It’s a new tradition for an old game. The last weekend in August has become the official “Players’ Weekend” in Major League Baseball.
Each team gets a new uniform just for three games, but the uniforms are designed by the guys who wear them rather than the guys who wear suits. Each player also gets to pick his own nickname to go on the back.
Milwaukee catcher Yasmani Grandal will be the “YASMANIAN DEVIL” for the weekend, and Jed Gyorko of the Cardinals will own his unfortunate last name with a Seinfeld reference: “JERK STORE.”
Joey Votto of the Cincinnati Reds is perhaps the smartest hitter in baseball, and he chose the cleverest nickname of all. The first baseman will be “WHO.”
Some players forgo the alphabet altogether and choose emojis. Last year pitcher Brad Boxberger had an emoji of a cardboard box followed by a hamburger. This year, Angels pitcher Ty Buttry will have a peach and a tree. No, Buttry’s not from Peachtree City, Georgia. The “nickname” is a play on his surname and the fact that the peach emoji resembles a part of the human anatomy.
Last year, Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton shortened his ample first name, wearing simply “G” on his back. This year, he’s going the opposite direction, sporting “PARMIGIANCARLO” across his shoulder blades.
Many players use the occasion show off their family tree. Mets’ hurler Seth Lugo, was raised in Cajun Louisiana, but grew up eating Puerto Rican cuisine thanks to his paternal grandfather, Ben Lugo. Proud of those roots, Lugo puts “QUARTERRICAN” on his jersey.
Speaking of ethnicity: For the second straight year, Yankees relief pitcher Luis Enrique Cessa will go with a common Mexican nickname for his middle name: Kiké.
At press time, the Yankees hadn’t announced whether this year, Kiké’s jersey would get an accent mark on that final letter “e”, or whether fans will be able to purchase this eye-catching collector’s item.
