Alex Verdugo Wears Air Jordan Cleats Honoring Yankees Legends

Alex Verdugo's cleats feature the retired jersey numbers of New York Yankees legends.
Alex Verdugo Wears Air Jordan Cleats Honoring Yankees Legends
Alex Verdugo Wears Air Jordan Cleats Honoring Yankees Legends /
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There are many familiar faces in new places all over MLB this season. Among the recently-relocated players is outfielder Alex Verdugo, who was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees during the off-season.

Verdugo has been a fan-favorite in each of his two stops prior to putting on the pinstripes, and it is easy to see why. The 27-year-old flashes a lot of personality while producing on the field.

It did not take long for Verdugo to endear himself to Yankees fans during Spring Training. Throughout the preseason, Verdugo has worn multiple pairs of Air Jordan cleats featuring custom paint jobs honoring his new team's rich history.

New York Yankees right fielder Alex Verdugo's white and Navy Air Jordan cleats.
Alex Verdugo wears Yankees-inspired Air Jordan cleats / Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports

Verdugo's newest pair of cleats is definitely his best work yet. In the picture above, he is wearing the Air Jordan 1 High in a white and navy colorway. However, the cleats take on new meaning with some important details.

The custom artist included Yankee Stadium's frize on the back heels and the retired jersey numbers of past legends. On the lateral side of the right foot, we can see #42 twice (Mariano Rivera and Jackie Robinson), #44 (Reggie Jackson), #46 (Andy Pettitte), #49 (Ron Guidry), and #51 Bernie Williams.

Although the picture above does not show it, the medial side of the right foot and both sides of the left foot feature additional retired jersey numbers. Verdugo's cleats are one-of-one, but online shoppers can choose from several general release colorways of the Air Jordan 1 in full-family sizing on the Nike website.

Maybe one day, Verdugo's number 24 will join the others in Monument Park. In the meantime, he has already made a strong sneaker statement to start the new season. Stay locked into FanNationKicks.com for all your footwear news from the sports world.

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Pat Benson
PAT BENSON

Pat Benson covers the sneaker industry for Sports Illustrated's FanNation. Previously, he has reported on the NBA, authored "Kobe Bryant's Sneaker History (1996-2020)," and interviewed some of the biggest names in the sports world. You can email him at 1989patbenson@gmail.com.