MLBs Players’ Weekend started in 2017 and its a time when baseball cuts loose from its rigid, traditional uniformity and from Aug. 24-26 players will get a chance to put their personalities and fashion sense on display. MLB squads will wear alternate jerseys inspired by youth league designs, and individual players can also replace last names with nicknames on jersey nameplates.
Players will also be permitted to wear custom-designed flashy equipment — from batting gloves to cleats to custom bats — that shows their personalities. Fans have really taken to MLBs Player Weekend, particularly the nicknames that he players create. Stepping to the plate were guys like “Boomstick,” “Bringer of Rain,” “Dat Dude” and “The Machine.”
Intentional Talk on Twitter
Who will advance to Round Three? Make sure to vote in the polls for the #PlayersWeekend Nickname Bracket! https://t.co/wga4IWncTa
Its also the perfect time for players to show personal tributes to loved ones, heroes and bring awareness to various social causes, diseases and other medical impediments.
Chicago Cubs superstar Kris Bryant commissioned three Chicago artists to shine a light on spinal cord research on his custom Adidas baseball cleats. Spinal Cord Injury is near to Bryant because his friend, Cory Hahn, a former All-American high school baseball player, was paralyzed sliding into 2nd base in 2011 while a freshman at ASU.
The baseball spikes also express his hope that MLB players will be allowed to play for Team USA in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The sport of baseball has been missing from the Olympics since 2008 and will be returning in 2020. But, as MLB players, they still have not been cleared to participate.
Darren Rovell on Twitter
Kris Bryant’s cleats for Players Weekend are tributes to his 3 cities — Chicago, San Diego & Vegas. Charity is Wings For Life Foundation.
Through charitybuzz.com/KBcleats, the three pairs of Adidas Energy Boost Icon 4s are open for bid the next two weeks to support Wings for Life, a non-profit organization that funds spinal cord research. Each pair also has a Wings theme, and the inside sole has a Wings for Life logo. Just another example of MLBs dedication to social causes and making the product more interactive and engaging for a new generation of fans, while preserving the old customs of baseball as slick nicknames have traditionally been a huge part of the game of baseball.
MLB Network on Twitter
Last year, we let Harold and @45PedroMartinez pick their own #PlayersWeekend nicknames. This year, it’s your turn! What should they go with? #MLBTonight https://t.co/dY9qovm6CP
