Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Frank Thomas is suing several companies, including the Chicago White Sox, accusing them of using his name to sell merchandise without his permission.
Thomas filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on March 19, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
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His lawsuit claims companies including Nike, Fanatics and his old team, the White Sox, have been selling “City Connect 2.0” jerseys bearing his name and player number without his consent. The jerseys have been on sale since April 2025, and he claims he was never compensated for the sales.
He further argued that he had no contract with the company using his name and phone number.
“The complaint we filed alleges violations of the Illinois Rights of Publicity Act. Companies are prohibited from profiting from anyone’s identity without permission. We believe our complaint speaks for itself,” Corboy & Demetrio attorney William Gibbs said in the lawsuit.
Frank Thomas is suing the White Sox, Nike and Fanatics, accusing them of using his name and number to sell jerseys without his consent or compensation (Getty Images)
The lawsuit claims that the use of his name and number violates “fundamental principles of justice, fairness, conscience and fair play.”
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Thomas is seeking damages that include profits from merchandise sold under his name and number, as well as other financial losses. He also asked for a jury trial.
The White Sox said the organization “does not comment on ongoing litigation.”
independent Nike and Fanatics have been requested for comment.
The City Connect jerseys that are the focus of the lawsuit can still be found on Nike and Fanatics’ websites.
Thomas reportedly spent most of his career with the White Sox, hitting 448 of his 521 home runs while playing in Chicago. Competitor.
Thomas with fans during a game against the California Angels at Anaheim Stadium in August 1994 (Getty Images)
White Sox president Jerry Reinsdorf briefed Thomas on his retirement in August 2010, when his No. 35 jersey was retired in recognition of his accomplishments (Getty Images)
He officially retired in 2010, then the White Sox retired his number – 35 – and he was inducted into the MLB Hall of Fame in 2014. After retiring, Thomas continued to serve as the team’s business operations consultant in 2016.
Thomas attends a Houston Astros game in Texas in 2005 (Getty Images)
Despite his history with the team, he’s also been critical of the organization. Thomas responded to a White Sox Black History Month post that praised other famous black players but failed to mention him, despite being the team’s home run leader.
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“I guess the black player who made you rich and holds all your records has been forgotten! Don’t worry, I’m getting the receipt,” he wrote in response to the post.
He also feuded with general manager Ken Williams toward the end of his tenure with the team. His biggest complaint centered on the “skills reduction” clause in Thomas’ 2002 contract, which allowed the team to reduce his salary.
