This postseason is bringing yet another new wrinkle to Major League Baseball that may rankle some purists — advertisements on the players’ batting helmets.
As part of a multiyear deal announced Friday, the name and logo of German workwear company Strauss will appear on helmets during the postseason and regular season games in Europe.
The deal also extends to the minor leagues — players will have the Strauss name and logo on their helmets starting in 2025.
The batting helmet advertising represents the latest outgrowth of advertisements being placed on baseball uniforms. The league approved sleeve patches for use in games starting with the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, helmet advertisements have already appeared during special regular season games. Both the Dodgers and Padres wore ads on their helmets during the Korea Series in March, and both the Phillies and Mets did the same when they played a series in London in June.
Strauss, described as “one of the world’s leading workwear manufacturers” in a news release issued by MLB, was founded in Germany in 1948 and entered the U.S. market in 2023. The company specializes in creating multi-pocket workwear, work equipment and safety gear.
(Photo of Jeff McNeil from the London Series in June: Daniel Shirey / MLB Photos via Getty Images)
