WATCH: Ross Stripling fondly remembers 'Chicken Strip' gear from 2017 Players' Weekend amid MLB's nickname jersey removal decision
The MLB has received a lot of criticism regarding its new uniforms and while most of the public ire has been aimed at the jerseys, another twist revolves around Players' Weekend.
While the return of Players' Weekend has been well-received, the MLB has put a stop to nickname jerseys, much to the disappointment of some around the league. Ross Stripling, aka 'Chicken Strip,' spoke on the "Foul Territory" podcast about the decision. The show put up a video where he recalled what is still his 'most interacted with tweet.'
Watch the video below, where the Oakland Athletics pitcher referred to it as proof that "dreams can come true":
Stripling went on to say:
"I'm sure the guys in the locker room are talking about it right now. My guess is we're all saying, 'Man, yeah where are the names?' That was kinda the most fun part that I remember about those two years."
MLB stops nickname jerseys but brings in three special days for Players' Weekend
While the nickname jerseys were arguably the most popular part of Players' Weekend for fans during its run between 2017 and 2019, they are not going to be making a return.
Players Weekend is set for Aug. 16-18 and while we will not see any 'Chicken Strips' or '100 Miles Giles' (Ken Giles), we will see customized bats and cleats. Given the attention Juan Soto and Fernando Tatis Jr. have been paying to their cleats this season, this should be a good weekend and their bat designs could be interesting.
The weekend will be divided into three, with Friday being designated for fun, and leaning toward highlighting personalities, hobbies and lifestyles. Saturday is about causes, so expect to see charities, player foundations and local initiatives on display, while Sunday is for appreciation. Appreciation will center on players giving shoutouts to those who helped them get to the major league.
While many will obviously lament the loss of the nicknames, there should be plenty of other talking points around Players' Weekend.