Frank Thomas Sues White Sox, Nike, and Fanatics Over Uniform Use Hall of Famer Frank Thomas has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago White Sox, the team he played for during 16 of his 19 Major League Baseball seasons, over what he claims is the unauthorized use of his likeness on team uniforms. The lawsuit, filed in Cook County, Illinois, also names Nike and Fanatics as co-defendants. Thomas is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 and has requested a jury trial. The case centers on the White Sox’s sale of City Connect 2.0 jerseys on or around April 28, 2025, which featured Thomas’ No. 35 on the front and his name and number on the back, alongside the team’s trademarks, logos, and Nike branding. Thomas’ attorney, William T. Gibbs of Corboy & Demetrio, stated in a statement to ESPN that the complaint alleges violations of the Illinois Right to Publicity Act. Gibbs emphasized that companies cannot profit from someone’s identity without their consent, calling the filing self-explanatory. The White Sox have not commented on the litigation, while the Major League Baseball Players Association and Nike and Fanatics have declined to respond. A case management hearing is scheduled for May 21 in a Cook County Circuit Court. This is not the first instance of tension between Thomas and his former team. In 2002, when Thomas failed to make the All-Star team, finish in the top 10 in MVP voting, or win a Silver Slugger award, the White Sox and then-general manager Ken Williams invoked a “diminished skills” clause in his contract. This reduced his base salary to $250,000 and deferred $10.125 million over 10 years without interest. In 2006, Thomas sued two White Sox doctors, alleging their 2004 misdiagnosis of a broken foot worsened his injury and led to his release in 2005.#nike #chicago_white_sox #frank_thomas #william_t_gibbs #fanatics
