MLB Trademarks Joe Davis Grand Slam Call 'Gibby Meet Freddie'

MLB Advanced Media has filed an application to trademark the phrase “Gibby Meet Freddie,” the language of Fox Sports announcer Joe Davis’ call of the walk-off grand slam in the opening game of the World Series.

MLB  filed the application for the phrase Monday, the first business day after Davis’ call of Freddie Freeman’s home run beat the Yankees, 6-3. According to information on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website, the trademark would be used for everything from headwear and shirts to aprons, infant wear and “undergarments.”

Gibby meet Freddie refers to the walk-off home run Kirk Gibson hit for the Dodgers in the ninth inning of Game 1 1988 World Series, which LA went on to win over the Oakland A’s. “Gibby” was hobbled by leg injuries in that series, coming off the bench to hit that home run, his only appearance in that Fall Classic.

Freddie, of course, refers to Freeman, the Dodgers first baseman slowed by an ankle injury that left his bat mostly impotent in earlier rounds of the playoffs. Like Gibson’s homer, Freeman’s clout dramatically concluded a hotly contested World Series game for the Dodgers, though Freeman’s came in the 10th inning of Friday’s contest.

While the patent meets preliminary requirements to be listed as patent pending, meaning it has legal protection as if it were approved, the trademark has yet to be formally approved by the government. It takes about two years for patent applications to work through the review process and be approved, according to the USPTO.

MLB declined to comment. It isn’t unusual for the league to preemptively register for trademarks on calls it believes merchandise partners will want to utilize.

Scott Soshnick contributed to this report.