The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers have launched a collaborative marketing campaign for this season’s interleague series. Before the opening game on Friday night in New York, fans could purchase hats featuring both Aaron Judge‘s No. 99 and Shohei Ohtani‘s No. 17 at the stadium.
These hats, predominantly navy blue, reflect a Yankees-centric design while allowing fans to show support for both superstars as their teams prepare to compete. In a different world, this hat could have represented the Yankees’ top two players, as New York pursued Ohtani aggressively in free agency last offseason. Ultimately, Ohtani signed a record-breaking contract with the Dodgers, adding extra excitement to this season’s series, which could be a precursor to an October showdown.
The Yankees currently boast MLB’s best record at 45-19, while the Dodgers lead the NL West with a 39-25 record. Both teams are postseason staples, with the Yankees’ absence in 2023 being an anomaly. Ohtani, however, will have to wait until at least 2025 to pitch against Judge as a Dodger due to elbow surgery he underwent in 2023.
According to MLB.com, Ohtani’s No. 17 jersey, worn with the Angels, became the top seller last year for the first time, having been in the top 10 in 2018 and 2021.
This joint marketing effort underscores the star power of Judge and Ohtani, highlighting the anticipation and excitement surrounding their teams’ interleague matchup.
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