MLB Fans Had Strong Reactions to Debut of Strauss Helmet Patches in Playoffs

This looks ... interesting.

Matt Vierling and the Tigers began their wild-card series against the Astros on Tuesday afternoon. | Troy Taormina-Imagn Images

Batting helmets across baseball will have a slightly different look during the 2024 MLB playoffs—and beyond.

Game 1 of the wild-card series between the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park marked the debut of the sponsored Strauss logo on the side of each helmet.

Back in September, MLB announced a partnership with Strauss, a German workwear company, to display their logo in the playoffs for the next four postseasons, and on all minor-league batting helmets all season long beginning in 2025.

While sponsorship patches are nothing new—the majority of MLB teams have a patch on the sleeves of their jersey—the location on the batting helmet is new, and it's a bit jarring.

Fans weighed in on MLB's latest attempt to grab dollars:

Looks awful.

— Wilson (@TitansTalkGuy) October 1, 2024

Let's just NASCAR these boys up.

"I was real happy with how the Strauss Nestle Quiktrip Nike FanDuel Lousiville Slugger bat performed today."

— Josh Chavis (@JoshChavis65) October 1, 2024

Could they have made it any larger

— annoying ohtani fan (@owndodgerhaters) October 1, 2024

For some reason I hate this way more than jersey patches lol

— Spencer (@sbp_21) October 1, 2024

I’m boycotting the Strauss company out of principle. I don’t even know what that company is or what they do, but I’m never purchasing anything because they ruined helmets in the playoffs.

— Frank-Paul Santangelo Jr. (@fp_jr) October 1, 2024

The Strauss logo is so ugly man.

— Griff (@deeptocenter) October 1, 2024

MLB has a full slate of playoff action scheduled for Tuesday, with Game 1 of all four wild-card series—Astros-Tigers, Royals-Orioles, Mets-Brewers and Braves-Padres—set to begin.

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