Two MLB Uniform Changes in the Works, Thanks in Part to Bryce Harper
Big MLB jersey news! Don’t ever let people tell you bullying doesn’t work! Major League Baseball has decided to change back to the old uniforms and will have players wearing their hometown jerseys during the All-Star Game again. That means the regular nameplates we didn’t know we loved until they took them away from us will be back for good in 2026, according to Anthony Castrovince at MLB.com:
Changes are in the works for overall home and road team uniforms beginning next season and will include pant customization, increasing the sizing of the lettering and returning to previously used materials that the players requested. The decision to move forward with these modifications was finalized over the last few days, following collaboration between MLB, Nike, Fanatics and the Major League Baseball Players Association. The changes will begin in 2025 and will be fully implemented by the start of the 2026 season.
Every team’s road grays will be updated by Spring Training in 2025 with the rest following the next year. Those nameplates are going to look gigantic to the naked eye when we first see them.
Look at the comparisons between 2023 and 2024:
The Phillies’ old jersey nameplates vs. 2024’s update:
(@destiny_lugardo) pic.twitter.com/tQau6vkV5J
— Phillies Nation (@PhilliesNation) February 14, 2024
Kind of odd that we can’t get these jerseys until 2026, no? What’re there like 1,200 or so baseball players? They might get 20 jerseys a season. MLB’s production partner can’t carve out 24k jerseys by spring training? Does anyone want to work in this country anymore? What are their wages like? Do they offer healthcare? We’ve got a bunch of striking Aramark workers down at CBP looking for a better life. Get them on the production line and let’s get to work. People across the Philly area are going to strain their eyes to see who is pitching going back and forth from the road grays to the cherry pinstripes.
In more jersey news, MLB will have the players wear their hometown jerseys for the All-Star Game.
You can thank Bryce Harper for that:
Major League Baseball will make two changes related to its uniforms over the course of the next two seasons, the league announced on Monday. The first change will have players return to wearing their primary home and road uniforms at the All-Star Game starting next season. MLB has decided that players will once again represent their “hometown” teams for the game itself, as was the case from the 1930s through 2019.
Players selected for next season’s All-Star Game will wear a special All-Star uniform during Gatorade Workout Day and the T-Mobile Home Run Derby the day before the All-Star Game, though players actually competing in the Derby will wear their primary home uniforms. MLB is working with New Era on the game cap for the All-Star Game.
The Nike All-Star uniforms are not a big hit for everyone. Growing up, Bryce Harper said he loved watching All-Stars take the field in their team uniforms.
“If we could change back to that,” Harper said, “I think it would be really cool.”
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) July 15, 2024
Couldn’t agree with this more. Every league with an All-Star Game should have their players wear their home and road jerseys. It’s so much cooler to watch on TV and makes it easier for people to learn who other players are and where they play. You can still sell an ASG jersey and give people options. Though Home Run Derby participants will be wearing their team’s jerseys I still remember Bobby Abreu winning the Derby in this beauty from 2005:
How about the leagues listening to the fans (the players)! It’s not that hard right? We know what we want and we’re not afraid to tell you. Now if we can just get rid of umpires and bring in the robots the MLB will be cooking with gas!