November 02, 2016
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf has asked MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred to reconsider a deal to switch the league's uniform provider from Majestic to Under Armour.
In October, it was reported that Under Armour would be taking over production of on-field jerseys in 2020. Majestic, which has produced the league's jerseys since 2005, is headquartered in Florida but has its manufacturing facilities in Easton, Pennsylvania.
In his letter, sent Tuesday, Wolf asked Manfred for a chance to discuss the possibility of the league keeping Majestic before a final deal with Under Armour was reached. The governor cited the Easton location's proximity to several major MLB teams — including the Phillies and the Pirates — and the company's "dedicated and highly-skilled workforce."
“VF Majestic has produced high-quality athletic apparel for the Major League Baseball Authentic Collection for years. The Company and its employees are true baseball fans with a genuine pride in what they do,” Wolf said. “You are unlikely to find such commitment as exhibited by VF Majestic’s more than 500 dedicated employees anywhere else.”
Wolf isn't the only Pennsylvania official to call on the league to think about keeping Majestic. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey wrote a letter to Manfred as well, offering to work with MLB to maintain the 620 jobs at the factory via federal programs, according to The Morning Call.
Majestic's parent company VF Corporation said in a statement to WFMZ that it wouldn't comment on rumor or speculation – the deal between Under Armour and MLB has yet to be officially announced by either party.
