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After Nick Adenhart's death in a tragic car crash last week, many fans have reached out and paid tribute, setting up makeshift memorials at places like Angels Stadium, the "accident" site and even Dodger Stadium.

But as reported by Deadspin today, those wishing to honor Adenhart in a more permanent way by purchasing a customized t-shirt or jersey from the MLB.com shop are being flat out denied.

Indeed, type in "Adenhart" and "34" into MLB's customizer and you're greeted by this message:

"Your current entry cannot be processed. Some entries are prohibited due to guidelines for past and present player names. Please create a new entry." 

We've all seen stories of such jersey service refused in the past, though with good reason. Obviously, NFL.com shouldn't be sending out Falcons shirts with Ron Mexico on the back. MLB shouldn't be making A-Roid Yankee shirts available for sale. 

However, it boggles my mind that the league would shut down fans wishing to extend the memory of a promising career ended too soon. I suppose there's an argument to be made for restricting access to the shirt in the name of keeping it "special" for the man who wore it, but the Yankees sell Lou Gehrig jerseys and it turns out that the Adenhart restrictions have more to do with one of the inflexible technology rules that MLB is famous for

Here's what MLB reps told Deadspin:

"The reason, according to MLB reps, is that the system won't allow use of real players that aren't on a current roster. So, if you wanted to have a 'Sheets, 15' shirt or some other actual player that might be on a current team, you're not going to get the jersey you want. Even if your name is 'Miranda Sheets', your favorite number is '15' and your favorite team is the Brewers, you're out of luck. That's just how the system works."

Why MLB can't — or won't? — pay an Internet engineer to fix up a workaround on that ordering system is beyond me, but if it's really a problem, why not make a special t-shirt with all the proceeds going to benefit the Nick Adenhart Memorial Fund or Angels charities? Hopefully a plan like that it is in the works, because there's definitely a better way. 

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599 Comments

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  1. SB 13
    1. Posted by SB 13 Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:06 pm EDT

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    NFL allows it, i got a bo jackson customized no problem...
  2. NYCeaze
    2. Posted by NYCeaze Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    I think the point of a customized jersey is to have it say whatever name you want, and be accompanied by any number you want. So what if you have a jersey that says Beltran, 15, on the Pirates. A man can dream can he? And if the person is PAYING for it, why should it matter? Stupid stupid system!
  3. www.110976.com
    3. Posted by www.110976.com Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:23 pm EDT

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    its not like couldnt just take the jersey to any seamstress and have them do it for you with any number and name on it...
  4. Bouldin
    4. Posted by Bouldin Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    That is really pathetic that nobody is allowed to customize that jersey with Adenhart's name on the back. It's not that big of a deal, but some people might be offended by this.
  5. Jeff
    5. Posted by Jeff Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:47 pm EDT

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    It's all lame. They want our money but won't let us get what we want.
    How is Bud Selig making 17 million a year again? Or more importantly, why is he making that?
  6. Jay
    6. Posted by Jay Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    Or maybe it was that Stenson was a minor leaguer at the time, put the race crap away.
  7. redgunnerdevil
    7. Posted by redgunnerdevil Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:34 pm EDT

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    How stupid. But then again, the guys running baseball have shown their total incompetence well for a long time.
    This sport is too corrupted.
  8. PaulT
    8. Posted by PaulT Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:23 pm EDT

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    Stenson wasn't a minor leaguer, he was playing in the Arizona Fall League, in the offseason, at the behest of the Reds, for whom he had finished the big league season.
  9. leigh w
    9. Posted by leigh w Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    this is unacceptable, we love our games, we love our teams and we should be able to honor this young man, nick, was taken too soon, wearing a team jersey would be a great tribute to him, i bet his family would agree
  10. leigh w
    10. Posted by leigh w Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:03 pm EDT

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    and as far as the race thing goes, get over it, 90% of people dont care, its the few that just keep bringing it up, color doesnt matter, hank arron, micheal jordan for that matter or lebron james, all awesome so was the babe color doesnt matter
  11. Mike
    11. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:04 pm EDT

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    i remember when cory lidle died i tried to get a jersey and it wouldnt let me either
  12. ChrisA
    12. Posted by ChrisA Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:19 pm EDT

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    Great point change this please MLB I won't get a jersey but others want to and if it could be done to help a charity or something even better
  13. THE CHAMP
    13. Posted by THE CHAMP Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:04 pm EDT

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    who cares?
  14. DanW
    14. Posted by DanW Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:21 pm EDT

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    Seriously? You finaly gota black president. Quit playing the race card and grow the hell up.
  15. JJO
    15. Posted by JJO Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:35 pm EDT

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    just looked it up go to fansedge.com you can get an angles jersey with adenhart and #34 on it
  16. mikey
    16. Posted by mikey Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:18 pm EDT

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    who's ron mexico?
  17. Semper Fido
    17. Posted by Semper Fido Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:48 pm EDT

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    I want a Giants Jersey with the number 2-7 (2-8 after tonight), and for the name, I'll put WE SUCK
  18. Timothy S
    18. Posted by Timothy S Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:25 pm EDT

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    As an Angels fan, it is ridiculous that this customized jersey would be denied to those who wish to purchase it. However, you can always buy the jersey, take it to a printing shop, and have the name and number done yourself. People who want to pay tribute will find a way to do it.
  19. thestilsons
    19. Posted by thestilsons Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:05 pm EDT

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    Its all tragic. The Reds Double A team retired Stensons number after his death and an award was started in his honor for the Arizona Fall League. So dont say nobody did anything about his death just because he was not white.
  20. 1 less puck
    20. Posted by 1 less puck Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:06 pm EDT

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    baseball is lame, and so is calling 1st every single article.
  21. Ashley
    21. Posted by Ashley Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    The real reason they can't do it is because they have contracts with the player's associations. If a player is retired then that players has to sign a contract with the company that makes the official merchandise. In this case, if the player dies the family has the right to sign a contract with the company. So if the Adenhart family wants to do something for charity they will be the people who decide... they can also decide to have them made with the proceeds going to them.
  22. Kophjager
    22. Posted by Kophjager Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:31 pm EDT

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    He's right everyone should know who Stenson was!! He played in 37 whole major league games! had 81 at bats and 3 homeruns! Look, always someone with a chip on there shoulder for what reason no one can know but the guy with the chip that hates all things THEY deem white or not of MINORITY. What happened to both men were tragic events. Both Murdered one more brutally than the other but, both died too young. Lets face it fame matters and stenson wasn't that well known. I mean if I am shot in my chest and head and ran over with my SUV tomorrow I won't even make the TV maybe somewhere in page 2 or 3 of the local paper if I am lucky. But you won't see anyone I know going he wasn't in the news because he was white!
  23. Saint
    23. Posted by Saint Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:00 pm EDT

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    Re: Post 22
    "Ron Mexico" was Vick's alias. Is it so tough to run a web search?
    Meanwhile, MLB just finds another way to give fans a reason to shake their heads.
    Are they really that narrow-minded?
  24. MLB
    24. Posted by MLB Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:34 pm EDT

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    Now, this is a rule that makes absolutely no sense at all, any customization should be allowed with no problems.
  25. Hikerboy
    25. Posted by Hikerboy Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:08 pm EDT

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    R.I.P. Bo Jackson.

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