It would seem that the collaboration between Fear of God’s Jerry Lorenzo and acclaimed filmmaker Calmatic, a two-and-a-half-minute film, is a complete representation of many personal stories wrapped into one–an amalgamation of memories embodied as both things to wear and something to see. Set to Nat King Cole’s rendition of “The First Baseball Game,” the film features imagery of Black families set against the most traditional symbols of the great American game of baseball–the stadium, the pitch, the bat, and the ball–and mimics the sepia tones of classic images of the game.

At a time when the question of what it means and looks like to be American floods the halls of public discourse, Lorenzo and Calmatic answer in their own particular way, taking something for which there seems to be consensus regarding its Americaness and applying imagery upon it that insists, this too is America, or another American story.

“I just want to open up people to another story. The story of baseball in America is as old as time. And I think there are so many different facets and beautiful stories within it that new stories could be discovered and told forever. I just wanted to add to that,” Jerry tells Citizen. “Baseball has long been a constant in America. It reflects the times, where the country is, what the culture values, and how people come together. It’s a mirror and a marker of American life, embodying both tradition and evolution.”

Calmatic told Citizen, “For me, the average person in the neighborhood played organized sports, it was just something to do, you know? In Little League, you looked forward to picture day; you got a haircut, it was ceremonial. We didn’t have cool cameras or iPhones. If you wanted a good picture of yourself, you looked forward to picture day at school and for your Little League team.

Thus, the collaborative video project is aptly titled “Picture Day,” drawing on both Jerry and Calmatic’s memories of posing with bat and ball before a photographer.

“Picture Day was always a big moment at the ballpark or the rec center. In many communities, the parents had just as much fun as the kids. It was about family, community, and pride,” says Jerry Lorenzo. “Picture Day was always an important moment,” adds Calmatic.

The video is a part of the first campaign for Fear of God’s multi-year collaboration with Major League Baseball (MLB). Following the February 2025 release of the highly anticipated second collection in its partnership with the NBA and WNBA, Fear of God’s partnership with MLB represents a significant step in the brand’s ongoing mission to merge sports and fashion.

For it’s first MLB drop, Fear of God debuted a collection of team apparel featuring some of the MLB’s most iconic franchises, including the Athletics, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Miami Marlins, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals. Each piece reimagines classic fan gear through Fear of God Essentials’ signature silhouettes and contemporary details, blending the sport’s timeless heritage with modern style.

“I grew up in a baseball family,” Jerry says. “My dad’s one of the first African-American big league managers in baseball history. My memories growing up include going to the ballpark with my dad and playing Little League Baseball. Much of what I do draws from my upbringing and the experiences I’ve been exposed to. So, this relationship with Major League Baseball is just one that’s been, you know, I’ve been ready for for a while.”

Through Jerry’s collaboration with Calmatic, we’re seeing much of the story he’s been waiting to tell. And, we see both creatives offering up their contributions to the canon of the American anthology.