Major League Baseball (MLB) created and passed a dress code for members of the media on Tuesday, putting the guidelines in writing on Dec. 6, the second day of the Winter Meetings in Dallas. The guidelines are the first of its kind among the four major North American professional sports leagues (MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL) and implements a standard of dress for media members.
Members of the media will be prohibited from wearing flip-flops, short skirts, tank tops or anything with a team logo.
According to the guidelines, members of the media should dress “in an appropriate and professional manner.” Clothing should be proper for a “business-casual work environment” when in clubhouses, press boxes and on fields. The dress code was formulated by a committee of writers and baseball officials, including team trainers who expressed concern about hygiene issues which could potentially be caused by near-bare feet in the clubhouse. Most of the guidelines are considered fairly common sense and in line with general business casual attire.
“We just thought it was time to get a little organized, to put it in
place before there was an incident,” said Phyllis Merhige, an MLB senior
vice president.
Ripped jeans, visible undergarments, sheer clothing, one-shouldered and strapless shirts or clothing exposing bare midriffs will be banned. Skirts, dresses or shorts cut more than three or four inches above the knee will be considered to be in violation.
“There's no one who expects reporters to wear a suit and tie. But with the advent of different media, there are now individuals who are not part of a bigger organization that may have a dress code,” added Merhige.
MLB said action would be considered if the guidelines were broken.
