At one level, it was exhausting to think about that anime and American skilled sports activities would ever cross paths. Nonetheless, up to now decade or so, increasingly athletes and their organizations outdoors of Japan have been open about their love of anime. Main League Baseball (MLB) hosted not one, however two anime-themed giveaways in Boston and Seattle on August 28.

The Boston Crimson Sox have introduced a partnership with the One piece anime for his or her August 28 dwelling sport in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays. The collaboration celebrates the One piece anime’s twenty fifth anniversary with a costume social gathering occasion, Jersey Road pregame efficiency by the Magnificent Hazard band and a particular supply for a (bought out) restricted version Monkey D. Luffy bobblehead “representing a Crimson Sox uniform.”

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©Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation

One piece And Toei animation‘s X (previously Twitter) accounts each posted about and inspired the collaboration on August 28 One piece followers to “share your expertise tonight with #OP25th!”


The Crimson Sox X account additionally posted a brief video of the One piece and the festivities on the Crimson Sox simply minutes after the sport began.

On the time of writing, the Crimson Sox led the Blue Jays 1-0 within the eighth inning.

The Seattle Mariners gave away Naruto-inspired headbands for his or her August 28 sport in opposition to the Tampa Bay Rays. Julio Rodríguez, a lifelong Naruto fan, in response to an ESPN article from August 2022, partly impressed the collaboration. Rodríguez provides his title to a protracted record of outstanding athletes, together with American soccer working again Jamaal Williams and monitor star Noah Lyles, who’ve embraced anime and are broadening the medium’s attraction.

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© 2024 MLB Superior Media, LP. All rights reserved.

X of the MLBTwitter account promoted the Naruto-inspired headband giveaway on August 27. The put up exhibits Rodriguez performing the shadow clone hand gesture whereas carrying the scarf, which options the Seattle Mariners emblem on a steel plate.

The Seattle Mariners performed the Tampa Bay Rays within the remaining sport of their three-game collection. The Mariners received the collection 2-1 with a decisive 6-2 victory over the Rays. Rodríguez helped safe the victory with a two-run dwelling run within the fifth inning.


Hopefully, extra MLB groups and different skilled sports activities organizations will companion with anime collection, particularly as extra athletes present their love for the medium.

Replace: The anime bump is actual: the Crimson Sox additionally win, beating the Blue Jays 3-0.

Sources: MLBs web site (hyperlink 2, hyperlink 3), MLBs X/Twitter account (hyperlink 2), One piece US’s X/Twitter account, Toei animation‘s X/Twitter account, AP, ESPN