MLB cleat flap: As Ben Zobrist's peers lend support, uniform regulations may be loosened

BALTIMORE — Kevin Kiermaier stood at his locker Sunday morning clad in a pink Under Armour pullover, pulled on some pink socks and wore a pink Tampa Bay Rays hat backward as he sipped coffee.

It was Mother's Day across Major League Baseball, and so Kiermaier, his teammates and 29 other teams were participating in the 13th year of MLB's effort to raise awareness and raise funds to fight breast cancer. Kiermaier gladly donned the gear, just as he does on Jackie Robinson Day, Memorial Day, Father's Day and Independence Day, all featuring alternate jerseys and caps with charitable tie-ins.

Yet, Kiermaier and many of his big league colleagues find it outrageous that they are being dinged by MLB's shoe police, drawing warnings and, on subsequent violations, fines if their footwear does not adhere to league-mandated specifications.

"I think it’s our players’ duty to stand up for what we believe in," said Kiermaier, the Rays' Gold Glove outfielder.

And in this case, what they believe in is a simple mode of expression through an avenue that connects with the ever-coveted youth demographic: Footwear.

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Chicago Cubs outfielder Ben Zobrist lodged a protest on social media when he received a warning from MLB noting that his black cleats ran afoul of what's becoming known as the 51% Rule. Technically, it's Section G(1) of the collective bargaining agreement, which requires that a player's shoes must feature at least 51% of his team's primary color. 

Zobrist's black cleats, he wrote, were meant as a tribute to Ernie Banks, Stan Musial and others who wore black cleats back in the day. 

The players would like to believe there's a safe space between egregious fashion violations and pedantic enforcement — and that space could emerge.

A baseball official told USA TODAY Sports that the players' association and MLB have been in negotiations since spring training to add flexibility in the areas of player equipment and uniforms. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations are ongoing.

The MLB Players' Association said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports that no negotiations are currently occuring, but that the MLBPA remains open to dialog.

“The Players Association is not currently negotiating a deal with MLB on apparel or equipment, but we have left the door open for further discussions on what a fair and equitable deal might look like," said the MLBPA in a statement. "The shoe regulations in our CBA were initiated by the League office.  On multiple occasions, Players have sought modifications to relax them — modifications that would enable Players to express themselves more freely, to better engage a new generation of fans in a fun way, and to pay homage to our game’s rich traditions.

"But our previous proposals have been either rejected or met with unbalanced demands for concessions. Their approach has therefore continued to lead to missed opportunities.”

Cases such as Zobrist's and Cleveland Indians pitcher Mike Clevinger highlight a tension between MLB's franchises, its players and competing shoe companies, all of which want to connect with a younger demographic.

Zobrist's violation came one month after New Balance's rollout of the PF Flyers, tied to the 25th anniversary of The Sandlot. The affable Zobrist's recasting as a villain certainly resulted in a dose of earned media for New Balance.

While MLB might regard uniform violations as a slippery slope, its players believe that getting dinged for apparently reasonable flouting of the rules is untenable.

"A guy like Ben Zobrist, who means good in every intention, in all facets of life, if he's saying something like that," said Kiermaier, a former teammate of Zobrist's with the Rays, "well, he wasn't trying to cause a distraction. Now, it is a distraction, because they're trying to fine us or whatnot.

"I don’t agree with it. No one in this room agrees with it. If they’re trying to punish us and fine us for it, so be it."

As MLB's core demographic ages, it has tried with varying degrees of success to connect with younger fans. A 2017 analysis by Street and Smith's Sports Business Journal indicated the average age of its TV viewer is 57. The NBA's, by contrast, is 42. 

Not that footwear is everything, but the NBA is decidedly more lax in its uniform regulations. During a May 8 playoff victory, the Golden State Warriors sported at least four different hues of shoe: White (Stephen Curry), gold (Kevin Durant), blue (Draymond Green) and black (Shaun Livingston). 

“Shoes are personality,” said Rays reliever Sergio Romo,  motioning toward closer Jesus Colome and his baby blue cleats. “They’re a way for us to show our style, personality, things that we like.

"I want to conform, I want to follow the rules and do what’s right. I’d also like to express myself, too, within reason."