Chris Elwell
Staff Writer
Photo Courtesy of YouTube/@BaseballLifestyle101
“It was the first time this hobby of painting shoes could turn into a job.”
We sat down for an interview with sneaker designer Anthony De Lucia to discuss the evolution of the custom cleat industry and some of his favorite memories working with MLB players and other famous stars. From the player with the best cleat game in the league to the most random concept design request, Anthony took us along for a wild ride and gave us an inside look at one of the hottest markets in baseball.
Working with players like Aaron Judge, who have collaborated on over 200 pairs of cleats, David Wright, Max Clark, and Luis Severino, Anthony has had the opportunity to combine his imagination with players to create the perfect game-day fit from head to toe.
If you’re interested in seeing our full interview with Anthony, click the link below to watch the full video.
The Early Days
Anthony’s journey as a sneaker designer started in 2017 when he combined his two biggest passions: collecting sneakers and baseball. He began painting shoes at his kitchen table and eventually moved his operations to his bedroom after staining his kitchen walls with paint. Little did he know, this small change would start an incredible run that has gotten him to be MLB’s biggest name in custom cleat making.
One of Anthony’s favorite projects was back in 2017 with former New York Mets first baseman, Dominic Smith, marking the first time Anthony got to go on the field before the game at Citi Field to give Smith his custom cleats. Smith, a California native, came to Anthony with the idea for the first-ever Players Weekend for one shoe to be based around his home in California and one to represent New York City with the landscape of the city and the team’s iconic “Big Apple” beyond the center field fence with the team’s blue and orange colors.
In return for the shoes, Smith gave Anthony a signed bat. “It was an incredible opportunity and I’m really grateful for it,” said Anthony.
The signed bat was a kind gesture from Smith, but for Anthony, what he got in return for the cleats meant so much more to him than just receiving a bat. The bat marked the beginning of an incredible run for Anthony, who has now traveled around the country to deliver shoes and meet with clients to bring their ideas into reality.
The stories Anthony told us about his other favorite projects during his time as a designer truly helped take his business to the next level. In 2018, he got the opportunity to work with New Balance on a pair of classic PF Flyer cleats, which then turned into a design based on the movie, “The Sandlot,” for former Seattle Mariners outfielder Taylor Motter.
Also in 2018, in collaboration with Baseball Lifestyle 101, Anthony designed 25 pairs of custom Adidas ultra boosts that sold out in just 30 minutes. He credited this project with being one of the most rewarding of his career and one of the most fun designs he’s ever done.
“It was the first time this hobby of painting shoes could turn into a job,” said Anthony.
High-Profile Collaborations
Growing up as a Mets fan, Anthony had the honor of decorating two pairs of cleats for the final game of David Wright’s career. Wright gave Anthony “complete freedom and creative reign,” and he created a pair of cleats commemorating the best moments from his career, with one Captain America-based cleat to highlight his heroics with Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic, and the other celebrating his entire 14-year career being spent with the Mets.
Photo Courtesy of Luciafootwearco.com
One of Anthony’s favorite projects from this past season was designing Aaron Judge’s World Series cleats for games three, four, and five, which featured the famous Yankee pinstripes, the Statue of Liberty, the facade of Yankee Stadium, and the New York City skyline to fully encapsulate some of the most notable features of the city.
Photo Courtesy of Instagram/@luciafootwearco
His designs go much further than just on-field spikes, making shoes for himself based on his favorite shoes and for clients like comedian Chris DiStefano and Mets owner Steve Cohen, with whom Anthony talks about the story of how they came in contact in our YouTube video.
Looking Ahead
In our Hot Corner segment, we asked Anthony rapid-fire questions about other projects he’s worked on and some of his plans for the upcoming season. He’s most excited to meet with new and old clients, specifically on the Yankees and Mets, and hopefully have the opportunity to work with players around the league on Players Weekend cleats to create original designs unique to the player's upbringing and their current teams.
With MLB not having a large number of people who specialize in custom cleat design, Anthony has been able to take advantage of the open market for players looking to express themselves with their cleats and overall fashion, both on and off the field. Anthony’s work as the top custom cleat designer in baseball has provided a stepping stone for future artists to take inspiration from and take the industry to another level. Baseball and fashion have begun to combine forces, as players look to carry over some of their fashion sense onto the field and express themselves in any way they can.