The man behind the iconic Yankee Stadium "roll call" is preparing for a legal fight against the union representing the players he cheers.
"Bald Vinny" Milano, the leader of the stadium's "Bleacher Creatures," makes his living designing and selling baseball t-shirts. But this week the MLB Players Association demanded that he "cease and desist" from selling certain shirts on his website, including one commemorating Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit.
"I think they have really overstepped their bounds," the father of two from Bellmore, Long Island, said.
The union has taken issue with shirts relating to current Yankees players, claiming the designs infringe on MLB copyrights.
Among the shirts the union wants Milano to stop selling is the one with the word "McCannimal" for catcher Brian McCann and another that reads "Teixecutioner" for Mark Teixeira.
In a statement, MLBPA spokesman Greg Bouris said "the Players Association has the responsibility to protect the rights of its licensees and the players."
According to Milano, the players nicknames and shirt designs are all his own and do not infringe on any copyright.
Local
"They don't own everything," Milano said from his sales table outside Yankee Stadium. "I'm creating my own stuff and they can't claim ownership on things that I create."
Milano has yet to respond to the MLBPA, but for now, continues to sell the t-shirts he says are most popular with his customers. He's been selling shirts like them for more than a decade.
"I will fight because that's who I am," he said.
Milano received support as he hawked his shirts before and after Wednesday's game.
"I think they should give these little guys a chance," fan Leo Clark said.
"How can MLB shut everybody down and makes money for themselves?" asked fan Jim Mooney. "I have no problem with what this guy is doing."
