richard Roth, said his client “asked, pleaded, begged and did everything in its power to get him to sign autographs and he refused.”

Updated Oct 13, 4:45 pm EDT
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48 Comments

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  1. therealhannah
    48. Posted by therealhannah Sun Oct 25 9:41pm EDT

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    I'm waiting for the other side of the story. There must be some reason for breaking a contract with someone you've been with for years.
    And about the running jokes, shut it.
    I get it, he's slow. But his strengths greatly outweigh his weaknesses.
    Anyone want to deny that he quite obviously played the biggest part in our winning the World Series in 2006? Without his two-run homer, we'd still be claiming victory in 1982. The Mets would have taken our place in the Series and we wouldn't have even had a chance.
    Just to counter the turtle talk again, Yadi ended this season with a .292 batting average. Pretty impressive for someone who can't make it to first base. Obviously he doesn't let his lack of speed slow him down.
    But that's off-topic. This is about some sue-age going on.
    And I'm still waiting for the other side. Let's not jump to conclusions.
  2. dubney
    47. Posted by dubney Thu Oct 15 12:01pm EDT

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    Easy, Greg---havin' a bad mornin' are ya?
  3. Greg
    46. Posted by Greg Thu Oct 15 10:14am EDT

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    You guys are all idiots. Didn't one of you morons watch a game. You litlle stat @#$%ots need to get a life
  4. dubney
    45. Posted by dubney Wed Oct 14 8:51pm EDT

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    p.s. When you speak of a turtle, remember who won the race.
  5. dubney
    44. Posted by dubney Wed Oct 14 8:44pm EDT

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    Thos Ga---You must have watched a different Molina than I did. He's probably the best defensive catcher in baseball, had 9 SB, hit ,293 this year, has a cannon throwing arm ( check his throwing out base-stealer pct ) saves countless wild pitches, handles pitchers extremely well, seldom strikes out--one reason for hitting into DP's is usually making contact with the bat, which also helps move runners up on the bases, is one of the best in hitting to right field with runners on----and also has picked off more than 30 runners off first---and is also a gold glover. There aren't too many catchers with blazing speed on the bases, so what's the beef? There are a whole lot of teams who'd love to have him.
  6. Disco
    43. Posted by Disco Wed Oct 14 8:26pm EDT

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    If I am not mistaken I believe that there is a current felon in jail for robbery and should be on death row that did the same thing. Does anyone have a clue?



    Yes you are correct: OJ Simpson
  7. Thos GA
    42. Posted by Thos GA Wed Oct 14 6:43pm EDT

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    If Molina does owe the money, and did not fulfill his contractual agreement, I hope he loses the lawsuit or settles honorably. Trouble is, we only have one side of the story so far. I personally do not care for him as a player as he is a poor example for younger kids, makes a ton and can't even hustle. So what he is slower than a turtle in mud. Run the ball out.
    He is a made to order double play whenever he hits the ball on the ground with a runner on first. If I were the guy on first, I'd run over to the FIRST base line and take HIM out.
    I think there is a smell growing in the CArds clubhouse, and it starts in the Pujols and Molina lockers.
    Off topic here a bit, but it speaks to Molina's integrity...or lack therof.
    ...A Cardinal fan...
  8. <i>lowerjean</i>
    41. Posted by lowerjean Wed Oct 14 5:41pm EDT

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    I really agree with brad.l seems he knows his players,and baseball!!
  9. dubney
    40. Posted by dubney Wed Oct 14 3:35pm EDT

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    You guys must be really hurtin'. What 'd you have for breakfast, a bottle of bitter pills? Molina hasn't told his side of the story yet, but the hungry wolves can't wait to pounce. Must not have anything else goin' for 'em. Sad.
  10. Lind
    39. Posted by Lind Wed Oct 14 3:26pm EDT

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    Molina is a short stocky dude that needs to lose some lbs, he is more chins than a chinese phone book.
  11. russ l
    38. Posted by russ l Wed Oct 14 3:12pm EDT

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    Molina is a jerk.He took a company's money and ran well sorta he cant run. It is high time that these so called over paid over weight jerks playing baseball understand that you do what you agree to do or pay the price. I hope they get his salary next year.
  12. rick d
    37. Posted by rick d Wed Oct 14 2:37pm EDT

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    Hey cardsfanintx just to let you know the sports marketers don't set the prices the athletes do. To everyone else saying they don't understand and are saying to leave Molina alone you guys are idiots. The issue is Molina agreed to do signings and to show up to some events but he never did either one but he still got paid and he won't give the money back. Would you just let it go if you paid money to a contractor to fix your house and he never showed up? No you would sue him. Same concept people. Molina is just acting like a greedy jerk with no class who don't care about the FANS who pay his salary.
  13. rex
    36. Posted by rex Wed Oct 14 1:32pm EDT

