While both New York baseball clubs have endured disappointing runs heading into the 2026 MLB All-Star break, the New York Mets and New York Yankees are giving fans something to celebrate away from the diamond by launching high-profile apparel collaborations with two popular fashion brands.
The crosstown rivals are each introducing exclusive capsule collections that blend baseball culture with streetwear, offering fans limited-edition merchandise and unique ballpark experiences despite their recent on-field struggles.
The Yankees have partnered with New York-based lifestyle brand Goat USA to release an exclusive co-branded apparel collection featuring graphic T-shirts and hoodies showcasing the logos of both organizations. The campaign is fronted by emerging Yankees first baseman Ben Rice, who has become one of the club’s young faces this season.
Rice said the collaboration was an easy decision when Goat USA approached him.
“When Goat USA reached out about partnering together, I was all in,” Rice said. “I love that Goat USA represents confidence and being the greatest version of yourself.”
Founded a decade ago by friends Rich Alfar, TJ Cristina and Dylan McLaughlin, Goat USA has grown from selling T-shirts at youth sports tournaments on Long Island into one of the region’s fastest-growing casualwear brands. The company now distributes its products through more than 1,000 retail locations while operating nine standalone stores.
For Goat USA co-founder Dylan McLaughlin, the partnership carries personal significance.
“Growing up around New York, the Yankees were a part of the fabric of everyday life and this partnership is a dream come true,” McLaughlin said. “This collection is for the fans who wear their pride every day, not just on game days.”
Across town, the Mets are rolling out an even larger fan-focused collaboration with renowned streetwear designer Eric Emanuel, transforming Friday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Citi Field into a full-scale promotional event centered around the launch of an exclusive limited-edition collection.
The collaboration features a lineup of Eric Emanuel-designed shorts, hoodies, T-shirts and hats, along with a special Citi Field-exclusive pair of shorts available only at the stadium.
To celebrate the launch, the first 15,000 fans entering Citi Field will receive a complimentary Eric Emanuel T-shirt. The Mets are also introducing exclusive food offerings for the occasion, including specialty nachos served inside custom Eric Emanuel-branded souvenir batting helmets.
The apparel campaign highlights several of the club’s young players, including A.J. Ewing, Mark Vientos and Brett Baty, who model the new collection.
Fans will be able to purchase the merchandise at the Mets Team Store inside Citi Field, Eric Emanuel’s SoHo retail location and through the designer’s official online store.
James Benesh, the Mets’ vice president of ballpark experience, said the organization wanted the collaboration to extend beyond apparel by creating an immersive fan experience throughout the evening.
“This collaboration celebrates the shared energy of the New York Mets and Eric Emanuel’s signature sportswear while giving fans multiple ways to experience the launch throughout the night,” Benesh said. “From the moment gates open, fans will be able to engage with the collection across retail, food and beverage, and in-game entertainment, bringing the collaboration to life throughout the ballpark.”
Emanuel, whose brand has become one of the most recognizable names in modern sports-inspired fashion, said partnering with the Mets was especially meaningful because of his New York roots and lifelong connection to baseball.
“Baseball occupies a unique place in American culture, and growing up in New York, the Mets were an institution,” Emanuel said. “My brand has always been built around sports culture—the fandom, the traditions, and the visual language of the game. Having the opportunity to interpret the entire fan experience through our lens for a storied New York team—especially on a Friday night at Citi Field—really speaks to what the brand is all about.”
He also joked that one of the highlights of the collaboration would be trying the exclusive “EE Nachos” being served during the event.
Although both New York clubs have faced challenging stretches on the field—the Mets sitting at the bottom of their division and the Yankees entering the All-Star break amid a slump—the apparel launches provide fans with a fresh way to celebrate their teams and reinforce the growing connection between Major League Baseball, fashion and streetwear culture.
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