In a surprising twist, White Sox icon Frank Thomas has taken legal action against the organization, along with Nike, Fanatics, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, among others.
On March 19th, Thomas filed a lawsuit citing issues with the use of his name, image, and likeness on City Connect 2.0 merchandise. The lawsuit, filed in Illinois Circuit Court for Cook County, claims that the defendants have been selling jerseys featuring Thomas's name and number since April 2025 without his permission or compensation, which he argues violates the Illinois Right of Publicity Act.
The core of Thomas's complaint is that Nike, Fanatics, and the White Sox have capitalized on the goodwill associated with his illustrious baseball career to boost their merchandise sales, without offering him any compensation. The lawsuit specifically targets the City Connect 2.0 merchandise, with no mention of other jersey designs or styles.
This legal battle is just the latest chapter in a tense relationship between Thomas and the White Sox. Earlier this year, on February 1st, the White Sox faced criticism after posting a graphic for Black History Month that failed to highlight Thomas's significant achievements with the team.
Thomas didn't hold back, expressing his frustration directly on social media, pointing out the oversight and reminding the team of his contributions: “I guess the Black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry, I’m taking receipts!”
His response has sparked a wave of support from fans, who see the omission as a glaring oversight. The situation has amplified discussions about the recognition of players who have made significant impacts on their teams, both on and off the field.