When watching a baseball game, you may notice some baseball players wearing gold chains around their neck during games. You may be wondering why do baseball players wear big gold chains around their necks on the baseball field. You might also wonder if other sports players in the NFL, NBA, or NHL can also wear necklaces. Here is the breakdown to why baseball player chains are allowed in the game and more.
Baseball Chains: Can MLB Players Wear Them?
The Official Rules of Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball don’t specifically discourage jewelry, so professional athletes can wear chains and necklaces. A chain is not allowed if the light reflects off the chain into a batter or hitters’ eye, however. Otherwise, professional baseball players can wear a chain outside their jersey unless the baseball chain causes light reflection and interrupts the flow of the game.
Mookie Betts Chain
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One of the biggest names in baseball is Mookie Betts, and he always wear a necklace during games. What is interesting about Mookie Betts’ Chain is that he got it from a fan during a spring training game in 2018 with the Boston Red Sox. Mookie says he likes the necklace, so he continues to wear it for every game.
Today’s Biggest Baseball Players Wearing Chains
There are plenty of top baseball players in the game today who wear chains both inside and outside their jersey. Some of the baseball players who wear chains and necklaces include Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Chris Archer, Mallex Smith, Manny Machado, Amed Rosario, and Javier Báez. Other top MLB players who wear chains include Josh Bell, Adam Jones, Alex Verdugo, Austin Jackson, and Francisco Lindor.
Why Do Players Wear Gold Chains During Games?
There are a few reasons why baseball players wear gold chains during baseball games. Some players wear chains for religious reasons, so you will see some players wear a cross necklace on the field. Another reason why baseball players wear a chain is for a stylish look to showcase their bling. Many players like to add a specific look to their outfit while being stylish, so it is a personal choice for the wearer. Finally, professional athletes are superstitious, so some players believe that wearing a chain will hit home runs or strike out opposing players. Whatever the reason it is to wear a chain, MLB allows players to express themselves on the field without an issue.
Are Baseball Players Wearing Chains Recently?
Many players like Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees wore a necklace tucked under his shirt during games, so most people did not notice on TV. Now more baseball players like outfielder Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox (now Dodgers) wear their chains outside their shirt. Since there is no official rule against wearing the chains outside your shirt, professional players can do whatever they want and more people are noticing.
Any Incidents with Baseball Player Chains During a Game?
There have been a few notable incidents over the years when a baseball player’s chain broke. Back in 2018 with the New York Mets, Yoenis Cespedes broke his necklace while sliding in second at Citi Field. As the game went on, umpires and players found diamonds in the infield and helped clean up the mess.
Another notable incident that took place with lost diamonds was with Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. During the American League Championship against the New York Yankees. Somehow during the game at Yankee Stadium, Astros pitcher black diamond necklace broke, so he was looking in the dirt for the broken pieces.
Baseball Chains to Buy for Baseball and Softball
Amazon has a large selection of baseball chains and baseball necklaces to pick up to wear. Some include stainless steel necklaces, sterling silver, bat crosses, baseball bats, and more. In addition to that, you can find rope chains, number necklaces, stainless steel chain, and customized trinkets. Here are some of the most popular items to buy from their website.
Other Baseball Player Necklaces
Outside of wearing a traditional chain necklace, many professional athletes in baseball like wearing Phiten Necklaces. Phiten Necklaces are a twisted rope necklace that comes in a variety of colors. Some famous players that would wear this look include Jon Lester, Justin Verlander, and Dustin Pedroia, to name a few.
Phiten’s concept is that the product acts as is infused with titanium, which is a strong light metal and behaves like alternative medicine. The idea of these titanium necklaces works like small magnets to align the body’s electrical fields together. By aligning the body’s electrical fields, you can reduce the strain on your muscles when playing sports.
As of 2020, there is little scientific research backing up the product and what it claims. The company was able to get into the mainstream by getting professional athletes to wear their brand, but actual science is in question. Most experts explain that there could be a placebo effect when using the product, which may allow you to play better.
Can You Wear Chains in the NBA?
Unlike MLB, the NBA does not allow anyone to wear chains during basketball games. Wearing a necklace or a chain can cause a significant injury during a basketball game, so the league does not allow it. However, players like Michael Jordan would wear a chain for things like the slam dunk contest, but regular-season games don’t allow this look.
Can NFL Players Wear Chains?
The official rules allow jewelry to be worn during NFL games, but you can’t wear hard objects. Most players choose to wear a necklace under their uniform to prevent injuries when playing. Wearing hard objects is up to interpretation, but it became a talking point when Odell Beckham Jr wore a $250k watch during a football game. The NFL gave him a fine for violating their terms when wearing a watch during a football game.
Conclusion on Baseball Chains
We now know why MLB players like to wear gold chains and other types of necklaces during games. Some reasons to wear a chain include religious reasons while others are for looks. Only Major League Baseball allows professional athletes to wear a chain around their necklace during games due to the unlikelihood of getting caught with another player during the action.
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