Players Weekend is back in 2024, for the first time since 2019. MLB will dedicate three days in August to players, focusing on showcasing them beyond their stats and on-field performance. From Aug. 16-18, the league will celebrate player’s personalities, their interests and the charitable causes they support. The event will showcase their stories and appeal to young baseball fans and followers of the sport.
A new version of #PlayersWeekend is coming!
From August 16-18, a reimagined Players’ Weekend will celebrate player personalities, charitable efforts, and the people who helped them become a Major Leaguer. pic.twitter.com/QSlKgqcB81
— MLB (@MLB) April 25, 2024
MLB Bringing Back Players Weekend in Late August
The three-day event will comprise of different elements that will be on through in-stadium game presentation, broadcast enhancements, social media content and more. Day 1 (Fun) will feature fun aspects of player’s personalities, friendships and off-field interests. Causes is the theme for Day 2, which will focus on charitable and community initiatives that are important to players. Appreciation will be on Day 3, celebrating the people who helped them on their path to the major leagues.
There’s a Twist This Year
Rather than special uniforms and nicknames, players will wear special New Era caps featuring each player’s uniform number on the side panel in a “youthful design,”. Players will be allowed to use customized bats during the games and can wear cleats with personalized designs too. There will be two nationally televised games during that weekend: Los Angeles Dodgers at St. Louis Cardinals and the Little League Classic between the Detroit Tigers and New York Yankees in Williamsport, Penn., on Sunday Night Baseball.
Players Weekend Lookback
MLB and the MLBPA announced the venture in August 2017. CC Sabathia, Bo Schultz and Josh Thole were key players in developing the concept together with representatives from the league and the union. In 2017, the traditional MLB logo on the caps and uniforms was replaced with a logo depicting the evolution of a ball player form Little League to the major leagues. In 2017 and 2018, teams wore pullover jerseys instead of the button-down jersey. The jerseys had a tribute patch on the sleeve where players could write the names of those who had the most influence on them.
One big part of Players’ Weekend was the nicknames on the back of the jerseys instead of last names (which does not appear to be happening in 2024)
Things got interesting…
Complete list of player jersey nicknames from 2018: https://t.co/d8ZPkmDTLB pic.twitter.com/qKSZUSk7v3
— SportsLogos.Net (@sportslogosnet) April 25, 2024
In addition to the uniforms, players could choose a nickname on the back. It was a first for the New York Yankees, who never had names on the back of any jersey. The 2019 edition even saw monochronic uniforms and caps. The all-white or all-black apparel was ideal for making logos and accessories, which players could customize.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortened 2020 season and a change in uniform suppliers, the event did not return for 2021.
Main Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
