13 July 2023 , 18:02
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The New York Yankees unveiled a huge change to their iconic pinstripe jersey on Wednesday, with a sponsorship patch featuring on the sleeve for the very first time.
The Yankees have agreed an eight-year deal with Starr Insurance reportedly worth more than $20 million per year, with the company's logo appearing on the left sleeve of both the home and away uniforms.
Major League Baseball changed the rules on sponsorship in 2022 and the Yankees are the latest in a series of teams to put a company's logo on their uniform, following the rivals the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox.
While the Yanks will benefit commercially, the move has received a mixed reaction from fans and rivals alike, including Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports.
Portnoy is a huge Red Sox fan and he did not hold back in his assessment of the Yankees' new look. "This is the most disgusting thing I've ever seen," he tweeted, and a Barstool Sports editorial was equally brutal, describing the move as "Sacrilegious. Disgusting. Hideous. Grotesque" and accusing MLB's most storied franchise of "swallowing its pride".
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According to the New York Post, the deal is with "annually in the mid-$20 millions", making it the most valuable deal of its kind in the league.
With 27 World Series titles, the Yankees are by far the most successful franchise in the history of the sport, with its logo and pinstripe uniforms recognised the world over.
Dave Portnoy didn't hold back on the Yankees new sponsorship patch. (Twitter)Yankees fans took to social media to complain after their team became the 12th MLB franchise to sell a jersey sponsorship patch, with one calling the decision "disgraceful" while another said: "This is ruining the most iconic jersey in sports."
However, Yankees general partner Hal Steinbrenner welcomed the move. He said: "We are extremely proud to welcome Starr Insurance as the Yankees’ first-ever Signature Partner. Having had Starr as an insurance carrier of ours for the last decade and having worked closely with their leadership team as part of our pre-established partnership.
“It is clear that Starr is the right company to embark with on this landmark relationship.
"There were many aspects of Starr that aligned with our organisation, including its century-plus history, significant New York presence, worldwide reach and unparalleled commitment to the community."
The Yankees return to action after the All-Star break on the road on Friday against the Colorado Rockies, with the team still awaiting the return of star man Aaron Judge.
Judge, the reigning American League MVP, has been out of action for more than a month with a toe injury, with the Yanks sliding to fourth place in the AL East with a 49-42 record.