Baseball Loosens Rules and Opens Door to a Vibrant Weekend … – New York Times

Other than designated games like those on Mother’s Day (which has been awash in pink in recent years) or the Fourth of July (when a red-white-and-blue motif prevails), players have to follow a precise and lengthy uniform code. It mandates that 51 percent of cleats’ surface be in the team’s designated primary shoe color and compatible with the team’s design and color scheme and that bats have a natural finish or a dark-colored stain like brown or black.

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The array of colors expected on players’ feet and in their hands this weekend, then, may be blinding to traditionalists. Players were “interested in finding unique ways to connect with their fans by allowing them to see more of their personalities and interests,” Tony Clark, the executive director of the Major League Baseball Players Association, said in announcing the creation of the event, which was a joint effort between Major League Baseball and the union.

As a result, Mets reliever Josh Smoker, who grew up racing cars in Georgia, will wear cleats with a Richard Petty theme. Yankees pitcher C. C. Sabathia will pay homage to his roots and his musical taste with black-and-red cleats that feature the faces of Mac Dre and E-40, two rappers who, like him, are from the Bay Area. The Cubs star Kris Bryant will honor a charity, and the Yankees’ Todd Frazier will offer a nod to his New Jersey roots with a picture of Frank Sinatra and other Garden State iconography on his shoes. Frazier’s Yankees teammate, reliever Dellin Betances, showed off cleats in the colors of the Statue of Liberty, pale green and gold, before Friday’s game.

“I’m not a very flashy dresser, but I figured for #PlayersWeekend was the perfect time to break out the neon green spikes,” Houston Astros starter Collin McHugh posted on social media, along with a photo of cleats featuring a blend of unexpected colors. Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes chose an even brighter pair, complete with a cartoon word bubble proclaiming, “Yo!”

Over the years, cleat customization has moved from the underground — and from being frowned upon by some apparel companies — closer to the mainstream. Even bats customized beyond the rules face similar disapproval. Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper said that when he used a bat on July 4, 2015, that featured the Washington skyline and the United States flag, he had done so expecting a fine.

“Guys are already pushing the limits of what everyone else is used to,” Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Archie Bradley said. “This is a nice way to take all the rules off and go all the way out.”

Several players also planned to use special bats this weekend. Jose Altuve of the Astros ordered bats from his supplier, Sam Bat, that use the colors and design of the Venezuelan flag. The rookie Amed Rosario picked out a bright orange-and-blue bat, an option for Mets players from Marucci Sports, and Smith, his teammate, chose a matte blue version.

The demand for unique cleats, batting gloves, bats and equipment has led to a mad rush from manufacturers. Kyle Ourso, the vice president for sports marketing with Marucci Sports, which supplies bats to about 200 major league players in addition to gloves and catchers’ gear, said planning for this weekend had been “kind of a nightmare.”

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He said he had been told about the concept for Players Weekend in late June and had had to submit ideas for approval in mid-July. Then everything had to be made and delivered by this weekend.

“We didn’t have a ton of time to reach out to the guys and say, ‘Hey, what are you thinking, and what is unique to you and different?’” Ourso said. “This year will be cool and get the wheels spinning and get guys thinking about next year’s Players Weekend, and it’ll be a little bit more creative. But it’s still really cool and really creative.”

One reason this weekend has been embraced by many players — not to mention eager manufacturers — is that baseball has fallen behind in player promotion and self-expression. Last year, Boston Red Sox starter David Price said he had received warnings for wearing spruced-up cleats. He argued that baseball could attract the younger fans it desperately seeks if players were allowed to show more personality in their equipment.

“In the age of social media, personality is so often stifled,” said Mike Carozza, who founded the website WhatProsWear.com five years ago as a hobby, to keep track of what equipment baseball’s best players use. Carozza said 75 percent of his website’s readers were 13 to 34 years old.

“A lot of these leagues are awakening to the idea that kids love this stuff,” he said. “And they so badly need these kids. Price is absolutely right. Why shouldn’t he be able to show his personality?”

But there is still a force, perhaps a residual effect of baseball’s longstanding culture of conformity, that has made some players reluctant to change.

Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin planned to wear the same black cleats he had used all season, saying he does not care much for self-expression through his equipment.

“I like the old-school style of approaching things,” he said. “You put your uniform on, do your job, and come back and do it the next day. All the showboating stuff, I don’t like it or care for it myself.”

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