The Fanatics Jersey Debacle is Yet Another Rob Manfred Mess I Damon Amendolara

The Major League Baseball community is in uproar over the latest jersey debacle involving Fanatics and Nike. In a highly anticipated collaboration, the new jerseys introduced for spring training have fallen far short of expectations, drawing ire from fans and players alike. From poor craftsmanship to shabby designs, the jerseys have sparked widespread criticism, with many questioning the oversight of MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred.
D.A. delves into the heart of the controversy, exploring the factors that have contributed to the outrage. With passionate fans voicing their disappointment and players expressing their dissatisfaction with the quality of the jerseys, it's evident that something has gone seriously wrong in the production process.
Join Damon Amendolara of SiriusXM Sports as he dissects the Fanatics and Nike collaboration, examining the root causes of the controversy and the implications it has for Major League Baseball. From design flaws to manufacturing issues, we uncover the full extent of the problem and the fallout it has generated across the baseball community.
Don't miss out on this essential breakdown of the MLB Fanatics and Nike jersey controversy. Subscribe now to stay informed and join the conversation surrounding one of the most contentious issues facing the sport today.

[@rnunez6398]

Rob Manfred -- The man who makes NHL fans say, "Maybe Gary Bettman isn't the worst commissioner in sports, after all."

[@N942UW]

Hahah he’s made me start changing my belief here in the past year lol. I always had Bettman as the worst Commish since about 2013.

[@pamoon_]

i still remember his speech during the 2020 world series "you thrILLED ar fanZz with a gREAT purFORmance"

[@davidburke9596]

NOBODY in Canada says that.

[@damonamendo]

Ha, true enough.

[@jerzeegrl1693]

Manfred is definitely the worst commish in all of sports

[@phillipc2178]

Rob Manfred is a trash commissioner. He makes Selig and his All-Star game WS rule look competent.

[@damonamendo]

He's been tough to watch, aside from the rules changes

[@Novajowea]

My jersey buying days are officially over.

[@DuckOfRubber]

4:25 The bootleg store in China has better quality than these.

[@gonuts4donuts]

I've never bought a knockoff jersey, but from the MLB jerseys I've seen people get from DHGate, they look like much better quality than these, and they're only $20 🤣

[@IvyLeather13]

I don't know a commissioner with such blatant contempt for the paying customers and his employees survives. He's just the owner's dog.

[@damonamendo]

He does seem to always be fighting with fans and media, or at least being dismissive

[@matador6461]

ManFRAUD strikes again. Fix these damn jerseys!!!

[@brianpatrickreddington1750]

2029 can't come fast enough time for him to step down

[@johnmarshall4399]

​@@brianpatrickreddington1750john fisher picked them out

[@GG-jy8sb]

What's the difference between "Iron-on" and "Heat-Pressed"? About Tree Fiddy.

[@mattcarberry368]

get outta here monster i ain't givin you no damn tree fiddy!

[@kj6446]

When the 20$ Chinese knockoffs actually look better, you should be worried.

[@lazv1738]

Manfred is the worst commisher, he went from saying no ads on jersey to now having ads. These new jerseys look like knock offs, the rule changes, world series presented by a company is a joke, mlb needs to go back to the old ways

[@TheBayFoto]

The Nike x Fanatics Vapor Premier Elite jerseys that Rob Manfred bought off Temu.

[@damonamendo]

hahah perfect way to put it :)

[@davidburke9596]

Around 2000 Nike changed the Jaguars numbers to a fancier font. Even the announcers complained about how hard they were to read from any distance. They were changed back to the original after 2 weeks.

[@damonamendo]

I don't remember that, I gotta go back and look

[@mikepuncsak7297]

Those jerseys look the stadium give aways at any MLB park U.S.A.

[@damonamendo]

Ha they really do, t-shirt cannon

[@scsmith4604]

$400 for a Customized Authentic Jersey? No Thanks. Not this jersey.

[@insertnamehere5809]

DH GATE sells better jerseys than this 💩!

[@rfwill149]

Love the scream sound … another phenomenal video

[@damonamendo]

Thank you!

[@DennyJr22]

It's pretty obvious why they did this....for more jersey ads. The current ones are "only" one small-ish patch on one sleeve that are embroidered, but add more embroidered ones and the jersey gets heavier and uncomfortable real quick. Heat pressing everything allows more consistency between team logos/names/numbers and ads, while allowing teams to load them up. It's also a big reason why the names and numbers are smaller, more real estate for ads on the back. Soon players will look like NASCAR drivers to make up for lost revenue with the decline of RSN money along with the ageing out of their older fanbase and their disposable income disappearing due to retirement.