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    If this were a Phillie player or a Yankee all you people would be saying the same thing... SCUMBAG! Isn't that just like St. Louis?Throw his a$$ in jail! It's somebody elses fault! Why would a sports marketing firm say Molina owes them appearances if he didn't? But you want to stick by your player and believe in him.... he is right everybody else is wrong. Payback is a b1tch, isn't it?
  14. red
    35. Posted by red Wed Oct 14 11:56am EDT

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    who in their right mind would pay a player who nobody knows or cares about 90,000 dollars to sign an autograph. if thats how you spread your money around Steiner your company dont have to much time left
  15. Jackson Browne
    34. Posted by Jackson Browne Wed Oct 14 11:41am EDT

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    I dont hate the cards i dislike very much your egotistical a hole manager and his home boys who were in oaktown with him for years they all knew about the roid use and they get a free pass fire the dog boy tony and his doggies mckay drunkin duncan and weinberg the trainer who shot these guys up go phillies ! down with child deserter la russa
  16. JoanS
    33. Posted by JoanS Wed Oct 14 11:26am EDT

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    I'm an OLD Cardinal fan - and St. Louis Browns too...anybody out there remember them?? Moved to So. Cal. Sort of transferred loyalties to Dodgers and Angels, but still have a soft spot for my Cards. Am really hoping for a ' freeway Series' though. As for Molina, honorable people honor their commitments. BUT will withhold judgement until we have more facts... OK?
  17. dakiss
    32. Posted by dakiss Wed Oct 14 5:32am EDT

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    um who cares about this i love molina and love the cardinals even though they dissappointing me in the postseason... but hey they had a great regular season and this season was definitely better then the last 2.. so just look foward to next year!
  18. KB
    31. Posted by KB Wed Oct 14 4:46am EDT

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    Next time you feel like up-chucking on the internet go find a "chat room"! The Cardinals and their Fans are like riding Harley-Davisdsons. As Both are traditions and legends that you would have to participate in to understand as well as enjoy! As long as they are both around I will stay as they both have an unspoken class that requires knowledge to fully appreciatte them! Hint: they hide knowledge in books.
    "Thats it and thats all"
  19. CCN ROCKS
    30. Posted by CCN ROCKS Wed Oct 14 3:21am EDT

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    *sigh* Who cares...come on Cardinal fans, it's time to take a deep breath - relax a little and get into the football season....GO RAMS!!! Oh sorry....

    DODGERS and ANGELS Freeway Series - Southern CA rocks!!!
  20. dubney
    29. Posted by dubney Wed Oct 14 12:44am EDT

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    I think you Cardinals haters have way too much time on your hands. Maybe you should find something else to do to get rid of your frustrations and the misery you have inside. Trying to spread it out to others doesn't seem to be working for you.

    CARDS !! STILL LOVE'M !!
  21. rad_St.L
    28. Posted by rad_St.L Tue Oct 13 11:46pm EDT

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    Wow, everyone knows everything on this board. All I have to say is Yadi autographed a baseball for my son for Christmas so I could give it to him as a gift and he had no problems at all. It didn't cost me one cent and I'm nobody special, just a fan. Not only did he sign the ball for my son but he signed 3 balls for him since he misspelled my sons name the first 2 trys. Yadi is a class act. If you don't know the whole story with the memorabila company and have only heard their side then maybe you ought to wait to pass judgement, you should never side with something when you've only heard the complaining sides version. Get all the facts before making asinine statements. I'll withhold mine until all facts come out.
  22. Mean1
    27. Posted by Mean1 Tue Oct 13 11:15pm EDT

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    Post #28 Rick - My post was about CardsRule's previous post, #2 I believe, where he made a fool of himself making homosexual comments and basically being himself. His other post, #21, makes some sense, but it is still premature, and due to his reputation as a Cardinal hater, it falls in line with the rest of his hate crap. The bottom line is that no one knows Molina's side of the story yet. I have taken neither side on the Steiner Sports/Molina Saga....I just posted my feelings on a tool that calls himself "CardsRule."
  23. Kenneth
    26. Posted by Kenneth Tue Oct 13 9:31pm EDT

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    pay up buddy!
  24. Rick A
    25. Posted by Rick A Tue Oct 13 8:57pm EDT

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    CardsRule, if the allogations are true, is absolutely right. For anyone who thinks Molina should get a pass simply because he plays baseball...thank God you idiots are not running any businesses...if you are, you will be going under. Honor the contract. And...GO DODGERS!
  25. marc s
    24. Posted by marc s Tue Oct 13 8:53pm EDT

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    I've dealt with Steiner Sports personally, as well as Brandon Steienr. They are the class of their industry, in a field with few peers. If they are going through the legal system to retrieve monies from this second string talent, I have to believe the case has merit.
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