As our country continues to struggle with a shortage of medical supplies in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the company that manufactures uniforms for Major League Baseball (MLB) has announced that they will switch to producing medical masks and gowns for the foreseeable future.

The company Fanatics took to Twitter to announce they have suspended production of baseball jerseys and will instead use the polyester fabric to maker masks and gowns for hospitals in the Pennsylvania area.

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“We’re proud to partner with MLB to support emergency personnel who are fighting against COVID-19 and face a need for masks and hospital gowns,” the brand tweeted. “We’re utilizing our manufacturing plant in Easton, PA to make masks and gowns out of the same jersey fabric that the players wear.”

Michael Rubin, the founder and executive chairman of Fanatics, said he woke up in the middle of the night last week and came up with the idea to convert his 360,000-square foot facility in Easton into a factory bent on fighting the coronavirus.

“The COVID-19 crisis has compelled our country to be more collaborative, innovative and strategic than ever before,” Rubin said. “As the demand for masks and gowns has surged, we’re fortunate to have teamed up with Major League Baseball to find a unique way to support our frontline workers in this fight to stem the virus, who are in dire need of essential resources.”

Rubin, who is a limited ownership partner of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and NHL’s New Jersey Devils, added that MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has given him permission to cease production of the jerseys.

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“We’ve got a million yards of fabric that we make these baseball uniforms from, what would you think if we take that fabric and make masks and gowns,” Rubin told reporters, according to Breitbart News. “He immediately said, ‘Great. I want to do it immediately. The most important thing is we’ve got to help the heroes on the front line and baseball can help play a role in it.’”

It’s great to see a major company like this stepping up to do their part in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. In times of great uncertainty like these, it’s unity that will get us through!