[@rnunez6398]

Another great video from DA telling it like it is. I hope he noticed there appears to be a spot on his camera lens. It's only noticeable sometimes when he tilts his head down a bit.

[@damonamendo]

Thanks for the heads up. Didnt notice that.

[@rnunez6398]

You're welcome

[@ClaudiusPGreen]

MLB owners ought to be ashamed of themselves for hiring Manfred in the first place. Baseball doesn’t need any more marketing, but here we are, and the players and, the fans, are all paying the price for owners’ stupidity (and greed.)

[@damonamendo]

Yeah, it's frustrating. I think they do need better marketing but this aint it

[@markpekrul4393]

The Manfred Era is truly a golden age in MLB history...with Fanatics in charge of everything from unis to just about every sports card on the market, what could go wrong?.

[@HYPERPANTHER]

The see through pants make me forget the jersey.

[@mattcarberry368]

the count chocula collars hahah never heard that before but that's exactly what it was, always hated those and yeah especially the font on the back of these new jerseys, how nothing looks embroidered at all, it seriously looks like China knock offs being worn on an MLB field just like the sick pair of "Ray-Bons" i bought for $20

[@damonamendo]

It looks so bad. How could they screw this up so badly?

[@mattcarberry368]

@@damonamendo the amount of corners multi-billion dollar businesses are willing to cut just to pinch a few pennies and give people a little less....... it never surprises me anymore but it's always sad to see

[@bhagmeister]

When I shop for (hockey) jerseys, I immediately skip past the Fanatics brand. Might as well be ‘Franklin’ branded.

[@damonamendo]

Franklin! haha

[@wokkie1999]

Bring back Majestic

[@drumitar]

rob manfred is slowly destroying the game i used to love.

[@damonamendo]

I like the rules changes but so much other stuff he's botched

[@WiggleBabies]

They need to partner with American Needle. Their hats are way higher quality than Fanatics. I bet the jerseys would kill too.

[@damonamendo]

I have to check that brand out

[@ThunderDogY2K3]

Or just have New Era, manufacture MLB uniforms head to toe, they do manufacture CFL uniforms

[@msnintendique64]

Do we have any evidence Rob Manfred even LIKES baseball... I just don't get his entire tenure.

[@damonamendo]

Sometimes it doesn't feel like it

[@JohnnyReno71]

I’m dreading what will happen next year when Fanatics takes over the NHL jerseys 😮

[@banjoplayingbison2275]

At this point DHgate jerseys are gonna start looking better than the real thing

[@JStorm13]

It would be interesting to see the twins simon woods-richardson's jersey.

[@300lbsofsportsknowledge8]

If you need something to get screwed up, then Rob Manfred is your guy.

[@devinstafford1634]

Manfred is Selig's heir and is really proving it. Collusion vs Oakland (remember, Selig selected Wolfe -his buddy - and Fischer) and now keeps us $40mm/yr job in tact by making jerseys so cheap the pants are see-through. Only option? No one Buy these Jerseys! Can't profit if nothing is sold.

[@fpjrzman]

Rob Manfred saying they're Nike, well, false. Nike does the jerseys for many IIHF members, aside, for the uninitiated, the IIHF is international hockey, and while I'm not a fan of the cut, or the aesthetics of them, they're still quality jerseys, and worth the $200 to purchase one. These do NOT meet that standard, and I'm terrified now of what this means for the NHL.

[@CoolAsCards]

They made the jersey letters smaller so they could fit them on their baseball cards and sell more cards. Garunteed

[@GRUMPY656799]

little league has nicer uniforms for 12 year olds

[@ianhall6614]

Seriously my youth jerseys looked nicer than these and we didn’t even have to pay for them back then

[@geetarbube]

Good video but your mic is clipping terribly

[@artfuldp1669]

Commissioner Manfred had the exact same response to The Astros cheating scandal. "Just give it some time and I believe you'll forget that there was ever a problem."

[@damonamendo]

It's true. I think he operates that way

[@MatthewDGraves]

I don’t understand why he announced he’s stepping down as Commissioner…. In five years?!? Is this the farewell tour where you tear everything down Rob?

[@damonamendo]

I didnt get that either. 5 year run up?

[@fantasticvoyage262]

Is this really any worse than ruining the uniforms last year with garbage ads?

[@damonamendo]

That's true too. The ads are so bad

[@darcyanddutch]

What's even worse is that the home "white" jerseys aren't really "white" but and "off white", a tint of yellow in them. Unsightly when next to a previous white home jersey. Very odd decision by Nike.

[@prberg2]

Agree... poor decision. The teams have specific colors.. and the new jerseys should match those colors!

[@thefozzybear]

Let fans and players speak out. The fans just don't buy low-quality jerseys.

