Given that I have likely never been more excited for the start of a Major League Baseball (MLB) season, I am thrilled that this year’s March 29 Opening Day will be the earliest that the boys of summer will take to the field to see how well spring training helped their championship dreams. Through a combination of the we-barely-said-bye-to-winter commencement and the fact that every campaign’s span includes some of the nation’s most cherished holidays, I could not refrain from wondering how players would end up decked out for certain games, with MLB coming through in a big way and grabbing a cushy seat on the promotional socks bandwagon.
Though I enjoy madcap dashes for home plate, especially with a game on the line, I have not taken much interest in what the performers put on to motor around the bases. MLB, though, thanks to a Monday announcement, wants me and my fellow non-observers to have our eyes glued to every uniform component and will call on creative and reverent designs to draw interest in players’ foot coverings.
The 2018 holiday & special event uniforms are here and they are 🔥. pic.twitter.com/313SD9THxM
— MLB (@MLB) March 19, 2018
As the oldest among the United States- and Canada-based major professional sports leagues, MLB takes special pride in lauding those who have likewise proven enduring influences. Fortunately, for the 30-team entity, the calendar is quite kind to its endeavors and will see it celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, Mother’s and Father’s days, and Memorial and Independence days (what, no love for Labor Day?) with commemorative apparel. Hats will always resonate with fans, with last year’s inaugural Players Weekend definitely proving that the game’s overseers put on their thinking caps, and though we would love to be in attendance on May 13 to see a sea of Philadelphia Phillies hats honor mothers, the headwear is going to have to bow to the various socks that players will wear and MLB and the franchises will market.
Companies are showing their smarts in making promotional socks a huge part of their branding—just check out Promo Marketing’s very own Rob Margulies channeling his primate self during January’s PPAI Expo for proof of the possibilities.
Time to get started monkeying around at the @PPAIExpo. Make sure to stop by the @Promo_Marketing booth 3231 pic.twitter.com/XdjR3HhYeh
— Rob Margulies (@roscma22) January 16, 2018
And MLB, never known to miss an opportunity to peddle products that reflect its longevity and admiration for those who have parented its participants and everyone who has served our country, is seeking an extremely successful nod to some of our hardest working lower extremities. Socks will serve as an element of all five observances, with an analysis of the offerings being particularly fond of the Jackie Robinson Day and Memorial Day items as the nonpareil pairs.
More compelling than the opportunity to watch superstars compete in the products is the chance to own the goodies, too, with the MLB Shop soon set to allow consumers to mimic their heroes. We would like said athletes’ salaries, too, but, hey, we can’t have it all, right? In fact, though, purchasing the socks, caps, jerseys and other items will help end-users be rich in kindness, as proceeds will support five altruistic entities, including Stand Up To Cancer and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Opening Day is just eight calendar cross-offs away from delighting yours truly and other devotees who will eagerly look to see who emerges as contenders. Regardless of who does, everyone is going to emerge a winner thanks to the promotions and the promotion of showing appreciation for our personal pioneers and collective protectors.
