City Connect

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City Connect is a brand name for a line of alternate uniforms made by Nike, Inc. for Major League Baseball (MLB) teams. The uniforms feature different color schemes, typefaces, and graphic elements compared with the teams' typical home and away uniforms. The uniforms are designed to reflect the cultural aspects of each team's home city. [1] Of MLB's 30 teams, 20 have a City Connect uniform as of 2023, with an additional eight teams scheduled to debut theirs in 2024. The New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics are the only two teams without a City Connect uniform.

Contents

Descriptions

Nike and MLB introduced the first round of City Connect uniforms during the 2021 season. A second round debuted during the 2022 season, a third during the 2023 season, and a fourth during the 2024 season. [2]

Introduced in 2021

Logan Webb wearing San Francisco's City Connect uniforms before a game in 2021 Logan Webb 20210928 (cropped).jpg
Logan Webb wearing San Francisco's City Connect uniforms before a game in 2021

Seven teams started wearing City Connect jerseys during the 2021 MLB season.

Introduced in 2022

Dominic Smith wearing Washington's City Connect uniforms during a game in 2023 Dominic Smith (52995692184) (cropped).jpg
Dominic Smith wearing Washington's City Connect uniforms during a game in 2023

The seven teams that introduced City Connect uniforms in 2021 would continue to wear them for selected games. Seven additional teams introduced City Connect uniforms in 2022.

Introduced in 2023

Six teams wore City Connect uniforms for the first time in 2023. [21]

Introduced in 2024

Eight teams will reveal their City Connect uniforms and wear them for the first time in 2024. The Los Angeles Dodgers will also reveal a new City Connect uniform design during the season. [28]

No City Connect uniform

The following teams do not have a City Connect uniform.

Summary table

This is a summary list of the teams that have worn City Connect uniforms, their reveal dates, their on-field debut dates, their most recent use, the number of times each team had wore total and the total for the current season, and their usage patterns during the 2024 MLB season.

(Updated through April 14, 2024)

TeamOn-field debutReveal dateLatest useTimes usedTimes used in 2024UsageSources
Arizona Diamondbacks June 18, 2021June 13, 2021September 29, 2023350Friday home games [3]
Atlanta Braves April 8, 2023March 27, 2023April 8, 2024161Saturday home games [22]
Baltimore Orioles May 26, 2023May 22, 2023April 12, 2024121Friday home games [23]
Boston Red Sox April 17, 2021April 6, 2021April 14, 2024383Saturday home games [4]
Chicago Cubs June 12, 2021June 8, 2021September 8, 2023240Friday home games (June−September) [5]
Chicago White Sox June 5, 2021May 28, 2021September 15, 2023300Monday home games [6]
Cincinnati Reds May 19, 2023May 13, 2023April 5, 2024121Friday home games [24]
Cleveland Guardians May 17, 2024May 2024May 17, 202400TBD [31]
Colorado Rockies June 4, 2022May 27, 2022April 6, 2024361Wednesday and Saturday home games [12]
Detroit Tigers May 10, 2024May 6, 2024May 10, 202400TBD [28]
Houston Astros April 20, 2022April 10, 2022April 1, 2024191Monday home games [14]
Kansas City Royals April 30, 2022April 25, 2022April 5, 2024271Friday home games [15]
Los Angeles Angels June 11, 2022June 6, 2022September 17, 2023260Various home games [16]
Los Angeles Dodgers August 20, 2021August 19, 2021September 18, 202319—Various home games [7]
June 21, 2024June 2024June 21, 202400TBD [31]
Miami Marlins May 21, 2021May 17, 2021April 13, 2024382Saturday home games [10]
Milwaukee Brewers June 24, 2022June 17, 2022September 29, 2023280Friday home games [17]
Minnesota Twins June 14, 2024June 2024June 14, 202400TBD [31]
New York Mets April 26, 2024April 19, 2024April 26, 202400TBD [32]
New York Yankees ——————
Oakland Athletics ——————
Philadelphia Phillies April 12, 2024April 5, 2024April 12, 202411Friday home games [29]
Pittsburgh Pirates June 27, 2023June 22, 2023September 29, 202380Friday home games [25]
San Diego Padres July 8, 2022July 1, 2022March 29, 2024231Friday home games [18]
San Francisco Giants July 9, 2021July 5, 2021September 26, 2023360Tuesday home games [11]
Seattle Mariners May 5, 2023April 28, 2023April 12, 2024122Friday home games [26]
St. Louis Cardinals May 25, 2024May 2024May 25, 202400TBD [31]
Tampa Bay Rays May 3, 2024April 2024May 3, 202400TBD [31]
Texas Rangers April 21, 2023April 17, 2023September 23, 2023220Friday and Saturday home games [27]
Toronto Blue Jays May 31, 2024May 30, 2024May 31, 202400TBD [31]
Washington Nationals April 9, 2022March 29, 2022April 6, 2024391Friday and Saturday home games [19]

