Fanatics, the company that manufactures uniforms for Major League Baseball (MLB), has suspended production on baseball jerseys and is instead using the materials to create masks and gowns for hospitals in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.
The sports manufacturing company will provide up to one million masks and gowns using materials normally used for jerseys for the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees.
The shortage of PPE is forcing healthcare workers on the front lines in the fight against COVID-19 to reuse supplies intended for single usage.
Michael Rubin, the founder and executive chairman of Fanatics said, “We’re less worried about manufacturing jerseys and more worried about just saving lives.”
After reaching out to Rob Manfred, the commissioner of Major League Baseball (MLB), Fanatics stopped production on jerseys aiming to make roughly 15,000 masks and gowns a day.
Fanatics is not the only sports apparel brand looking to help healthcare workers in this dire time. Brands like Under Armour, Nike and New Balance are all working to create masks, gowns, and face shields.
Hopefully this will start a trend of other brands stepping up to help prevent exposure to the coronavirus and keep healthcare workers safe as they continue to be the heroes amid this pandemic.