Fanatics Founder & Exec Chair Michael Rubin said a Fanatics plant in Pennsylvania began using fabric from MLB jerseys to manufacture masks and gowns for healthcare workers a "few days ago and we've got a goal to make to make a million and donate those." Appearing with MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred from separate locations on CNN's "The Lead," Rubin said, "We can make a huge difference." Manfred said they will start to distribute the masks and gowns first in Pennsylvania and "we're hopeful the production will be sufficient that we'll be able to expand beyond Pennsylvania to New York and New Jersey" ("The Lead," CNN, 3/26). Rubin said Fanatics and MLB are going "to bear that expense" for the manufacturing of the masks and gowns even though Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf "had offered to pay our costs to do this." Rubin: "We have a responsibility to use our assets to help make a difference" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 3/26). CBS' Tony Dokoupil said, "Baseball fans like to collect things, so I have a feeling those are going to be collector’s items in the years to come" ("CBS This Morning," 3/27).
STEPPING UP: Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Fanatics' donations are "part of a broader trend that businesses are stepping up to volunteer to retool, to reorient their production lines to make sure that they're making a big contribution to this epidemic that we're facing." Wolf said he "can't say enough about Michael Rubin and Fanatics and what they're doing, the role they're playing, in making sure Pennsylvania, especially, is up to speed” (“Squawk Box,” CNBC, 3/27).
