The New York Yankees players are campaigning for the team to add an alternate jersey.
Throughout the years, MLB teams have used a third jersey, whether it’s the City Connects or another alternate jersey. Yet, the Yankees have stuck to their tradition and continue to use only two.
However, Aaron Judge and other Yankees players are campaigning for the team to start an alternate jersey, which reporter Chris Kirschner of The Athletic isn’t a fan of.
“For decades, the Yankees separated themselves through tradition,” Kirschner wrote. “They didn’t follow trends; they set them. But Wednesday’s news that the players have pitched wearing alternate road jerseys to the team’s higher-ups is just another example of the Yankees considering bucking tradition for modernity, player preference and, of course, revenue. It’s unclear if the club will move forward with this proposal, but the fact that it’s even a conversation says everything. …
“The Yankees changed their road jerseys a few years ago when they removed the white piping that surrounded the letters, at the urging of Aaron Judge. But introducing a new jersey is a line the Yankees should never think about crossing. It is beneath them and would be an identity shift.”
Kirschner believes the Yankees need to stick to tradition and not please Judge and the players again by creating an alternate jersey.
Instead, the Yankees should be focusing on their play and trying to win their first championship since 2009.
Michael Kay Calls Out Yankees Players
Along with Kirschner, Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay also called out the players wanting an alternate jersey.
Kay believes the Yankees players have demanded whatever they want and have gotten it, while they haven’t delivered a championship that the fans and ownership demand. So, the broadcaster doesn’t believe New York should give the players an alternate jersey.
“It can’t be a one-way street,” Kay said. “Give me, give me, give me. Hal Steinbrenner says, ‘Well, give me a championship. Give me the 28th title I want. I’m spending $350 million in payroll. Give me that, and maybe I’ll give you other stuff.’ All I’ve seen over these years, ‘let’s make things great for the players. Let’s give the players everything they want.’ And they deserve to have great things. It’s not an easy job, but they’re well compensated for it.
“But you pay top dollar, you have a state-of-the-art clubhouse, you travel in style, you stay in the best hotels. Ok great, that stuff should be. But the extra little things, ‘let us grow our hair longer, can we wear beards?’ Well then, win me a championship. Because if I’m going to move away from the Yankees and what the Yankees stand for, then I’m going to need something back from you.”
The Yankees’ players’ latest request is causing some frustration from fans and those who cover the team, as they don’t believe New York should do an alternate jersey.
Judge Justifies Alternate Jersey
After some backlash from fans and reporters, Judge explained why he felt like the Yankees should have an alternate jersey.
Yankees players spoke to the media and showed their support for an alternate jersey and said the patch on their jerseys bucked tradition as well.
“I’m all about tradition, but we’ve got a patch on our sleeves,” Judge said.
For now, the Yankees have yet to announce their decision on an alternate jersey. But the players are pushing for and are hoping it will happen.
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