Maddon's hoodie now OK

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CHICAGO -- Major League Baseball reversed its hoodie ban Tuesday, telling Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon he can resume putting on his pullover.

"Hoodie-gate is over," Maddon said. "I received a call today saying cooler heads had prevailed. I'm now able to wear the hoodie any time I'd like."

Maddon wasted no time, either. He wore it on a brisk, 55-degree night before the Rays played the Chicago White Sox. Tampa Bay took a seven-game winning streak and the majors' best record into the matchup.

"It's so nice that I can wear my hoodie without any concern that it may result in some form of punishment," he said. "I'm just happy to say on behalf of all the hoodie-wearers everywhere that MLB is back in line with a subculture that I can really, truly identify with."

MLB sent out a memo last Friday reminding managers and coaches they could only wear approved jerseys or outerwear. Baseball confirmed it had reversed its ruling, without elaborating.

"It's good for the youth in the United States who are grabbing onto Major League Baseball for the first time," Maddon said. "I'm sure the hoodie is their favorite piece of clothing, right next to the hat."

Maddon prefers the pullover to big coats he wore over the weekend when the Rays played Boston at Fenway Park.

Maddon has been somewhat of a baseball fashion plate in the past. In 2008, he was among the first to wear MLB-approved caps with the Elmer Fudd-style ear flaps in the postseason.

"We get cold. There's no doubt about it," New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said, sporting a hoodie of his own on a chilly night in Oakland before playing the Athletics.

He planned to switch to a jacket.

"I'm really happy that I don't have to wear a shirt and tie," he said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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