Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin Addresses MLB’s New Uniform Debacle

Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin spoke at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference on Friday, and defended his company amid MLB’s uniform debacle.

Players began complaining at spring training over the last few weeks about the new uniforms set to be used this season that are designed by Nike and manufactured by Rubin’s company.

“This is a little bit of a difficult position,” Rubin said Friday. “We’re purely doing exactly as we’ve been told, and we’ve been told we’re doing everything exactly right. And we’re getting the s--- kicked out of us. So that’s not fun.”

Fanatics has been making uniforms for Major League Baseball since 2017 with limited issues. However, MLB and Nike set the specifications for the uniforms this season with some changes from years past. Fanatics delivered on the updates to the uniforms, which have been criticized by players.

Specifically, players have complained about the fit of the new uniforms, as well as the white pants, which appeared to be see-through enough to see the tucked-in jerseys within. 

While Rubin acknowledged MLB and Nike’s changes impacted the view of Fanatics with the uniforms, the business mogul believes the changes to the uniforms were made for “all the right reasons.”

“Nike designs everything,” Rubin added on Friday. “[Nike] hands us a spec and says, ‘Make this.’ We have made everything exactly to the spec, and Nike and baseball would say, ‘Yes, you’ve done everything we’ve asked you to do.’”

MLB, Nike and Fanatics have stated they will work together with players to adjust the uniform fit before Opening Day. But players might have no choice but to adapt.to the new threads.