MLB.com merchandise now featuring taunting T-shirts

[JimH5]

I thought this was a little strange. On MLB.com's homepage, there is a link to their webstore, where fans can buy T-shirts that go a little beyond the standard fare. For instance this one for Cubs fans that trashes the Brewers:

 

http://mlb.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pMLB2-5892457dt.jpg

I get that individuals have made a nice little industry out of selling the "Yankees S*CK" stuff and the like, but now for MLB itself to join the party seems a little weird.

[Brian the Automator]

Well, they're probably noticing that a LARGE number of people are buying novelty-type shirts from non-official sources. There's a lot of money to be had.

[Invader3K]

It doesn't bother me. When do we get our shirt taunting the Cubs, though?

[hawing]

Wouldn't any cub fan worth his/her salt be saying, "OK, MLB, where's my Cardinal taunting shirt?"? The Brewers just aren't their primary rival.

[TheCrew07]

Well it's sort of a slippery slope... would we get scrubs, or the classic choke? There's an element of class that's missing when the league gets involved, those other tee shirts have long been the domain of entrepreneurs... I remember when Alvarez came to the Badgers and suddenly the creative tee-shirt vendors were no longer to be found anywhere near the stadium.

 

I'm really not sure that MLB should be involved in taunting either way.

[owbc]

Wouldn't you rather be a 'wiener' than a loser?

[BadgerFan]

I'd like to see a shirt that just says "1908" in big font. Maybe a picture of a goat as well!

[apirk]

I've seen tons of ant-Cubs shirts sold at stores here in St. Louis. About half are Cubs vs Cards but there are some universal hate ones as well such as the Choke Cubs logo. The only problem I have with the one MLB is selling is that it looks terrible and is not clever.

[LaprilOne]

Well, unlike Cub fans at least we have wieners. Or about half of us. (ta dump! Here 'till Thursday!)

[dlk9s]

I'd like to see a shirt that just says "1908" in big font. Maybe a picture of a goat as well!

I like it, but the only problem is that if they finally do win a World Series, you pretty much have to donate that shirt to Goodwill.

 

But then again, it would probably be your great-grandkids donating it, so I guess you'd get your money's worth.

[beno78]

Is that shirt really taunting us? Looks more like an add for the sausage race.

[Jimbo]

It doesn't bother me. When do we get our shirt taunting the Cubs, though?

 

http://my.execpc.com/~silkey/Sports/Bartman_Shirt.jpg

 

 

[Invader3K]

Is that shirt really taunting us?.

 

Well, it's definitely the intent, seeing the Cubs logo at the bottom of the shirt.

[pretendastronaut]

I don't find the shirt itself to be anything nasty, but I do think it's a strange marketing choice for the MLB. These types of products are best left to the people who started them, not the MLB. Disparging your own brands could get out of hand.

[temke]

I remember when Alvarez came to the Badgers and suddenly the creative tee-shirt vendors were no longer to be found anywhere near the stadium.

which unfortunately made the "f em bucky" shirts harder to find...until recently...interestingly enough after alvarez moved up in the UW athletic world.

[bucks2281]

I've seen tons of ant-Cubs shirts sold at stores here in St. Louis. About half are Cubs vs Cards but there are some universal hate ones as well such as the Choke Cubs logo. The only problem I have with the one MLB is selling is that it looks terrible and is not clever.

I think Rina Wear in St. Louis sells a couple of anti-Brewers shirts. They have some funny Cubs shirts, but I think a few of them might get you in trouble if you wore them to a game.

[rluzinski]

I think that's as mild as taunting could ever get. I think it's kind of cute.

 

There's nothing wrong with respectful bantering. I've had fun conversations with rival fans at Miller Park. Not often with Cubs fans though. http://forum.brewerfan.net/images/smilies/smile.gif

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

We've arrived. Considering 7/9 shirts are either Yankees or Boston, that's an accomplishment to be labeled as a rival.

 

Now how about a Brewers jersey with Bartman on the back.

[BrewCrewRising]

I'd like to see a shirt that just says "1908" in big font. Maybe a picture of a goat as well!

 

This is brilliant! I think it would also be funny to have a shirt that seems sarcastically proud of the 1908 accomplishment. Something like "My great, great grandfather went to the West Side Grounds to see the Cubs win the World Series and all I got was this lousy t-shirt."

[Fatter than Joey]

Did you know that the Home Plate ump during the 1908 WS, was born during the Civil War?

[LaprilOne]

Did you know that the Home Plate ump during the 1908 WS, was born during the Civil War?

Putting him roughly in his early to mid forties. Bet his Dad was a Vet. Hmm, do you have the guys name (which I presume you do). I want to look him up, see if his Dad was an interesting Vet.

[Fatter than Joey]

Hank O'Day