It was once hard to imagine anime and American professional sports crossing over. However, over the past decade or so, more and more athletes and their organizations outside of Japan have begun to openly express their love for anime. Major League Baseball (MLB) hosted two anime-themed giveaways on August 28 in Boston and Seattle.
Boston Red Sox announce partnership with one piece Animation of the August 28 home game against the Toronto Blue Jays. This collaboration celebrates one piece Animation 25th Anniversary role play event, a pregame performance by the Jersey Street Magnificent Danger Band, and a special offer on (already sold out) limited-edition Monkey D. Luffy bobbleheads “representing the Red Sox uniforms.”
© Eiichiro Oda/Shueisha, Toei Animation
one piece and toei animationX (formerly twitter) accounts posted information about this collaboration on August 28 and encouraged one piece Fans “Share your experience tonight using #OP25th!”
Get ready to experience it #One Piece fenway park night @redsox Celebrating the 25th anniversary of animation! 🎉
Some fans will be able to get an exclusive Luffy bobblehead!
Share your experience tonight #OP25th! 🏴☠️⚾ #redsox pic.twitter.com/zeXPrR7y61
— OnePieceAnimeUS (@OnePieceAnimeUS) August 28, 2024
Tonight we set sail with Fenway Park for Pirates Night @redsox Celebrating the 25th anniversary of animation! To all the fans attending tonight’s game, please be sure to share your experience using #OP25th! 🏴☠️⚾🙌 #One Piece #redsox pic.twitter.com/ykSLIZ1ZWB
— Toei Animation (@ToeiAnimation) August 28, 2024
The Red Sox X account also posted a short video one piece Minutes into the game, the Red Sox celebrated.
Some scenes from our first One Piece night at Fenway!@东EIanimation | #OP25th pic.twitter.com/JyJDboDoj6
— Red Sox (@RedSox) August 28, 2024
As of this writing, the Red Sox lead the Blue Jays 1-0 in the top of the 8th inning.
Seattle Mariners give up Naruto– Headband designed for the Aug. 28 game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Julio Rodríguez Naruto According to an August 2022 ESPN article, the fan was part of the inspiration for the collaboration. Rodriguez adds his name to a long list of outstanding athletes, including American football running back Jamaal Williams and track star Noah Lyles, who love anime and are expanding the appeal of the medium. .
© 2024 MLB Advanced Media, LP. all rights reserved.
Major League Baseball’s X/twitter Account promoted NarutoAugust 27, Inspiration Headband Giveaway.
Julio Rodríguez loves Naruto so much that Mariners is giving away a headband inspired by the iconic anime on August 28th 💪 pic.twitter.com/dTtTiSy109
— Major League Baseball (@MLB) August 27, 2024
The Seattle Mariners faced off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the final game of a three-game series. The Mariners defeated the Rays 6-2 and won the home game 2-1. Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to help the team win.
Hopefully more MLB teams, as well as other professional sports organizations, will partner with the anime series, especially since more and more athletes are showing their love for the medium.
renew: The collision in the anime was real – the Red Sox also swept the Blue Jays 3-0.
Data source: MLB website (Link 2, Link 3), MLB X/twitter Account (link 2), one piece American X/twitter account, toei animationX/twitter Account, AP, ESPN
