Why This Minor League Baseball Team's Promotional Jawns Are All on Back Order

I'm not exactly Anna Wintour, but I still feel confident in saying one of the biggest fashion trends of 2019 is Minor League Baseball merchandise. Just last week, we delved into the Timber Rattlers hugely successful Udder Tugger merchandise, and we've been keeping a close eye on all the big moves the Traverse City Pit Spitters have been making this year, too. Now, I'm beyond happy to say that the Lehigh Valley IronPigs are getting some much deserved attention for their latest line of "Jawn" merchandise.

This Father's Day, get your dad the jawn he's always wanted.https://t.co/8Sojw6BEbR pic.twitter.com/0hVDcis21p

— Lehigh Valley IronPigs (@IronPigs) June 15, 2019

When I first moved back to Los Angeles, one of the questions people would ask me was, "What is a jawn?" This question usually came after the classic, "How did you survive east coast winters?" question, but the jawn one was especially fun to answer. I have no doubt that my born-and-raised Philadelphians would do a much better job of answering this than I can, but "jawn" is essentially a filler noun for anything you want it to be.

Examples include:

• Did you hear that new jawn by Beyonce?
• I got this new jawn at Target over the weekend.
• Pass me that jawn.

Perhaps "Creed" can explain it better:

Anyways, the IronPigs decided to capitalize on this iconic Philly term for their new line of team gear, and fans are loving it. In fact, the team's manager of media relations, Mike Ventola, told The Morning Call that the IronPigs can't keep the merchandise in stock.

“The ‘Jawn’ has been a complete hit,” he said. "We have done extremely well in merchandise sales and are constantly being asked about it."

In conjunction with the new merchandise, the team will be changing its name to "Jawn" for one day only, as a salute to the city of Philadelphia. There will also be a special cap raffle and an auction of game-worn Jawn gear, with proceeds going to the IronPigs Charities and Mercy School of Special Learning.

“Each year, we try to come up with new and exciting jawns for our fans," IronPigs president and general manager Kurt Landes said last week. “We’ve had cheesesteak jawns, Philly Special jawns, bacon jawns and more. We think this jawn is one of our best jawns yet. We can’t wait to see the Pigs wear their Jawn jawns on July 7!”

Fans can purchase the gear at the Majestic Clubhouse Store at Coca-Cola Park, or online at ShopIronPigs.com and RedJawn.com, but the looks are selling out fast. The Jawn jerseys are currently on back order, and the Jawn red cap is on back order for at least six to eight weeks.

It's also a major social media success:

https://twitter.com/TheMightyEROCK/status/1138938106105729025

The @ironpigs have outdone themselves, offering a full line of merchandise for the one day they will become the “Jawn.” pic.twitter.com/csiR3pPlQT

— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 13, 2019

Even the packaging is making waves:

@IronPigs 🔥 that presentation though?! The box is just as 🔥 as the hat! #milb #ironpigs #jawn pic.twitter.com/VBS7tS9a64

— Amber (@amberruns26pt2) June 18, 2019

Why is this apparel so successful? We think it has a little something to do with regional pride. Fans love sporting their team's merchandise, and now, they can support both their local Minor League team and their city. It's a double-whammy. Plus, it's a major conversation-starter, and Philadelphians love educating the masses on their city's awesome history.

Now if we could only decide which Jawn jawn to buy for ourselves.