World Series’ Winners Take Top Honors As Brand Affinity Technologies (BAT) 'Rising Sports Stars'

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

After this year’s World Series’ triumph, San Francisco Giants’ Brandon Crawford, Ryan Vogelsong and Pablo Sandoval, are receiving another honor – top placement on Brand Affinity Technologies’ (BAT) list of ‘Rising Sports Stars.’ This monthly list calculates U.S. athletes with the most significant leap in popularity during the previous 30 days and reflects those poised to generate huge fan and advertising followings.

World Series’ competitor and Detroit Tigers’ left fielder, Delmon Young also landed BAT’s top five, as well as Stevan Ridley, running back for the New England Patriots.

“Last month’s list of rising stars was greatly reflective of the incredible hype and competition of the World Series. The championship strengthened the brand value of all players on both teams, but particularly Crawford and Vogelsong,” said Ryan Steelberg, CEO of Brand Affinity Technologies. “There is no doubt that this surge is bound to impact advertising for those athletes, as well as looking at how other major league championships, such as the SuperBowl, will continue to affect brand value.”

The Top Five athletes on “BAT’s Rising Stars” list include:

1. Brandon Crawford (Shortstop, San Francisco Giants): Widely known for his strong arm, range, and quick reflexes, Crawford exceeded all expectations in his first full season as the Giants’ starting shortstop. Crawford’s nearly flawless performance in all 16 postseason games, proved to be instrumental to another San Francisco Giants’ World Series Championship.

2. Ryan Vogelsong (Pitcher, San Francisco Giants): After a 14 year improbable journey through the league, Vogelsong’s resiliency and optimistic outlook continues to drive his success. Vogelsong’s 1.09 a post-season ERA and leadership on the mound set the tone early for San Francisco’s post season pitching efforts.

3. Pablo Sandoval (Infielder, San Francisco Giants): Already a two-time All-Star with two World Series championships under his belt, Sandoval added World Series MVP to his resume. His post season contributions were critical to the success of the Giants’ season and sweeping championship victory, with three home runs, four RBIs in 16 series at-bats and a batting average of .500.

4. Delmon Young (Left Fielder, Detroit Tigers): Even though the Detroit Tigers came up short in the World Series, Young proved himself an invaluable team member this season batting .267 with 18 homers and 74 RBIs. Young is also the first player with four game winning RBIs in one postseason series.

5. Stevan Ridley (Running Back, New England Patriots): During the first week of the season, Ridley had the best game of his young career with a 34-13 win over the Tennessee Titans. This year alone he has had a total of 716 All-Purpose yards and five touchdowns, making Ridley a favorite for Tom Brady.

For the full list and additional details go to http://www.brandaffinity.net/rising-stars/november-2012/.

Brand Affinity Technologies (BAT) calculates daily consumer affinity based on a proprietary combination of media exposure, performance, awards, popularity, engagement, and fan base, among other indicators, for more than 45,000 athletes and celebrities. The list identifies sports stars with the greatest leap in popularity over the prior 30 days. A meteoric rise may indicate a standout on-the-field performance, off-the-field achievement, or emergence from utility player to celebrity.

About Brand Affinity Technologies (BAT)

Brand Affinity Technologies (BAT), founded in 2007, is a technology and marketing services company focused on activating, engaging, and monetizing the FAN. BAT’s offerings power highly-targeted and interactive 360° fan-centric experiences and promotions. Its partners include thousands of celebrities, athletes, professional sports teams and leagues, and event promoters. For more information, visit http://www.brandaffinity.net and http://www.fantapper.com.