Editor’s note: This column has been updated to include the Dodgers’ second City Connect entry, which was introduced on Monday afternoon.
In a recent debut, the Minnesota Twins became the 28th team to showcase their City Connect uniforms, marking the completion of the first round in Nike’s three-year cycle of city-inspired outfits. The only two teams not participating in this round were the New York Yankees, known for keeping their classic look, and the Oakland Athletics, facing complications with the city they are meant to connect with.
This season saw eight teams unveiling new uniforms: the Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays.
Opinions on each new uniform set have been widely shared online and at games, sparking debates between purists and progressives. Our panel of MLB writers, C. Trent Rosecrans, Tyler Kepner, Stephen J. Nesbitt, and Culture writer Jason Jones, will analyze and discuss their favorite uniforms from the complete MLB City Connect slate, highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly.
Using a scoring system of 1-30 (1 being the best), our writers ranked each uniform, and the averages were used to determine the final rankings. Here’s what they had to say about some of the uniforms:
On Los Dodgers’ second City Connect entry:
The Dodgers’ new uniform, paying homage to the city of Los Angeles since their move from Brooklyn in 1958, features a mix of old and new elements. While the branding may draw comparisons to Disney and Pop Tarts, the blend of classic and futuristic design elements has received mixed reviews from our panelists.
Atlanta Braves:
Honoring Hank Aaron’s historic 715th home run in 1974, the Braves’ uniform features nostalgic elements that resonate with older fans. Despite the lowercase “a” logo, the throwback tribute to Hammerin’ Hank elevates this uniform in our rankings.
Colorado Rockies:
Inspired by the state of Colorado’s license plate and the Rocky Mountains, the Rockies’ uniform stands out with its predominantly green appearance and clever ski-themed details. The unique design garnered high praise from our panelists for its simplicity and symbolism.
For more insights on other MLB City Connect uniforms, check out the full article on The Athletic for a comprehensive breakdown and analysis.