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2024 Major League Baseball uniform controversy

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A comparison between an old Majestic template jersey (left) and a new Nike template jersey (right).

Beginning in the 2024 season, Major League Baseball (MLB) adopted a new template for its uniforms, designed by Nike and produced by Fanatics, officially titled the Nike Vapor Premier. The new uniforms have been subject to much controversy and criticism. While some players have praised the new uniform's feel and mobility, other players and fans have complained that the jerseys are of poor quality.[1]

Background

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From 2005 to 2019, MLB uniforms were manufactured by Majestic Athletic, which was purchased by Fanatics in 2017.[2] Nike and Fanatics began designing the new uniforms in 2018, with more than 300 players undergoing body scans to analyze how the players wore the jerseys.[3] In 2020, Nike agreed to take over the MLB's uniform contract and Fanatics would instead oversee the distribution of merchandise to consumers.[4] During the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, Nike debuted the new Vapor Premier template.[5][6]

Controversy

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Design

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Controversy arose surrounding the new pants designed for the uniforms, which were made of very thin and partially see-through fabric.[7][8] The issue was brought to further attention after a photo of San Francisco Giants infielder Casey Schmitt modeling the uniform went viral due to the revealing nature of the tight pants.[9] The translucency of the pants was also showcased when Shohei Ohtani posed for a photo, and his jersey tail could be seen through the pants.[10] In a video posted by the Seattle Mariners of catcher Cal Raleigh, his jersey could clearly be seen tucked in through his pants.[11] During a spring training game between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, a not-safe-for-work photo of an unnamed Padres player began to surface, revealing the player's "sensitive areas".[12] During a St. Louis Cardinals spring training game, pitcher Miles Mikolas and other Cardinals players' jerseys appeared to be two distinctly different shades of gray.[13]

Supply

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The new uniforms have also been subject to supply shortages, with teams on occasion not receiving them during the season. Controversy arose after it was revealed that there was a shortage of pants and that Cincinnati Reds personnel would have to wear pants from previous seasons during the remainder of spring training.[14] The Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers were forced to push back the use of their City Connect uniforms from April 5 to April 26 because both teams had not received the uniforms from Fanatics.[15] On April 29, New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo admitted that the reason the Mets had not worn their standard blue or black jerseys a month into the season was that the team had not received the pants that coordinate with the jerseys.[16]

Reactions

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Players

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Some players have defended the new jerseys because of their better fit and improved mobility. Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman stated that the uniform would "make a difference during those hot summer games when I'm in full gear"[17] and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. stated that the jerseys, "fit better and feel lighter", in an MLB press release.[18] Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert praised the jerseys for their thinness and described them as "feeling great".[19] MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred maintained that the jerseys would become popular and affirmed that the jerseys were designed by Nike and not Fanatics.[20]

On the other hand, many players have criticized the jerseys for their appearance and quality. Upon reporting to spring training, one Baltimore Orioles player was reported to have compared the new jerseys to knockoffs from TJ Maxx.[21] In an interview, Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner said that "everyone hates" the new jerseys.[22] Phillies pitcher Matt Strahm noted that the players' names were printed smaller on the back and the league should not try to "fix what's not broken".[23] Los Angeles Angels outfielder Taylor Ward described the jerseys as looking like papery replicas that did not meet the standard for Major League uniforms.[24] Boston Red Sox reliever Zack Kelly compared the numbers to iron-ons and publicly expressed his desire for the uniforms to be changed.[25]

Fans

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Many fans have expressed their outrage with the new uniforms, criticizing their cheap looks and the seemingly transparent pants.[26] Fans have also displayed dismay over the changes to the font and overall quality of the new uniforms.[11] One fan posted a screenshot of a photo from Michael Chavis' Instagram of his new jersey to X (Twitter), to which the Fanatics customer support account responded. The now deleted reply stated, "Hey there, it looks like we dropped the ball on this one", before proceeding to request a direct message for more information.[27] Some fans have drawn comparisons between the new uniforms and the Seinfeld episode "The Chaperone", in which George Costanza proposes to Yankees manager Buck Showalter that the team would perform better with new cotton uniforms.[28][29] The controversy also added to ongoing concerns by National Hockey League fans that their jerseys may suffer from quality drops following Fanatics' ten-year jersey exclusivity deal starting with the 2024–25 NHL season.[30][31]

Nike and Fanatics

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In response to input provided by teams, Nike stated that different options will be evaluated in an effort to "lessen the moisture-related aesthetic color differences".[32] Michael Rubin, founder of Fanatics, expressed his belief that the issues with the uniforms are being unfairly blamed on Fanatics, going on to say, "we're getting the shit kicked out of us".[33]

Aftermath

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In late April 2024, the Major League Baseball Players Association sent a memo to players stating that the uniforms would be overhauled, at the latest by the start of the 2025 season, hoping to rectify many of the complaints aimed at Nike's Vapor Premier template. These included a return to the larger name lettering, fixing the mismatched shades of grey for jerseys and pants, examining the Vapor Premier's "propensity to collect sweat", and a fix for the pants with a return to "the higher quality zipper used in 2023" and addressing their see-through nature. The MLBPA "placed the blame on Nike" and the Vapor Premier uniform, claiming "Nike was innovating something that didn't need to be innovated", while "absolv[ing] Fanatics".[34][35][36]