Reaction

Boston.com conducted a poll of its readers in April 2021 and found a polarized reaction to the Red Sox's yellow and blue City Connect jerseys. About 49% of respondents said that they loved the new uniforms, about 36% said that they hated them, and about 9% chose the "I'm speechless" option. [33] After the Red Sox wore the City Connect uniforms for four consecutive games in September 2021, winning all four, manager Alex Cora said that the team would continue to wear them for as long as they kept winning. "I'm sorry, but if we continue winning, we've got to stay with them," Xander Bogaerts told NESN. [34]

A columnist for the San Francisco Examiner wrote in May 2022 that the Giants had a record of 12 wins and 2 losses in their City Connect jerseys. Although some fans derided their design as looking like an orange Creamsicle, fans eventually warmed to the jersey, increasingly wearing them to games on Tuesday nights, when the team typically wears their City Connect uniforms. [35]

Of the first 11 City Connect designs, USA Today's For the Win blog ranked the White Sox's uniform design as the best and the Giants' design as the worst. [36] In a July 2022 review ranking the first 14 uniform designs, ESPN's Joon Lee described the City Connect program as the league's boldest alternative jersey designs since the Turn Ahead the Clock promotions of the late 1990s. Lee rated the Rockies' City Connect uniforms as the best, and the Dodgers as the worst. [2]

The Padres' City Connect uniforms generated $240,000 in revenue at the team's official store on July 1, 2022, their first day of sale. The last time the team had introduced a new alternative uniform, in 2020, the team store sold $73,000 worth of merchandise on launch day. [37]

Upon its announcement in 2023, the Texas Rangers' City Connect design met with polarized reactions from local sports media commentators and fans, particularly about the hybrid "Peagle" mascot that appeared on the uniform tops. [38] [39] [40] [41]

Baltimore's City Connect design drew positive reviews for the colorful interior patterns, and also criticism for its mostly black, unadorned exterior. [42] The Orioles' players liked the look of their City Connect uniforms. [43]

Of the 20 designs that were announced during the first three seasons of City Connect, Joon Lee ranked the Orioles' design 20th, noting comparisons to Great Britain's generic uniforms at the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Lee rated the Rockies' design as the best. [44] Three writers for The Athletic voted on their preferences among the first 20 City Connect designs. The Giants' and Rangers' designs tied for last place; the White Sox were rated as the best. [45]

