Fanatics

Not since World War II have we seen such a shift in business production to combat a global threat. At the outset of that war, companies like Ford Motor Company shifted from making cars to bombers as part of the war effort against the Axis powers. With the onset of the novel coronavirus and its associated disease, COVID-19, and with the U.S. now leading all nations in reported cases, the fight has shifted to supporting the healthcare and emergency response community that has been overwhelmed.

Late Thursday, Major League Baseball, working with Fanatics, which manufactures the official MLB player jerseys, stopped production on clothing for the players, and began making masks and hospital gowns. Fanatics, which is based in Easton, Pennsylvania, has switched its entire 360,000-square-foot manufacturing plant for the effort, using Yankees and Phillies pinstripes for the medical apparel.

Fanatics reports that the gowns and masks will be distributed across New York and Pennsylvania to fight the coronavirus and protect the healthcare community that are on the front lines.

The company plans to produce up to 1 million masks and hospital gowns; however, that number could increase if the outbreak requires it. Major League Baseball and Fanatics are covering all of the costs needed to manufacture the items.

As to how the partnership to help the medical community started, Fanatics executive chairman Michael Rubin grew increasingly concerned about the novel coronavirus cases, and the number of those affected by COVID-19. At the same time Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and Attorney General Josh Shapiro called Fanatics to see if there was the capacity to assist in making gowns and masks and a way for the company to help. Once Rubin said there was, he reached out to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred about stopping the manufacture of jerseys to support switch over to the masks and gowns, which Manfred and the league endorsed.

“The COVID-19 crisis has compelled our country to be more collaborative, innovative and strategic than ever before,” said Rubin. “As the demand for masks and gowns have surged, we’re fortunate to have teamed up with Major League Baseball to find a unique way to support our frontline workers in this fight to stem the virus, who are in dire need of essential resources. We have already begun production of up to one million masks and gowns from the fabric used to make the official MLB jerseys and then donating to hospitals and emergency management personnel throughout Pennsylvania with the goal of expanding to New York and New Jersey.”

Manfred said that Fanatics continues to show the creativity and flexibility that has defined them as a company. “Those qualities are what drew us to partner with them in the first place,” he said.

“I’m proud that Major League Baseball can partner with Fanatics to help support the brave healthcare workers and emergency personnel who are on the front lines of helping patients with COVID-19,” added Manfred. “They are truly heroes.”

March 26th marked what would have been Opening Day for the 2020 Major League Baseball season. Manfred has said that “nothing is off the table” in trying to get the regular season underway, saying to ESPN that the “optimistic outlook is that at some point in May, we’ll be gearing back up.” Adding, “We’ll have to make a determination, depending what the precise date is, as to how much of a preparation period we need, whether that preparation period is going to be done in the clubs’ home cities or back in Florida and Arizona. Again, I think the goal would be to get as many regular-season games as possible and think creatively about how we can accomplish that goal.”

As to the Fanatics partnership, Manfred was equally optimistic.

“We hope this effort can play a part in coming together as a community to help us through this challenging situation.”

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