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Fans reacted as MLB, on Friday, took a revolutionary new step by announcing a partnership with German workwear brand Strauss. That will allow batting helmets to display the company name and logo in the playoffs for the next four years.
It will also be applied to all minor league teams from the 2025 season. This will be the first time that a brand logo appears in the MiLB and MLB helmets league-wide in the US.
Fans, though, reacted angrily to the news on social media, as they feel it's a blatant move to generate extra revenue besides ruining the heritage of the game.
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"We are proud that Strauss selected Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball as the marketing platform to introduce its brand to the U.S. market," MLB deputy commissioner of business and media Noah Garden said.
"The fact that our two organizations have so much in common -- generational legacy, teamwork, dedication to a craft, celebrating a job well done -- is a key to what made this partnership so compelling, and we’re looking forward to working together for years to come," he added.
However, fans were definitely not as enthusiastic as the MLB with the new partnership and vented their fury on Reddit.
“F****** greed all the way around,” one fan commented.
"This is just a terrible idea," wrote another fan.
"Immediate ejection," posted another fan.
The negative reaction from fans to this surprising decision by MLB continued.
"This is just a terrible idea," exclaimed fan said.
"What a shame," said another fan.
"Words can't describe how much I hate this," another fan wrote.
Meanwhile, Strauss will present a digital content platform focused on stolen bases to showcase highlights of steals on various official platforms.
"We are proud to be the first brand featured on MLB batting helmets in the US": Strauss CEO
Engelbert Strauss GmbH & Co. KG is a clothing company that specializes in workwear, safety footwear and personal protective equipment.
It was founded in 1948 with its headquarters in Biebergemünd, Hesse, Germany. Henning Strauss is the CEO of the company, which was started by his father nearly 80 years ago.
"We are proud to be the first brand featured on MLB batting helmets in the U.S. We are excited to join the baseball tradition and help the American pastime grow back home in Europe," Strauss said after the partnership was officially announced.
"Baseball is just such an iconic sport with all Americans," he added. "It has such a long tradition. Just like our company -- we're a third-generation family business. And baseball is very much a family experience, families attending games or following their teams. Everyone is really familiar with baseball and has played baseball in their family. So it's really about that connection."
Despite the touching words from the Strauss CEO, fans are unlikely to warm up to the idea of advertising on uniforms and helmets.
