“Having Eli, I think, was part of the reason why Babe Ruth was attracted to Score,” said Score Sports CEO Joe Flannery last fall. “Because Eli was able to speak so highly about the business that he is involved with through BVG.” In October 2024, Eli Manning, part-owner of Brand Velocity Group, helped Score Sports secure a deal to become the official uniform provider for Babe Ruth League Baseball and Softball.

But the thing, at the time, many overlooked was the fact that the collab was more personal for Eli. That’s because Manning had played in the Babe Ruth League as a kid, and yes, his childhood photo still hangs on the league’s wall in New Jersey. That kind of full-circle moment? You can’t script it better.

Fast forward to today, and Manning’s connection to Score Sports just got deeper. The Giants legend is officially teaming up with the brand once again. But this time, as an ambassador for the 50for50 Challenge. It’s a nationwide fundraising campaign celebrating Score’s 50th anniversary.

In an Instagram reel with Eli, they conveyed the importance of this event. The caption summed it perfectly: “Eli knows the power of leadership, perseverance, and creating opportunities — values that are at the core of our mission as we celebrate 50 years of impact.” And that’s why Score Sports have chosen Eli to be the face!

The mission is simple: empower youth sports nonprofits across the country by giving them a shot at a $50,000 grand prize, while also providing much-needed gear and support to young athletes in underserved communities. The challenge kicks off May 16 and runs through June 13, inviting U.S.-based 501(c)(3) organizations to create fundraising pages via GivenGain.

Whoever raises the most money during the four-week window walks away with $50K. But the effort doesn’t stop there. There will be weekly prizes, including uniforms for 200 players and coaches’ gear packs. And the best part? Every single dollar raised stays with the nonprofit. Score’s not taking a cut as this is about the kids.

Guess that’s why Eli’s ‘in’ on this project. “The business was family-owned… they were not looking for significant growth,” Flannery said last fall. “BVG is willing to make investments to help fund that growth. And to me, that’s the fun part.” With Manning front and center, that vision of growth now includes unlocking opportunities for the next generation.

That is there, and will continue to be because it’s part of Eli’s legacy beyond football. Irrespective of whether his efforts of sealing minority stake in the Giants pays off or not (yes, that’s still in the works).

Eli Manning’s pursuit of getting the Giants minority stakes

You’d think the greatest QB in the G-Men’s history, two-time Super Bowl MVP, beat-the-Patriots-twice Eli Manning, could walk into the front office, flash a grin, and walk out with minority ownership papers in hand. Not quite.

According to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Manning’s working on it. “Former quarterback Eli Manning – He’s now reportedly putting a bid together to buy a minority interest in the Giants,” Florio said. The franchise tapped Moelis & Company to field offers after quietly putting a non-controlling share up for grabs. But Florio’s betting against it. “When it comes to the literal bottom line, Eli’s not going to have the money to do this. He’s going to have to be the frontman of the group.”

So, what’s stopping him? Well, it’s not just the price tag—though at $8 billion, it’s more like a sticker shock special. The Mara and Tisch families have co-owned the Giants since before Manning threw his first NFL pass. And according to Florio, there’s no “sweetheart deal” coming. “Tom Brady got one from a team he never played for. Eli’s not going to get one from the team he played for.” Now that’s cold.

Chris Simms weighed in, too. The finances still stand as a hurdle. But he’s giving it a thought because of the vision. “I think Eli and Peyton could go this way,” Simms said while floating a Manning Empire dream team. Eli as owner, Peyton as GM, and Arch at QB. Would it work? Maybe. Would it break the internet? Definitely. So, who’s stopping it? Mara’s NO!

This is the business side of football where dreams and reality hardly play the same game. Even Brady needed 17 months for his Raiders deal to get the green light. And guess what? That was for less than the Giants’ current valuation. So if Eli wants in, this won’t be a quarterback sneak. It’s fourth-and-long with a lot of red tape. But hey, if anyone knows how to win under pressure… it’s #10.