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References

  1. ↑ Thompson, Jackson. "Nike unveils NBA-like 'City Connect' uniform for Boston Red Sox, with more MLB teams coming soon", Insider. April 16, 2021.
  2. 1 2 Lee, Joon (July 1, 2022). "Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. 1?". ESPN. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "D-backs reveal City Connect series uniforms". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
  4. 1 2 "Red Sox unveil Patriots' Day-inspired unis". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2021-04-06. Retrieved 2021-04-06.
  5. 1 2 "Cubs embrace all of Chicago with new unis". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  6. 1 2 "New White Sox jerseys a true game changer". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  7. 1 2 "Los Dodgers! Los Angeles Unveils New, Truly Dodger Blue, City Connect Uniform".
  8. ↑ "New Dodgers City Connect Cap for 2022 Season". 6 June 2022.
  9. ↑ "New Dodgers City Connect Pants For 2023 Season". 17 April 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Marlins unveil Cuban-inspired uniforms". MLB.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2021-05-22.
  11. 1 2 "Giants rep Golden Gate, fog on new unis". MLB. July 5, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Rockies' City Connect uniforms a nod to iconic Colorado plates". MLB.com.
  13. ↑ Purple Row [@PurpleRow] (April 8, 2023). "Big uniform news: *Except for today*, when the Rockies wear their City Connect uniforms during the day, they will wear white pants. For night games, they will wear their green pants. But today is special, so white pants at night" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. 1 2 "Astros reveal space-themed City Connect unis". Houston Astros. MLB. April 10, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  15. 1 2 "Royals unveil City Connect uniform". Kansas City Royals. MLB. April 25, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
  16. 1 2 "Angels City Connect unis rep SoCal beach scene". Los Angeles Angels. MLB. June 6, 2022. Retrieved June 6, 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Brewers unveil "Brew Crew" City Connect uniforms". Milwaukee Brewers. MLB. June 17, 2022. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  18. 1 2 "San Diego culture, colors highlight Padres City Connect unis". San Diego Padres. MLB. July 1, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  19. 1 2 "Cherry blossoms burst with flair on Nationals' City Connect uniforms". Washington Nationals. MLB. April 1, 2022. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  20. ↑ Camerato, Jessica (January 26, 2024). "Nationals unveil new uniforms for 2024". Washington Nationals. MLB. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  21. ↑ Svoboda, Dylan (March 27, 2023). "Braves, Rangers, Mariners, Reds, O's, Bucs to wear City Connect unis". MLB.com. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Braves honor Aaron's legacy with new City Connect uniforms". Major League Baseball. MLB Advanced Media. March 27, 2023. Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  23. 1 2 Rill, Jake. "O's drop bold new City Connect jerseys -- with a surprise inside". MLB.com. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  24. 1 2 "Reds' City Connect unis a nod to the future, younger generations". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  25. 1 2 "'We bleed black and gold': Bucs unveil City Connect uniforms". MLB.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Spirit, colors of Pacific Northwest come alive in Mariners' City Connect unis". MLB.com. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  27. 1 2 "Texas Rangers Reveal Nike City Connect Jerseys, Pay Homage to Dallas-Fort Worth" . Retrieved April 17, 2023.
  28. 1 2 "9 new City Connect uniforms coming in 2024". MLB.com. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  29. 1 2 "Phillies unveil 'Unapologetically Philly' City Connect uniforms". Phillies.com.
  30. ↑ "More Signs That the Yankees Won't Have a City Connect Uniform". Uni-Watch.com. January 2, 2024. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Tracking MLB's City Connect uniforms". ESPN.com. 2024-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-05.
  32. ↑ "EXCLUSIVE: First Info on Mets' Upcoming City Connect Uni". Uni-Watch.com. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
  33. ↑ Chianca, Peter (April 8, 2021). "Boston.com readers love the Red Sox Patriots' Day look - except for the ones that hate it". Boston.com. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  34. ↑ Starr, Gabrielle (September 22, 2021). "Red Sox will continue to wear lucky yellow City Connect uniforms". BoSox Injection. Fansided. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  35. ↑ Kassel, Ethan (May 26, 2022). "San Francisco Giants win but eyeballs lose with Creamsicle uniforms". San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  36. ↑ Curtis, Charles (June 6, 2022). "The MLB alternate City Connect Nike jerseys, ranked: Where the Angels' threads land". For The Win. USA Today. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  37. ↑ Bacharach, Erik (July 19, 2022). "Padres City Connect jerseys bring revenue bump". Sports Business Journal. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  38. ↑ Dearmore, Kelly (April 18, 2023). "Texas Rangers City Connect Uniforms Don't Connect With Many Sports Personalities". Dallas Observer. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  39. ↑ Dow, Lawrence (April 18, 2023). "Social media is conflicted over the Rangers' newly released City Connect jerseys". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Texas Rangers fans disgusted by team's City Connect outfits: "Must have had an elementary school contest on designing the uniforms"". sportskeeda.com. April 17, 2023. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  41. ↑ "The Texas Rangers New City Connect Uniforms are Awful". sportstalk790.iheart.com. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
  42. ↑ Worthington, Aliza (May 22, 2023). "Orioles unveil City Connect uniforms to mixed reviews". Baltimore Fishbowl. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  43. ↑ Kostka, Andy (May 23, 2023). "Here's what Orioles players actually think about the City Connect jersey". The Baltimore Banner. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  44. ↑ Lee, Joon (June 22, 2023). "Ranking MLB's radical City Connect uniforms: Which one's No. 1?". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 22, 2023.
  45. ↑ Jones, Jason; Koreen, Eric; Edwards III, James L. (June 28, 2023). "MLB City Connect series: All 20 uniforms ranked, including the newest ones from 2023". The Athletic. Retrieved June 29, 2023.

See also

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