Hall of Fame slugger Frank Thomas has initiated legal proceedings, filing a lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois, on March 19, 2026. The suit names the Chicago White Sox, Nike, and Fanatics as defendants, alleging that these entities profited from the sale of merchandise featuring his identity without obtaining his prior consent. At the heart of the legal dispute are the “City Connect 2.0” jerseys, an alternate uniform series worn during the 2025 season, which were reportedly designed and sold bearing Thomas’s name and his iconic number 35. Thomas contends that he received no compensation for these sales, despite his commercial likeness remaining “extremely valuable.”
Violation of Publicity Rights
The core of Thomas’s legal claim rests on the alleged violation of the Illinois Right to Publicity Act. His legal team, from the Corboy & Demetrio law firm, stated, “Companies may not profit from anyone’s identity without their permission. We believe our filing speaks for itself.” The lawsuit asserts that the defendants were “unjustly enriched” through the commercial exploitation of Thomas’s identity. Thomas, a two-time American League MVP during his 16 seasons with the White Sox, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. The suit also names several other entities as “respondents in discovery,” including the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, the Chicago Bulls Limited Partnership, Dick’s Sporting Goods Inc., and Mitchell & Ness LLC, suggesting they may possess information pertinent to additional defendants.
Demands and Responses
Frank Thomas is seeking payment in excess of $50,000, along with attorneys’ fees and punitive damages, and has demanded a jury trial. Spokespersons for the White Sox and Nike have declined to comment on the lawsuit, while Fanatics has not yet responded to a request for comment. This is not the first time Thomas has had legal entanglements with the White Sox; he previously sued two team doctors in 2006 over allegations of misdiagnosing a broken foot. In February 2026, Thomas also expressed public dissatisfaction with a team social media post commemorating Black History Month, where he felt his contributions were overlooked.
