Fanatics bashed by MLB over poor-quality uniforms, à la George Costanza

Major League Baseball fans are mad at Fanatics founder Michael Rubin and he says that it is not his fault that the new MLB uniforms designed by Fanatics came out with severe latent defects. The pants are see-through and there are other design and size issues. Some logos are hard to detect and the uniforms are causing wardrobe malfunctions throughout spring training.

This scandal is reminiscent of when George Costanza of Seinfeld, wanted to change the New York Yankees uniforms and make them more player-friendly. He was fed up with the unbreathable polyester and wanted to make them out of cotton. The invention backfired as Danny Tartabull and the rest of the players revolted. Just as Costanza, portrayed by actor Jason Alexander, caught flack from the Yankees, so did Rubin and his staff at Fanatics.

Appearing at the MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference on Friday, it was Rubin's turn to address his detractors.

""This is a little bit of a difficult position. We're purely doing exactly as we've been told, and we have been told we're doing everything exactly right. And we are getting the s--- kicked out of us, so that's not fun.""

- Fanatics Founder Michael Rubin

Players have been complaining that the white pants are see-through and the fans can see their undergarments and tucked-in jersey bottoms.

Count Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner as one who dislikes the new threads.

""I know everyone hates them. We all liked what we had. We understand business, but I think everyone wanted to keep them the same way, for the most part, with some tweaks here and there.""

- Trea Turner, Phillies shortstop

The specifications were made by MLB officials and Nike. Fanatics, who has been making the uniforms since 2017, bought the company that had been making the uni's since 2005. Accordingly, this is the first time in two decades that the manufacturing was different.

Players have long since complained that the uniforms needed to be more stretchy and easier to breathe in. Rubin thought that he accomplished that, but even though players say that's not so, Rubin stands behind Nike's opinion that everything was manufactured as planned.

""Nike designs everything and hands us a spec and says, 'make this'. We have made everything exactly to the spec. Nike and baseball would say 'Yes, you've done everything we asked you to do.'""

- Fanatics Founder Michael Rubin

Rubin said that in the future he would involve the players more in the manufacturing specs and testing, but says that the same thing happened in the NBA and NFL when those leagues changed uniform companies.

""They got certain players on board, not all players on board. When you change something so old and so nostalgic, you need everyone to be on board with it. I believe that Nike will be proved to be correct.""

- Fanatics Founder Michael Rubin

MLB did not respond to FOX Sports who reached out for comment, but the player's association boss Tony Clark sure did. He said that his membership "voiced their objections."

""The commentary that's being offered suggests that the powers that be are paying attention to the concerns that are there and are engaging how best to address them moving forward.""

- MLBPA head Tony Clark

Nick Castellanos joked, “It’s crazy that my son’s travel team at 10U has better quality uniforms than the Philadelphia Phillies.”

Rubin said that MLB, Fanatics, and Nike will work on newer models that will roll out before the season starts that will fit better and look better. Until that time, MLB players will be laughed at in their see-through threads that look like they were manufactured for little league teams in Toms River, New Jersey.