NEW YORK — The pitch for the Major League Baseball next season will change.
The San Diego PadresThey were the first to announce a deal with Motorola for advertising on their uniforms. Tuesday’s announcement stated that patches with the Motorola logo will be worn on their right sleeves.
The players’ association and MLB signed a memorandum for understanding on March 10, which gave the teams the rights to sell patches on uniforms and stickers on helmets. MLB proposed an amendment to the Official Baseball Rules on Aug. 6, 2021. It stated that no part of the uniform should include patches or designs related to commercial advertising.
The MLB proposal stated that: “Notwithstanding any other provisions in these rules, a club can license to third party commercial sponsors the right of placing their name, logos, and/or marks on the uniform. Provided that the patch or design has been approved by the Office for the Commissioner after consultations with the players’ associations.
MLB has announced that the uniform ads will be launched with the 2023 season.
Erik Greupner, Padres CEO, stated Tuesday that “Motorola’s iconic logo is on our jersey and it is a perfect alignment to our Padres brand.”
In the past, baseball has used ads to promote special events. The Tokyo Opening Series was televised by the New York Mets Chicago CubsAccording to uni-watch.com, sleeve patches were worn in 2000 by AIU Insurance Company and helmet decals for am/pm convenience store chains. The New York Yankees Tampa Bay RaysWe designed and printed helmet decals and sleeve advertisements for Ricoh Electronics in Japan in 2004. Oakland AthleticsPepsi ads were worn on sleeves Boston Red SoxEMC in 2008 when Ricoh was on both team helmets; Seattle MarinersOakland Athletics had Boeing on sleeves, while Oakland Athletics had the social-app company Gloops in 2012. Gloops was on both sleeves. Oakland also had MGM Resorts on sleeves. In 2019, Seattle had Eneos, a petroleum company.
Eintracht Braunschweig, then in the Bundesliga, became the first German club with advertising in March 1973 under an agreement with Jägermeister.
Jersey advertisements in Britain’s professional leagues began with Hibernian of Scotland during the 1977-1978 season. Bukta (a sportswear company) was involved. Liverpool’s agreement with Hitachi extended the reach to English League fields before the 1979-80 season.
According to footballpink.net in 1979, Juventus began shirt advertising under a deal in Serie A with Ariston. Real Madrid also started in Spain’s La Liga in 1982 with Zanussi.
Major League Soccer became one of the first major North American leagues that allowed jersey ads in 2007. Real Salt Lake announced a partnership with XanGo, a dietary supplement juice manufacturer.
The NBA, among other North American leagues started selling sponsorship logos in 2017-18. The NHL began jersey advertising and launched helmet advertisements for the 2020-21 season.