Mlbpa Criticizes Nike Over Controversial Uniform Changes
In a strongly worded communication, the MLB Players Association conveyed to players its dissatisfaction with Nike over the controversial new baseball uniforms. The memo, which blamed Nike for the issues with the uniforms, assured players that changes would be made to both the jerseys and pants before the start of the next season.
The redesigned uniforms faced criticism from players and fans this year for various reasons, including small lettering, altered fit, and lower quality logos and patches. According to the memo viewed by Sportico, the MLBPA deemed the situation “entirely avoidable” and pledged to modify both the uniforms and pants to address the concerns raised.
The memo explicitly pointed the finger at Nike, stating, “This has been entirely a Nike issue,” emphasizing that Nike attempted unnecessary innovations that led to the problems encountered with the new uniforms. Additionally, the memo criticized Nike’s response to the backlash, describing it as dismissive with the attitude of “Players will need to adjust.”
It is uncommon for a league partner, especially a major corporation like Nike, to face such public criticism. While Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment, a spokesperson for MLB, which entered a partnership with Nike in 2019, declined to provide a statement.
The MLBPA memo also cleared Fanatics of any blame, as the company manufactures the uniforms for Nike. Fanatics, which acquired the previous MLB jersey partner Majestic in 2017, has been producing MLB uniforms without issue for the past eight years. The memo praised Fanatics for valuing player feedback, securing player buy-in, and engaging in open dialogues about uniforms and trading cards.
Regarding the specific changes to be made, the memo outlined that the lettering on the jerseys would revert to the larger size used in previous years. Nike committed to addressing color discrepancies and resolving “perspiration challenges.” For the pants, players can expect a return to the full range of tailoring options available in previous years, including higher quality zippers.
The Nike uniforms that debuted this season were in development for six years and were first worn in MLB’s All-Star Game last year. While some players had the opportunity to test the new versions and provide feedback, MLBPA head Tony Clark expressed concerns about the uniforms as early as 2022, indicating that the union had not been significantly involved in the process.
Overall, the MLBPA’s memo signals a commitment to rectifying the issues with the new uniforms and ensuring that player feedback is considered in future developments.