References

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  1. ^ Meyersohn, Nathaniel (February 21, 2024). "Why the new Major League Baseball jerseys have players and fans furious | CNN Business". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  2. ^ Dixon, Drew (April 5, 2017). "Jacksonville's Fanatics Inc. to acquire Majestic sports apparel company". Florida Times-Union. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  3. ^ Feinsand, Mark (February 21, 2024). "Changes to MLB uniforms came after years of work, input from players". MLB. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ Carp, Sam (January 28, 2019). "MLB pens ten-year Nike uniform deal". SportsPro. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  5. ^ "2024 MLB season brings latest on-field innovation to forefront with Nike Vapor Premier Jerseys". MLB.com. February 14, 2024. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  6. ^ Lee, Joon (June 29, 2023). "MLB unveils All-Star uniforms". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  7. ^ Brandt, David (February 22, 2024). "MLB players miffed at sport's new see-through pants, relaying concerns to league". AP News. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  8. ^ Rogers, Jesse (February 22, 2024). "MLB players add see-through pants to complaints". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  9. ^ Morik, Ryan (February 22, 2024). "Giants player's photo in new MLB jersey goes viral after revealing how tight pants really are". Fox News. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  10. ^ Kim, Juliana (February 23, 2024). "Why MLB's new uniforms are getting mixed reviews". NPR.
  11. ^ a b "MLB Fanatics jersey controversy: Players, fans continue to rip new uniforms and see-through pants | Sporting News". sportingnews.com. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  12. ^ Lincoln, Darrelle (February 23, 2024). "Social Media Is In Shambles Over Photo Exposing MLB Player's Private Parts As Fanatics' See-Through Uniforms Continue To Be A Major Issue". totalprosports.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  13. ^ Lukas, Paul (February 29, 2024). "MLB/Nike Fiasco Now Features Mismatched Road Greys". Uni Watch. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  14. ^ "Nike's MLB uniform rollout reaches new stage of frustration — a pants shortage". The Athletic. February 23, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Snyder, Matt (April 5, 2024). "Rangers, Brewers push back scheduled use of City Connect uniforms because they haven't received them yet". CBS Sports. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  16. ^ Healey, Tim (April 29, 2024). "Why the Mets haven't worn their black (or blue) uniforms this season". Newsday.com. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Arcodia, Juliette and Brock, Sam (February 20, 2024). "New MLB jerseys drawing mixed reviews from players and fans". NBC News. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  18. ^ Carroll, Gabriela (February 14, 2024). "Here's what the Phillies' jerseys will look like after Nike tweaked their style". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  19. ^ Didion, Alex (February 22, 2024). "New Nike/Fanatics Mariners jersey design draws mixed reaction from players". king5.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  20. ^ Borelli, Matt (February 18, 2024). "Rob Manfred Asserts New MLB Jerseys Are Nike Products, Not Fanatics". Dodger Blue. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  21. ^ Kostka, Andy (February 16, 2024). "Orioles players slam new MLB jerseys: 'Like a knockoff jersey from T.J.Maxx.'". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  22. ^ Roche, Dan (February 21, 2024). "Trea Turner on new MLB jerseys: 'Everyone hates them'". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  23. ^ "MLB jersey controversy: Cheap-looking new duds cause a stir across baseball". KUSA.com. February 20, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  24. ^ Blum, Sam (February 20, 2024). "MLBPA exec: Union is 'frustrated' over new uniforms". The Athletic. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  25. ^ Silverman, Michael (February 23, 2024). "Nike's new MLB uniforms haven't been a seamless fit with some players - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  26. ^ Bartiromo, Michael (February 22, 2024). "'I see London, I see France': MLB fans point out new issue with already-scrutinized uniforms". KRON4. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  27. ^ Sutelan, Edward (February 21, 2024). "MLB Fanatics jersey controversy: Players, fans continue to rip new uniforms and see-through pants | Sporting News". sportingnews.com. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  28. ^ Sutelan, Edward (February 26, 2024). "MLB see-through pants: Why George Costanza's uniform design on 'Seinfeld' is going viral amid 2024 issues | Sporting News". sportingnews.com. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  29. ^ Messier, Ashlyn (February 22, 2024). "Recent MLB uniform change compares to this classic 'Seinfeld' scene". Fox News. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  30. ^ Morin, Richard (March 21, 2024). "Hockey fans are outraged by the NHL's jersey deal with Fanatics. Here's why". USA Today. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
  31. ^ "Why NHL's new deal with Fanatics has fans in an uproar". ballysports.com. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
  32. ^ Kepner, Stephen J. Nesbitt and Tyler. "Sweat stains, mismatching grays: As MLB uniform issues persist, Nike searches for solutions". The New York Times. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  33. ^ "Fanatics founder Michael Rubin says company unfairly blamed for new MLB uniforms". AP News. March 1, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  34. ^ Passan, Jeff (April 28, 2024). "MLB to modify uniforms after player complaints, per memo". ESPN. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
  35. ^ Anderson, R. J. (April 29, 2024). "MLB plans to fix uniforms by 2025 season, including returning to larger lettering on jerseys, per report". Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  36. ^ Lev, Jacob (April 29, 2024). "MLB plans to modify uniforms ahead of 2025 season following complaints, per report". CNN. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
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