The Yankees' Strange Marketing Strategy: Selling Dodgers Jerseys and Judge-Ohtani Hats

The New York Yankees are facing backlash from fans for selling Los Angeles Dodgers jerseys and Judge-Ohtani hats at their team store. Many fans are calling the marketing move a "cash grab" and a "felony."

The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the Bronx for a three-game set, turning back the clock on one of baseball's all-time old rivalries. The Dodgers and New York Yankees have faced each other in the World Series 11 times, a record (but not since 1981), with most coming from the Dodgers' days in Brooklyn.

The combined rosters feature superstars from all over: Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Giancarlo Stanton in the pinstripes, and Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman from out west (just to name a few).

Judge and Ohtani are, without a doubt, the two faces of Major League Baseball, and the Yankees are taking advantage in what many perceive to be a peculiar way.

First of all, the Yankees are selling Ohtani Dodgers jerseys in their own team store this weekend. This has raised eyebrows, as Ohtani is one of the most popular players in the league and is currently playing for the Dodgers.

But what got fans really riled up were the bodega-style hats featuring Judge's 99 and Ohtani's 17 side-by-side. MLB asked users on X whether fans "would wear one of these," and the reaction wasn't pleasant.

"This should be a felony," wrote one reply.

Even Mets beat writer Tim Healey was confused: "Is this a prank?"

"What the hell is this cash grab garbage?" added one more.

The fans' outrage is understandable. The Yankees are essentially selling merchandise that supports their opponents. It's like the Dodgers selling Yankees jerseys in Los Angeles.

The Yankees' marketing strategy is likely an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Judge and Ohtani. However, it has backfired and has only served to anger fans.

The Dodgers got the first laugh of the series on Friday with a 2-0 victory in 11 innings, as Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the highest-paid pitcher in the history of baseball (who had been heavily pursued by the Yankees) tossed seven scoreless frames, and the Yanks failed to get the big hit.

Saturday's game will be on FOX at 7:35 p.m., with Gavin Stone on the bump for L.A., and Nestor Cortes toeing the slab for the Bombers.

It remains to be seen whether the Yankees will continue to sell Dodgers merchandise and Judge-Ohtani hats. However, it's clear that the fans are not happy about it.