Key keywords: Frank Thomas lawsuit, Chicago White Sox legal dispute, Nike MLB merchandise, Fanatics licensing agreement, City Connect jersey sales, MLB player royalty payments, MLB right of publicity rules, Chicago South Side baseball merch Hall of Fame slugger Frank 'The Big Hurt' Thomas, a two-time American League MVP and iconic face of the 1990s Chicago White Sox dynasty, has filed a civil lawsuit in Cook County, Illinois court against the White Sox organization, athletic apparel giant Nike, and sports merchandiser Fanatics, alleging the three parties generated millions in revenue from City Connect jerseys bearing his name and number 35 without securing his authorization or paying him any royalties. First released in 2021 as part of MLB’s league-wide City Connect initiative, the White Sox’s South Side-themed jersey drew heavy design inspiration from the team’s iconic 1990s uniforms, the era during which Thomas led the franchise to five playoff appearances. Industry reports confirm the style is one of the highest-selling City Connect jerseys in MLB history, with total sales exceeding 2.1 million units in the three years since launch, and approximately 32% of those units printed with Thomas’s name and number 35. According to court filings, the White Sox, Nike (the official uniform manufacturer for MLB), and Fanatics (the league’s exclusive official merchandising partner) have collectively earned an estimated $18 million in gross profit from Thomas-branded City Connect jersey sales alone. Thomas’s legal team argues that all three parties violated Illinois right of publicity laws and breached MLB’s longstanding licensing rules, which require explicit written consent and royalty payments to any active or retired player whose name, image, or likeness is used for saleable merchandise. The lawsuit further notes that Thomas has repeatedly reached out to all three parties since 2021 to resolve the issue out of court, but received only vague, non-committal responses claiming the team 'held the rights to use retired player numbers' without additional authorization. Thomas is seeking triple the amount of unpaid royalties, plus punitive damages and legal fees, with total estimated compensation sought topping $12 million per industry analysts. Legal experts add that the case could set a precedent for hundreds of former MLB players who may have been excluded from royalty payments for throwback and franchise-themed merchandise sold over the past two decades.