There have been complaints from fans and players about Nike’s new Major League Baseball uniforms, and it is expected that changes will be made by the start of the 2025 season. A memo obtained on Sunday states that, after discussions between the MLB Players Association and Nike, the following changes are likely to occur: larger lettering on jersey tops, bringing back previous tailoring options on pants such as seam stitch count and higher-quality zippers from 2023.
Nike is also working on solutions for mismatching gray uniforms and sweat stains showing through jerseys. The memo attributes these issues as being solely a Nike problem, stating that they were trying to innovate unnecessarily.
It’s important to note that the memo does not guarantee direct commitments from Nike, but rather updates players on progress made. The new Nike Vapor Premier design will remain, but changes will be made to address the outlined concerns.
Nike faced backlash for the Vapor Premier design, with criticisms over small lettering, pants fitting, and fabric quality. Sweat stains, different tones in road grays, and pants blowing out along the seams were also noted issues.
The MLBPA has expressed concerns to Nike since 2022, especially regarding pants, but Nike was resistant to making changes. Fanatics, the manufacturer of the uniforms, has been absolved of blame by the MLBPA, highlighting their positive partnership and history of uniform production without issues.
Going forward, the hope is that Nike will be more open to feedback and collaboration with players. The memo encourages a similar approach to that of Fanatics in seeking player input and addressing concerns.
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