The New York Yankees have made a significant change to their iconic pinstriped uniforms by introducing a sponsored patch, the team announced on Wednesday. Starting on July 21, Starr Insurance logos will debut on the sleeves of Yankees jerseys. The location of the patch will vary from player to player.
Starr Insurance, a commercial insurance company, has been named as New York’s “signature partner” and will be the team’s first-ever jersey patch partner. This move makes the Yankees the 13th team in Major League Baseball (MLB) to have a sponsored jersey patch, following in the footsteps of the Padres who unveiled their patch last April.
The introduction of a sponsored patch on the Yankees’ uniform has caused a stir among fans and experts. The Athletic describes it as a “jarring change” for a team that holds its history and traditions in high regard. The reaction from fans is expected to be brutal, as it goes against the traditional appearance of the Yankees’ uniform. However, like most changes, it is likely to eventually fade into the background.
One amusing take on the sponsorship comes from a writer at The Athletic who suggests that the Yankees needed a way to pay for star player Aaron Judge’s contract. In reality, sponsorships on uniforms have become commonplace in sports, and fans have little power to change these decisions. The financial aspect of such partnerships cannot be ignored, as they provide additional revenue for teams.
The inclusion of sponsor patches on MLB uniforms was agreed upon in the latest collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players association. This move follows the lead of the NBA, which introduced uniform advertising during the 2017-18 season, and the NHL, which started utilizing jersey patches in the 2022-23 season.
Aside from the sleeve patches, Starr Insurance will also have signage displayed on the Yankee Stadium outfield wall in front of both the home and visiting team bullpens. The company, described as a “preeminent global insurance and investment organization,” has its largest office based in New York. Yankees Chairman Hal Steinbrenner expressed pride in welcoming Starr Insurance as the team’s first-ever Signature Partner.
It remains to be seen how fans will ultimately react to the sponsored patch on the Yankees’ uniforms. The traditional appearance of the pinstriped jerseys has been an iconic symbol of the team’s history. However, as other sports leagues have demonstrated, sponsored patches have become a permanent fixture in the world of sports.