Cleveland Guardians fans react as team debuts jersey patch advertisement: "Now our jerseys look like fan giveaway jerseys" "Thought we avoided this"
The Cleveland Guardians succumbed to the inevitable, debuting a jersey sleeve advertising patch on Friday. The advertisement will make its first on-field appearance on July 3.
Marathon Petroleum Corporation, an Ohio-based company, will have its logo on the team's jerseys through at least the 2026 season.
Another reminder that baseball season is a Marathon, not a sprint.
Excited to welcome Ohio-based Marathon as our jersey patch partner beginning July 3, 2023 and extending through the 2026 season.
#ForTheLand https://t.co/Dnc5KlU5cj
Marathon has been a Cleveland Guardians corporate partner since 2001. Financial terms of the deal putting the company's logo on the jerseys were not disclosed.
The Guardians are the 12th MLB team to feature a jersey patch.
@CleGuardians Can’t be serious, so now our jerseys look like the fan giveaway jerseys.
@CleGuardians 1) this was going to happen eventually
2) at least the colors kind of match. This is probably one of the better choices
3) be thankful it’s just a basic logo and not a 5 word name of a company
4) it looks way better than any of these https://t.co/mODD6OKWR1
@CleGuardians You couldn’t at least get them to change the coloring on the blue and red to match the jerseys? Better be taking this extra money to sign or trade for and extend a power bat
Marathon’s Senior Vice President of Global Clean Products Brian Partee said in a statement:
"With our Ohio roots and just over a decade separating our foundings, we think it's fitting to be the Cleveland Guardians inaugural jersey patch sponsor. While we can both be proud of our past, it’s the future we’re most excited about, including this partnership. As a bonus, many of our employees and customers are generational and passionate fans of the celebrated ball club."
@CleGuardians I have no doubt that you will finish the Marathon but I do wonder how far back you will be from the top finishers. Right now I don't know if you will even be in the middle of the pack.
@CleGuardians god this is ugly https://t.co/zX5xvQHYbU
@CleGuardians Guys I love you but this is so so so ugly
Guardians President of Business Brian Barren said in a statement:
"We look forward to expanding our relationship with Marathon as our inaugural jersey patch partner. When we started to look for a partner to don on our jersey, we knew we wanted an Ohio-based brand that was recognizable to our fans and had been a part of the Northeast Ohio community for as long, if not longer, than we have."
@CleGuardians NOOOO I THOUGHT WE AVOIDED THIS
@CleGuardians Grotesque
@CleGuardians Awful. Will not be buying any Guardians jerseys with ads on them.
Some Guardians fans had grand plans on how to spend the influx of money from the sleeve ad. However, it should be noted that the Guardians are not expected to be in on the free agent bidding for Los Angeles Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani.
@CleGuardians Glad to see Marathon paid for Ohtani’s free agency signing!
Cleveland Guardians tied for first in AL Central
The Guardians were tied with the Minnesota Twins for first place in American League Central heading into a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.
The entirety of the AL Central is sub-.500, with Cleveland and Minnesota both sporting winning percentages of .488. The Twins are 40-42, the Guardians are 39-41.