Frank Thomas Sues White Sox, Nike, Fanatics Over Jersey Use

Chicago Hall of Famer Frank Thomas has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago White Sox, Nike and Fanatics, accusing them of using his name and likeness without permission to sell merchandise, including special edition jerseys.

The suit, filed on March 19 in Cook County Circuit Court, alleges violations of the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. Thomas claims the defendants profited from marketing and selling City Connect 2.0 jerseys featuring his name and retired number 35, starting in April 2023, without his consent or any compensation. These jerseys, part of a Nike-MLB collaboration inspired by Chicago's cultural heritage and drawing design elements from the city's NBA team, the Bulls, remain available for purchase on Nike and Fanatics websites and through various retailers.

Thomas, a two-time American League Most Valuable Player who spent 16 of his 19 major league seasons with the White Sox from 1990 to 2005, argues that the unauthorized use exploited his commercial identity, which he has protected through trademarks like his "Big Hurt" nickname. He hit 448 of his 521 career home runs with Chicago, setting franchise records, and the team retired his No. 35 in 2010. The lawsuit...