Mlb Uniforms to Change After Complaints
Major League Baseball is set to tackle the uniform controversy that arose following recent changes to jerseys and pants, which sparked widespread criticism from players and fans. A memo obtained by ESPN on Sunday night revealed that the league is planning significant adjustments in response to the backlash.
Among the key alterations outlined in the memo are a return to larger lettering on the back of jerseys, addressing the issue of mismatched gray tops and bottoms, and resolving the problem of Nike’s new jerseys retaining sweat. These changes are expected to be implemented no later than the start of the 2025 season. Additionally, improvements will be made to the pants, which faced criticism this spring for being see-through.
The MLB Players Association informed players about the upcoming modifications in a letter that attributed the uniform issues to Nike and its Vapor Premier uniform. Despite being marketed for its enhanced performance, the new uniform has not been well-received by players. The memo to players stated, “This has been entirely a Nike issue, at its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn’t need to be innovated.”
The union also defended Fanatics, the manufacturer of the contentious uniform, emphasizing the company’s acknowledgment of the importance of seeking player feedback and avoiding reluctance to address concerns. The hope is for Nike to adopt a similar approach in the future.
While the new uniform was unveiled at the 2023 All-Star Game, its rollout this spring generated negative publicity. The reduction in letter size on players’ nameplates gave jerseys an unprofessional appearance, while the pants faced various issues, including transparency, poor tailoring, and unnecessary rips and tears.
Nike’s partnership with MLB commenced in 2019 as part of a 10-year, $1 billion agreement to become the league’s official uniform provider. Both MLB and the players’ union have stakes in Fanatics, which holds partnerships with both entities.
The union’s memo highlighted efforts to caution Nike against certain changes, particularly regarding the pants, dating back to 2022. Despite ongoing concerns being raised to MLB, Nike’s response had been dismissive, with players being told to adapt to the changes.
When contacted by ESPN, MLB chose not to comment, while Nike did not provide an immediate response. Fanatics did not reply to a request for comment, and the MLBPA also declined to comment on the matter.