Madelyn Furstenau ‘26, Lyonlife.org Editor-in-Chief
In 2021, Nike launched a collaborative brand with the MLB to design a line of customized uniforms for all 30 teams in the league. Over the past few years, 20 teams have received their exclusive uniforms. These uniforms feature design elements that pay tribute to the city or state of which the chosen team represents. The City Connect brand has grown to be widely popular over the years as fans can purchase these jerseys and flaunt the unique designs of the team for whom they support. As promised, Nike added six teams to the list of City Connect recipients in 2023, and each team has since received and debuted their distinctive uniforms. The 2023 recipients are the Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Seattle Mariners, and the 2023 World Series Champions, the Texas Rangers.
Cincinnati Reds:
The Cincinnati Reds debuted their City Connect uniforms on May 19. The sleek black and red palette elevates the uniforms while somewhat carrying over the team’s usual white and red theme. The overall modernized feel of the uniforms gives a nod to this up-and-coming team, who are now gaining momentum after struggling for a few years. The most noticeable difference from their typical uniforms is the font, which has been revamped to look more futuristic. The Reds’ Vice President Ralph Mitchell said, “We wanted to make this about the future… This is the Reds’ uniform for today, in today’s city. It’s not the sleepy Midwest.” The goal in creating these uniforms was to reinvent a new perception of the team, as their recent string of losing records has painted an unappealing picture of the club. Rather than using the city’s full name, Cincinnati’s shortened version is displayed across the chest. At the bottom of the jersey, the team’s full name is printed in bold red font. Lastly, a patch with the city’s motto, “Juncta Juvant”, is featured on the jersey. The Latin message translates to “Strength in Unity” and includes a buckeye leaf next to it, representing the state of Ohio. The Reds pridefully wore these uniforms every Friday throughout the season, and the jersey is among the most fan-loved releases to date.
Baltimore Orioles:
The Baltimore Orioles revealed their City Connect uniforms on May 26. Although the design is simple, the overall “clean” look is appealing to the eye. The unique and modernized font across the chest differs from their normal uniforms, which feature a cursive font. The lining of the sleeves and interior of the jersey itself have a colorful array of mosaic designs, which nicely contrast the unembellished exterior. The Orioles said, “The greyscale exterior represents the surface-level view people have of Baltimore. Look deeper, and you’ll find the colorful interior that highlights the vibrancy of the city.” Although many claim that the design of this uniform is underwhelming, others think that the theme of simplicity makes it better than other flashy City Connect uniforms. Journalist Renee Dechert said, “So many City Connect uniforms just look like miniature NASCAR rigs burdened with symbolism… these uniforms are, literally, demanding the viewer to look closely.” The ‘B’ on the sleeve is pulled from the team’s away uniforms, and a patch reading “You can’t clip these wings” is featured at the bottom of the jersey. The Orioles sported these uniforms every Friday throughout the season.
Atlanta Braves:
The Atlanta Braves’ City Connect uniforms arrived on April 8. This design is a modernized version of the Braves’ 1974 uniforms. The redesign pays tribute to former Brave and Hall-of-Famer Hank Aaron, who broke Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1974 with 715 home runs. Differing from the original uniform, the chest reads “The A”, which refers to the team’s rallying cheer, “For the A.” The inside collar features graphics that resemble the scoreboard lights at Atlanta Fulton County Stadium, the Braves’ former home stadium. Crown designs on the sleeves refer to Aaron’s title as the “home run king” of his time. The pattern on the crown designs matches those on the Presidential Medal of Freedom awarded to Aaron by former President George W. Bush. Aaron’s motto, “Keep Swinging #44” is stitched at the bottom of the jersey. Nike successfully maintained the elements of the original uniform while still elevating the design and adding a creative, modernized twist. The Braves wore these uniforms at every Saturday home game this season.
Pittsburgh Pirates:
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ City Connect uniforms emerged on June 27. This uniform pays homage to the city’s bridges while keeping the team’s classic black and yellow palette, which is shared among all Pittsburgh professional teams. The Pirates announced that the design is meant to exemplify Pittsburgh’s shift from the steel industry to its advancements in medicine and technology. Pirates Executive Vice President of Marketing, Stephen Perkins, said, “We anchored in this idea, the transition this city is going through, an evolution… while the steel industry is here, this city is becoming a technology center.” The blocky, structural font is representative of the bridges in Pittsburgh. Each letter contains a texture that is found on the Roberto Clemente Bridge, which connects downtown Pittsburgh to PNC Park, the home stadium of the Pirates. Across the uniform is a subtle asteroid pattern that gives a nod to the city’s rich history in the American steel industry. Recurring ‘Y’ shapes can be found within the design, referencing the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio rivers meeting. The phrase “We bleed black and gold” is featured at the bottom of the jersey. The team showcased these uniforms at every Friday home game during the season.
Seattle Mariners:
The Seattle Mariners brought their City Connect uniforms to light on May 5. This design channels a throwback feeling to the team’s original logo, with a similar tridental font across the chest. This logo has been controversial within the Seattle fanbase as the team experienced a lack of success while wearing uniforms that included it. In 1987, former Mariners manager George Argyros got rid of the trident logo after a growing superstition that an upside-down trident angers the ancient Greek god and ruler of the sea, Poseidon. However, Mariners Senior Vice President of Marketing Kevin Martinez thinks that the reintroduction of the trident will be welcomed by Seattle fans. Martinez said, “There’s a lot of love for the trident here…we’ve listened to our fans, and if you come to a ballgame here, you’ll see it everywhere.” Two phrases that resonate with the Mariners are featured on the uniform: “Sodo Mojo”, the neighborhood where the Mariners play, and “My oh my”, which references Hall of Fame broadcaster Dave Niehaus’s iconic catchphrase. A small collage dedicated to the Pacific Northwest resides on the sleeve, featuring Mount Rainier, Pacific Northwest lettering, and leaf detailing. The Mariners sported these uniforms at every Friday home game.
Texas Rangers:
The Texas Rangers’ City Connect uniforms surfaced on April 21. The overall design of the uniform represents a connection between Dallas and Fort Worth. Nike and the Rangers examined the rich baseball history of these two areas and combined elements to create a historically accurate and detailed uniform. In the end, they incorporated elements from three different Minor League teams that came before the Rangers: the Panthers, the Eagles, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs. Rangers Senior Vice President of Marketing Travis Dillon said, “We wanted to surprise and educate the fanbase…It’s about how and why we got here, where we are today.” The cream color of the uniform differs from the team’s usual pure white but pairs well with the “TX” and oldish font to create an overall retro Western look. On the sleeve, a combination of a panther and eagle—which became known as the “peagle” during the design process—takes the mascots of the Fort Worth Panthers and Dallas Eagles and becomes one. Inside of the jersey, the date 4-21 is embroidered. This date highlights San Jacinto Day, the day when Texas emerged victorious from battle and won its independence from Mexico. It is also the date of the Rangers’ first game in Arlington back in 1972. The Rangers wore these uniforms at every Friday home game.
This line of specially curated uniforms has been a huge success—and a topic of discussion and debate—across the MLB fanbase. Even if you do not purchase one for yourself, it is interesting to look into the reasoning behind the symbols and designs. Nike confirmed that once every team receives a uniform, they plan to continue the line by redesigning City Connect uniforms every four years. So if you are unhappy with your team’s City Connect uniforms, do not worry, because more designs are coming soon.
Lyon Life 