[@Feelsbadman23]

I think about the quality of the 90s Russell Athletic compared to these now. Russell may not have been as cool but damn did they put effort and fine detail in their work. Fanatics has destroyed not only jerseys, but they have bought everything out, so every “shop” just funnels you to the same fanatics cheap bs website.

[@matthewmorey8310]

The MLB jas spent years getting people to love its brand, teams, trophies. And over and over again, Manfred tells us that those things don't matter.

[@damonamendo]

Very good point

[@deanmason3465]

You nailed it,DA. My sons travel team has better looking jerseys.

[@Smiggly2574]

Did Babchik design the jerseys?

[@damonamendo]

Sure looks like it. LOL

[@havokan45]

The problem with the Jerseys is they look like bootleg or fakes now and look very cheaply made for that price tag they are asking for them . Who wants to play all this money for something that looks like it's going to fall apart when it gets wet . Just think when it starts to rain why the game is going on and the Jerseys start to fall apart that would be some funny stuff like said it looks like they are now cutting corners making them can't wait to see how they hold up in play

[@Matt_Fields_29]

The best football jerseys fabrics and template wise, is the current Packers jerseys. Nike's had these since the mid 2000s for college teams, and now the Packers are the only NFL team left who still uses them.

[@Matt_Fields_29]

All the fabrics Nike's come out with since for jerseys has been tech overkill.

[@user-nd7wy6jl4s]

Congratulations to everyone having Presidents Day off, you included D.A. bad day for Sirius XM sports listening. Even local radio is running on fumes today. Some host in Tampa, brought his 70 yr old dad on, as a fill in host today. Good day for Jazz.

[@damonamendo]

Yeah, this was a nice gift from George Washington.

[@seen48]

We need to be boycotting Fanatics. They have a total monopoly and the “Fanatics” brand is absolutely terrible. It never seems to be the same quality. I have purchased a few polyester NHL shirts that all say 100% Polyester and the necklines are different, the material feels different and the sizing is so off (same size ordered) for all of their low sleeve shirts. And forget about ordering their brand of hat, complete garbage.

[@Froston1]

this nike baseball jersey dubcable is the start of of going very cheap, as a hockey guy I'm already scared that fanatics is gonna ruin the hockey jersey since they Adidas has quite quit in hockey

[@denniss1044]

Players know these things are garbage.

[@DaveLeperre]

Very nice…. Now let’s see Paul Allen’s jersey.

[@checkdown3774]

400!?

[@hustlecrowe9440]

Fanatics is 100% behind this - their jerseys have alway been bootleg quality, cheaper to produce means more profit, also the thinner fabric and heat-pressed twill are easier to put in baseball cards. Nike game-issued jerseys used be produced in the US so they are top quality, if players are getting the same garbage that means its all being made in China by Fanatics. The same thing happened to Mitchell & Ness - top quality Made in USA, then went to El Salvador (good quality), then Korea (not so good), then China (absolute garbage - started using the same fabric and twill material as the bootlegs).

[@DennyJr22]

And with New Era too, not too long ago all the on-fields were USA made and great quality for 30-something dollars. Now they're $42 and up, made in China and are absolute garbage.

[@damonamendo]

That sounds about right

[@traci635]

Manfred is the most "out of touch" commissioner in pro sports. These jerseys are awful and if he thinks the players hate them, wait till he sees replica jersey sales plummet and all that lost revenue.... His handling of the A's situation is the cherry on top. Vegas isn't the market for this team, certainly not the way it's being handled. News flash Manfred! A's belong in Oakland!

[@SuperJK-Man]

Nike went cheap with the NFL jersey. For a high price, Nike sell a heated press number and name football jersey for $180. They say it was to be environmentally friendly than the stitch number and name. Yet, Nike still wants to charge an arm and leg for the heat pressed. And the quality of the material feels cheap. Hopefully they do not screw up the MLB jerseys

[@damonamendo]

Oh no, they said it was for the environment!? No cotton was harmed in the making of this jersey??

[@Richard-od7yd]

The only DRIP I'm getting from these Jerseys is more like the CLAP !!

[@mikepuncsak7297]

What am i going to tell Oakland A's fans Theres the gnats playing baseball yet in your area.Is that man daft or what ...I mean come on Damon he wants me to buy a SF cap??? Hell will freeze over first

[@KVAL83]

FANATICS IS COMPLETE JUNK!!!

