Though it’s doubtful Rays manager Joe Maddon needed to channel Bill Belichick in order to supervise Tampa’s sweep of the Red Sox this weekend, the Tampa skipper no longer has the freedom to choose his own attire, according to the following unattributed piece in Monday’s Chicago Tribune (link swiped from Repoz and Baseball Think Factory) :
Maddon (above) has been told by Major League Baseball that he can no longer wear his favorite hoodie. Maddon likes to put on the pullover during cold days at the ballpark, but MLB said it’s not approved for use during games.
Baseball reissued a memo last Friday saying managers and coaches could only wear jerseys or outerwear OKed by MLB.
“There was a time where they first did it, it was more of — the quality was less. The quality has been raised, it’s more of a shiny kind of material now that I know presents well. I’ve seen them on TV, it presents really well. I have no idea why this is happening. For me, it’s just a comfortable thing. I’ve always worn hoodies,” Maddon said.
“Go back to your collegiate days, I did a lot of football — I don’t know if they think it looks too football-ish. I have no idea,” he said. “All I know is that it’s a comfortable piece of clothing, I think it’s attractive, if you’re looking for younger fan, I think those are the people that really are attracted to something like that, too. Listen, I will state my case because I think I can, but I will follow the rule.”