The Major League Baseball season is off and running, with Opening Night kicking off between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants on March 25. The Yankees dominated Opening Night, blanking the opposition and winning the game 7–0. However, the highlight of the game was Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who made a unique fashion statement and professed that he is an avid One Piece fan.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. wants the world to know his favorite anime
Chisholm Jr. was on the winning team, and maybe it was because he brought his lucky charm. He rocked Opening Night wearing custom cleats and accessories inspired by the popular anime One Piece. The cleats featured bright anime-style colors, with the show’s main protagonist, Monkey D. Luffy, embroidered on them.
He also wore a pendant that featured Luffy’s iconic straw hat. The accessory had bright red detailing and a metallic silver finish, making it stand out. The silver necklace was a nod to Luffy’s pirate identity. Safe to say, Chisholm Jr. is quite fashion-forward and loves to bring a certain swagger to the sport by blending in anime culture.
This isn’t the first time the baseball star has been seen wearing One Piece-inspired gear. Last year, during Yankees Photo Day, he wore a custom chain featuring Luffy. The pendant depicted Luffy in a dynamic pose and was heavily diamond-encrusted. His outfit and limbs were sculpted in great detail, with the chain itself appearing to be a chunky Cuban link style. The 28-year-old is comfortable leaning into the aesthetic and has made it a part of his identity.
He is not the first athlete to use anime to make a statement. Israel Adesanya is often seen wearing Naruto-inspired apparel outside fights. During UFC 253 media day, he wore an Akatsuki-themed outfit ahead of his fight against Paulo Costa in 2020. He also frequently uses anime-inspired hand signs and gestures during fights to hype himself up.
All in all, many sports personalities are incorporating anime culture into their respective professional domains and are quite open about it.
Are you a big fan of anime and One Piece? Let us know in the comments section below.
