CNN article about MLB Jersey Controversy

From the story: “Sports uniforms are really symbolic for people. They foster a collective identity between fans, a city and players,” said Stephen Andon, an associate professor of sports communication  who studies sports team branding and merchandise. When a star player signs with a new team, the player holds up his jersey at a press conference. Teams retire their most important players’ jersey numbers.

“Uniforms are draped in big history. The expectation from fans is that the jersey has to carry that weight,” Andon said. “They expect major league quality from their garments, especially at the prices.”

Playing on the dynamic between popular culture and the rhetorical theory of memory, his research interests involve a wide array of topics dealing with sport, including the nostalgic influences of media sport, sport and social media, and the development of sports fan cultures. Specifically, his writing includes pieces on the National Hockey League’s Winter Classic, the trend of throwback uniforms in Major League Baseball, and supporters’ culture in professional soccer.