(670 The Score) At the start of spring training back in February, one of the most prominent storylines wasn’t about MLB teams or the players but instead what they were wearing.
MLB unveiled new uniforms through Nike and Fanatics, which produced significant and unwelcomed adjustments. Those included a lighter fabric that has proved to be less sweat resistant, smaller player names that are difficult to read – and can look like cheaper replica jerseys – and pants that some criticized as being see-through.
Players quickly voiced their displeasure about the changes, which weren't made in conjunction with the union. Then, fans chimed in as they began watching games and didn’t approve of the product.
Last week, the players’ union sent a memo informing that Nike was to blame for the changes and that significant adjustments back to old form would be made for the 2025 season.
Cubs left fielder Ian Happ, who serves as the team’s union representative, told the Bernstein & Holmes Show that the shift away from these current uniforms is welcome.
“When we got to spring training and saw the actual product, the players were vocal about it,” Happ said. “But the fans were very vocal. I think that, to be honest, drove the decision more than anything else, the fans, the pushback on social media, the media coverage of it. Like, Major League Baseball, Nike, nobody wants that to be what’s talked about. You want the players and the product. We’ll see how jersey sales come in.
“That’s probably a big part of it. Players were vocal. And I’ll give Nike credit — they were in the clubhouses in spring training to talk to players to get feedback once everything started. They made an effort to be in there to get feedback from individuals about the things we liked about the old jerseys, the things we don’t like about the new jerseys, all of those things. So, they’re making an effort to rectify it.
“We knew nothing was going to get done this year. They’ve already printed too many jerseys, and it’s too long of a process. They’re behind as it is. For us to be able to have a different product in 2025, we’ll see what that looks like. The names will be bigger. We’ll see what the template is, if it’s the current template or adjusted. They’re going to work on the grays, they’re going to work on the fabric to make sure that the sweating isn’t coming through. I think you’re going to see in the summer with the product they have now, guys are going to be sweating through jerseys. You’re going to see. Hopefully, the stitching on the pants gets a little bit more durable so guys aren’t blowing out the whole side of their pants. There’s always been rips in pants. That’s something that happens. But the whole side blowouts aren’t as typical.
“They’re doing everything they can to rectify it. It’s going to be a process. Hopefully, fans will be happy with what we have.”
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