MLB Players Can Use Nicknames on Jerseys, Bright Shoes on Players Weekend

Major League Baseball is granting its players additional freedom when it comes to their jerseys from Aug. 25-27 for Players Weekend.         

On Wednesday, Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports cited a memo revealing the league and the MLB Players Association negotiated the weekend. Players can enjoy more lenient uniform rules, including the ability to put nicknames on the back, use a personalized patch to honor someone who helped in their baseball journey and wear fluorescent shoes.

Passan listed spikes, batting gloves, wristbands and catcher's masks among the pieces of equipment "with minimal color restrictions," although he noted they cannot interfere with the game or umpires. White gloves, sleeves and wristbands also aren't allowed.

MLB will sell the jerseys, with proceeds going to the Youth Development Foundation, and Passan suggested a successful weekend could lend itself to more relaxed uniform rules in the future.

If nothing else, this will give MLB players the opportunity to insert some personality into the game. The league often doesn't feature the same individuality and superstardom as basketball, where fans rush to the store to buy the latest LeBron James gear or tune in on a nightly basis just to see Russell Westbrook play.

The fact the retired Ken Griffey Jr. was on the cover of MLB The Show 17 is both a testament to the Hall of Famer's remaining popularity and an indication there is not a defined national face of baseball in the current game. Even Los Angeles Angels great Mike Trout is often overshadowed in his own market by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Players Weekend will give today's generation of ballplayers a chance to appeal to younger and older fans alike.