THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Oh, goody. Joe Maddon can wear his hoodie.
Major League Baseball reversed its ban Tuesday, telling the Tampa Bay Rays manager he can resume putting on his pullover.
"Hoodie-gate is over," Maddon said. "I received a call today saying cooler heads had prevailed. I’m now able to wear the hoodie any time I’d like."
Maddon wasted no time, either. He wore it on a brisk, 12 C night before the Rays played the Chicago White Sox. Tampa Bay took a seven-game winning streak and the majors’ best record into the matchup.
"It’s so nice that I can wear my hoodie without any concern that it may result in some form of punishment," he said. "I’m just happy to say on behalf of all the hoodie-wearers everywhere that MLB is back in line with a subculture that I can really, truly identify with."
MLB sent out a memo last Friday reminding managers and coaches they could only wear approved jerseys or outerwear. Baseball confirmed it had reversed its ruling, without elaborating.
"It’s good for the youth in the United States who are grabbing onto Major League Baseball for the first time," Maddon said. "I’m sure the hoodie is their favourite piece of clothing, right next to the hat."
Maddon prefers the pullover to big coats. He wore over the weekend when the Rays played Boston at Fenway Park.
Maddon has been somewhat of a baseball fashion plate in the past. In 2008, he was among the first to wear MLB-approved caps with the Elmer Fudd-style ear flaps in the post-season.
