Twenty-one of the 25 players on Milwaukee's roster wear Nike spikes. Manager Phil Garner is under contract with Reebok, which also provides shoes for the entire Brewers' coaching staff. Most big-league players are under contract to wear either Nike or Reebok shoes and apparel. Most players get a couple of thousand dollars, much of it in the form of sweat suits, leisure clothes and other apparel. Pitchers and catchers generally use more.
Some players change models on a whim.
Comfort is the top factor players consider when selecting a shoe company, but endorsement money, style, clothes and other perks also make a difference. I tried a bunch of different shoes until I found a Reebok model that fit. Matheny made up his mind during his first big-league spring training. It's a safe bet that the folks at Nike headquarters in Beaverton, Ore., don't want youngsters to be like Mike, at least not in this case. The only player who didn't really suffer a dip in production during the Brewers' seven-game losing skid was Doug Jones.