UPDATE (11:55 a.m. CT): The law offices of Corboy & Demetrio have clarified that the National Baseball Hall of Fame is not a defendant in the lawsuit – just a respondent in discovery.
The following statement from the personal injury law firm was provided to Sox On 35th as well:
“The complaint we filed alleges violations of the Illinois Right to Publicity Act. Companies may not profit from anyone’s identity without their permission. We believe our filing speaks for itself.”
William T. Gibbs, Corboy & Demetrio Partner
In a stunning turn of events, White Sox legend Frank Thomas is suing the organization, Nike, and Fanatics, among other vendors.
According to Law.com, Thomas filed a lawsuit on March 19th, which alleges a complaint related to Thomas’ name, image, and likeness on City Connect 2.0 merchandise.
“The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Nike, Fanatics, the Chicago White Sox, the Chicago Bulls and major retailers were hit with a right-of-publicity lawsuit on March 19 in Illinois Circuit Court for Cook County over the alleged unauthorized use of Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas’s name. The complaint, brought by Corboy & Demetrio, alleges the defendants have been selling ‘City Connect 2.0’ jerseys featuring Thomas’s name and jersey number since April 2025 without permission or compensation, violating the Illinois Right of Publicity Act. The case is 2026L003200, Thomas v. Chicago White Sox.”
According to the complaint, Thomas alleges that Nike, Fanatics, and the White Sox “commercially [exploited] the goodwill associated with Thomas’ professional baseball career to enhance the marketability of Nike, Fanatics, Fanatics apparel, and White Sox merchandise.”
Additionally, Thomas has not received any compensation for the use of his name or likeness from the White Sox, Fanatics, or Nike. He alleges that his consent was not obtained for the use of his name or likeness on the City Connect 2.0 merchandise.
From an overview of the complaint, the argument is related to specifically just the City Connect 2.0 merchandise. There is no mention of other jersey designs, styles, or colors.
This isn’t the first time in 2026 that the rocky relationship between Thomas and the White Sox has been heavily publicized.
On February 1st, the first day of Black History Month, the White Sox X account published a graphic that highlighted many “momentous firsts for the organization”. Notably, the team failed to highlight the great, unique accomplishments of one of their most prolific sluggers.
Thomas was quick to voice his displeasure directly in response to the Sox’s main account.
“I guess the Black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable! Don’t worry, I’m taking receipts!”
Frank Thomas (@TheBigHurt_35/X)
At face value, Thomas’ reaction to a broad, celebratory post might have felt excessive to some. However, the team not prominently featuring one of the most iconic players in franchise history, despite ample opportunities to do so, came across as a significant oversight, even if unintentional. The incident has since sparked national backlash, with much of the fanbase rallying behind The Big Hurt.
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Featured Photo: © Matt Marton-Imagn Images
Oh well, guess we won’t be seeing Frank at any 2026 park and fan promotions.