Players’ Weekend, the annual custom equipment celebration in Major League Baseball (MLB), began on Friday. The event, initiated in 2017, celebrates the diversity and creativity of the players with a specific theme on each of the three days. On Friday, the theme was “players’ hobbies and interests,” moving on to “charities and community efforts” on Saturday, and culminating on Sunday with a day dedicated to the “mentors and influences” in players’ careers. The end of Players’ Weekend was marked on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, featuring a face-off between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers.
One of the highlights of the event was Detroit Tigers’ Tarik Skubal, also known as “Skoob.” He donned spikes adorned with an image of Scooby Doo, living up to his playful nickname. Besides this unusual fashion choice, Skubal also helped create a burger named after him, the “Skubal Snack Burger.” Made with bacon, pepper jack cheese, light mayo, and a fried egg, it’s offered for sale by the Tigers.
Willy Adames of the Milwaukee Brewers stood out with a different bat for each theme day. Particularly, his blue bat, adorned with a sea turtle and a recycle logo, represented his passion for the ocean and his involvement with the charity “Players for the Planet.” His aquatic theme extended to his Rawlings glove, which sported painted water droplets.
The Cincinnati Reds, for their part, are expected to use cleats designed by patients from the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Plans are in place to auction these off after the weekend at Reds.com, with the proceeds benefiting the same hospital, making an enduring impact on the lives of local children from the celebrations.
Last year, a young group from the Philadelphia Phillies earned the nickname “Phillies Daycare.” To this day, players like Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh, and Bryson Stott have embraced the moniker wholeheartedly, showing off daycare-themed bats during the festivities.
Toronto Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement brought a unique piece to the plate: a bat that looks like a pencil, or perhaps a pencil that is also a bat. This baseball equipment served as a whimsical reminder of the importance of the written word in the world of sports, particularly for The Athletic. Players’ Weekend hence succeeded in providing a platform for players to express their individuality, interests, and even sense of humor, making baseball more relatable and engaging for fans.
