When an official Fanatics social media account replied to MLB player Michael Chavis thinking that an official on-field MLB jersey was only a replica, was the final blow for Fanatics and Nike plunging the “new and improved” jersey, the MLB, and fanatics into an even bigger whirlwind of embarrassment.
Nike and Fanatics unveiled their new jerseys at the 2023 MLB All-Star game on July 11, 2023 that took place in Seattle, Washington, at T-Mobile Park, introducing a new look and feel for the 2023 All-Star participants.
The new jerseys appeared more fitting and slicker, with a more breathable feel, which resulted in a positive response from a majority of players. However, after the MLB’s 2024 media day pictures were released and fans saw the see-through pants, unusual colors, and troublesomely small last names, the tides had turned, and fans, analysts, and even players loudly voiced their opinion against the jerseys.
Nike signed on to design the MLB’s jerseys and uniforms in December of 2019, while Fanatics, who purchased longtime MLB uniform manufacturer Majestic in 2017, produced them out of those same factories that had been making uniforms for over two decades. While Nike and Fanatics have also recently started working together on collegiate apparel, they haven’t had a very long business relationship.
From big, bold lettering and numbers stitched on big and baggy jerseys that symbolize the immense pressure on your back to awkward, uncomfortably small, and inconsistent screen-printed letters and numbers on the back of a jersey better suited for a travel baseball team, the jerseys are terrible to say the least.
The uniforms have seen some discoloration between the pants and jerseys, and the colors of the jerseys themselves have been inconsistent with years past.
Starting shortstop for the Chicago Cubs Dansby Swanson, who is also a Nike endorsed athlete, was so confused by the difference of colors in his own team’s jersey that he set up an meeting to discuss why Nike deferred from the Cubs’ distinguishable shade of blue.
Lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and La Salle Social Studies teacher Alex Lanaghan also noted the different blue that Nike and Fanatics went with instead of the all-time classic “Cubbie Blue.”
“I was focused more on the fact that they didn’t seem like they didn’t get some of the colors right,” Lanaghan said. “Like there’s an actual blue that we call “Cubbie Blue,” and it’s an iconic tone or level of blue. And it seems like they didn’t match that correctly, which surprised me.”
The jerseys are described as feeling like a replica or even a knock-off, according to one Baltimore Orioles player. Despite these comments from the players, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred has claimed that the jerseys had more testing done on them than any jersey in any sport. Despite the negative responses, Manfred along with Nike and Fanatics have still expressed their support behind the “performance-based uniforms”.
Pictures of the uniforms’ own performance went viral just two days into the 2024 MLB season, with multiple Yankees players — the most commonly seen being starting pitcher Carlos Rodon — visibly sweating through their gray road uniforms in game two of their road series against the Houston Astros.
The recent issues regarding players’ sweat has drawn comparison to a 1994 episode of the classic sitcom, Seinfeld, where lead character George Constanza messes with the New York Yankees uniforms.
Lanaghan expressed the notion that changes are always bound to happen. “I feel like if the players are comfortable and feeling professional, then that’s going to turn out on the field,” Lanaghan said. “If it bothers the players then it bothers me.”
The pants of the uniforms have also been perceived as a major downgrade, and have been accompanied by the description of NSFW. The pants are so light and breathable that they are even see through. The media day pictures showcased the player’s tucked in jerseys and pockets.
One big aspect of the whole uniform debacle is responses from the MLB’s Commissioner Rob Manfred, Fanatics’ CEO Michael Rubin, and Nike. While Manfred has been backing the MLB’s new uniforms and telling the public to give it time. Rubin has gone in a different direction and has been trying to play the blame game. Rubin has been saying that Fanatics is being treated unfairly and that they only produced what was asked of them. Nike has claimed that the athlete, the quality, and the overall performance of the jerseys always has and will be at the forefront of their decisions. Nike and Fanatics will continue to work with the MLB.
The MLB has made numerous changes that have helped improve the game and ratings, but see-through pants and small last names are not the way to go. While reworking the jerseys isn’t the worst idea, the MLB needs to figure out a different direction to go in.
