MLB Debuts Umpire Uniform Ads During All-Star Game

Major League Baseball unveiled its new partnership with cryptocurrency exchange FTX with ad patches debuting on umpire uniforms during the 2021 MLB All-Star Game, a notable choice for MLB's first-ever umpire uniform sponsor given Joe West's 2018 comment, regarding money and gambling in baseball: "it scares me to death."

MLB announced its partnership with FTX Trading Limited and West Realm Shires Services in June, writing that professional sports' first Official Cryptocurrency Exchange brand partnership would adorn umpire jerseys...which is somewhat of an ironic placement.

While umpires are largely entrusted with enforcing the rules of the game, cryptocurrencies are largely unregulated financial instruments that aren't exactly beholden to existing rules for securities, though recent comments from the SEC indicate a desire to craft new policy. Perhaps regulators could ask the umpires for help.