[@prberg2]

These new Jerseys are really pretty bad. The quality is clearly lower. Change the fabric if it works better for the players (although many don't seem to like it), but why mess with the colors, the fonts, the placement, etc. Teams where the home jerseys are white.. now have a yellowish white. That just looks cheap. The lettering doesn't line up right.. just looks unprofessional. MLB/Nike/Fanatics should be fixing this ASAP

[@ThriftyHorrorFan81]

Nike just outright cutting corners on the new 2024 MLB jerseys to maximize profit and make the jerseys for as little as possible. They probably cost $25 to make but Nike will charge you $175 to buy one in a store.

[@MikeHunt-fx9rg]

Nike ruined pro uniforms and fanatics ruined sports apparel

[@RickRottman]

The knockoff jerseys from China are now better quality than the official jerseys.

[@checkdown3774]

Rob Manfred should run for politics. He'd fit right in with all the bsers.

[@kristinadevine707]

The jerseys get worse and cheaper aftet every MLB contract negotiations. The crew at MLB are inept and incompetent. I thought Selig was bad, but Manfred is clueless!

[@SHUB281]

Ok. I've seen video after video about these jerseys. But not one has an actual jersey in their possession. This seems like a "New Coke" marketing scheme.

[@damonamendo]

Oh, I like that conspiracy theory.

[@JJ-fg2wd]

there are a couple videos where fans actually compare the new ones to previous authentic versions. Brodie Brazil used clips from a Blue Jays fan's video comparing the 2024 authentic he purchased from the Jays team store to the 2023 version.

[@SHUB281]

@@JJ-fg2wd yeah. I found em

[@rm9184]

Fanatics is GARBAGE!!

[@pamoon_]

I have a Rancho Cucamonga Quakes jersey better than this. It has stronger embroidery, it's breathable and cost less. When the minor league teams have better jerseys than their major league squads, we have a problem.

[@m.kennedy342]

Yes. Not just minor leagues. Many of the college uniform sets are better than MLB. Sad times.

[@damonamendo]

That sounds like a cool jersey

[@druck7480]

everything is made with cheap materials, except the price is damn near doubled… ok, got it…

[@docofswank88]

These New Jerseys do look like garbage and wasn’t sure what to expect. The Majestic style was crisp and classic. These look like someone used a crickut to mass produce for a professional sports league.

[@bradleymccampbell9808]

He’s BFF’s with Michael Rubin (owner of fanatics), henceforth, why your jerseys are trash now.

[@damonamendo]

How does Rubin have all those baller parties when he can't make a decent jersey?

[@denniss1044]

Majestic or nothing. These things are 🗑

[@Heartofiron9]

Damon is completely wrong and didn't research this. Manfred is saying "THESE ARE NIKE JERSEYS" Because the jersey fans and MLB fans have deemed these fanatics jerseys... Online the narrative is that these aren't Nike, nor Nike quality. But fanatics slapping a swoosh on it

[@damonamendo]

Yes, I do think that's something he wanted to also establish. But I think with the rest of his explanation he's also trying to get you to believe that Nike doesn't screw anything up. So it's the critics who are wrong.

[@Heartofiron9]

@@damonamendo people aren't blaming Nike, they're saying these are famatic jerseys from beginning to end just with a Nike licensed logo slapped on. If you check out articles or videos they're all saying these are fanatics and not Nike jerseys, that's why he was saying it. Interesting take to have though

[@JimKimTheIdeaHunters]

These look like mens league jerseys 🤣

[@damonamendo]

They really do

[@MrRicklynch57]

Did Colin Cowherd get younger and color his hair?

[@damonamendo]

Not sure if that's a compliment or a diss. ha

[@bradleymccampbell9808]

Fanatics = Cheapskates

[@hartiwanger9176]

Stop using Nike stuff.

[@davidhalcon5594]

This clown can’t get out of his own way. Jerseys? He can’t even get those right!

[@gabrielquesnot7840]

Like Rob Manless even gives a Fuck about the new quality of the MLB Jerseys!🤷‍♂🤦‍♂

[@walterbison]

I don't see Jerry Rice or Walter Payton on your wall behind you. Shame on you.

[@damonamendo]

I love them both. Agreed. I need to get them.

[@bundesautobahn7]

So, cheapo jerseys and yet you still pay at least 100 Dollars for them, I presume?

[@KeithKHE]

This is one of the biggest debacles in the history of Major League baseball. At a time where you are trying to attract a younger audience, you introduce jerseys that look like the dollar store versions of their former selves. It's a marketing disaster, it's not just one team's jersey it is every team in the league. You should take every single one of these new jerseys and give them to all those kids in Africa like they do with the losing super bowl teams winning t-shirts. This is very bad. Shame on Manfred, shame on Nike, and shame on any of the owners that make their teams wear these disgustingly terrible jerseys.

[@damonamendo]

True, why not try to make the jerseys look "BETTER" for kids?