A look at the 175-year history of baseball uniforms
Baseball uniforms have been around 175 years and have undergone some changes. The new version has not been a hit with fans and players, but the league is working its way out of a jam.
The uniforms might be new but they’ve been a long time in the making. Major League Baseball says it’s been six years since the league began working on these uniform changes, gathering input from clubs and players as they looked to optimize the outfits for the best performance possible.
MLB and Nike teamed up in 2019 on a 10-year deal, with the apparel company taking over for Majestic Athletic, which had been making jerseys for the league since 1982.
Pampers or Huggies?
But the pants are the issue. Many players complained that when they wear white tops and white pants, the tucked-in jersey can look like a diaper because the pants are relatively see-through.
The plus side
MLB officials say these uniforms improve mobility by providing 25% more stretch and also will dry 28% faster. Nike says they incorporate more recycled material than past uniforms, lowering emissions from manufacturing.
What’s next?
One potential solution is that players could wear last year’s pants until the problems are solved. No decision has been made by the league.
Subtle differences
Paul Lukas of Uni-Watch, a blog dedicated to uniform design, described the 2024 changes: “Stretchier fabric, changing home jerseys from white to a subtle off-white, narrowing the placket (the vertical strip on the front of the shirt upon which the buttons sit), altering the belt loops, moving the MLB logo down on the back of the jersey and reducing the size of the last-name lettering.” Smaller lettering has fans complaining and players perplexed the most.
What they cost
There are several price ranges for the new jerseys. The cost of what’s closest to what the players wear would buy you some very good seats to Opening Day.
Nike Vapor Premier Elite Jersey | Authentic jersey, as worn by players on the field. | $355
Nike Vapor Premier Limited Jersey | Inspired by the on-field jersey, it has an embroidered Nike Swoosh, heat-applied twill logos, a woven, heat-applied label, heat-applied sublimated twill player name and number. | $175
Nike Vapor Premier Game Jersey | Replica player jersey with silicone printed heat-transfer front logo, Nike Swoosh and silhouetted batter, screen-printed back player name and number, heat-applied labels. | For purchase soon.
Notable events in baseball uniforms
Sources: Baseball Hall of Fame, Powers Sports Memorabilia, “Today” show, MLBcollectors.com, MLB.com, Uni-watch.com, The Associated Press, Nike