Prior to MLB Opening Day, the New York Yankees held a media event at Yankee Stadium to showcase the team's new food and beverage offerings this season, which included special edition beer that features players' faces in the foam.
Similar to the way a Starbucks barista might pour steamed milk in the foam to make a heart or other design, these Yankee-inspired beers have foam on top that resembles players like Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton or Gary Sanchez. It's incredible that someone can do such a thing, but the MLB has advised the Yanks it is against league rules to use players' likenesses to promote the sale of alcohol.
"We were unaware," MLB said of the players' images. "We spoke to the club; the club wasn't aware, either. To the best of our knowledge, they have told them it's not authorized, to cease doing it."
As a result of the issue with Major League Baseball, the Yankees later confirmed that they won't be selling the decorative brews at the stadium.
"Our hospitality team took Monday's event as an opportunity to test the image machine with various Yankees-related logos and photos," a Yankees spokesperson said in a statement. "However, the Yankees have no current plans of incorporating this decorative element on concessions items this season."
The Bronx Bombers kicked off their season-opening series in Toronto with a 6-1 victory over the Blue Jays. The team's home-opener is scheduled for Monday, when they'll host the Tampa Bay Rays, but don't expect anything more than your standard $12.50 can of Budweiser.
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