When the Minnesota Twins took the field last Friday, they became the 28th team to debut their MLB City Connect uniforms, capping off the first round of Nike’s planned three-year cycle of city-inspired fits. (It will begin again this week as the Dodgers debut their second iteration.) The two teams not participating in this round were the New York Yankees, who don’t mess around with their classic look, and the Oakland Athletics, who are in a complicated situation with the city they are supposed to connect with.
Eight teams debuted new uniforms this season: the Twins, Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays. With each new uniform set introduced, opinions have been shared online and at the ballpark. All versions seem to have their detractors and defenders, stirring up purists and progressives alike.
It’s hard to find a consensus for something like this, but our panel — featuring MLB writers C. Trent Rosecrans, Tyler Kepner, and Stephen J. Nesbitt, and Culture writer Jason Jones — took the baton from last year’s cohort and made a case for their favorites, discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly of the complete City Connect slate.
Their rankings were based on a scoring system of 1-30, with 1 being the best. The Los Angeles Dodgers came in last with an average score of 25.75. The uniforms, while showing love to the Hispanic community and celebrating Fernando Valenzuela, were criticized for being lazy and uninspired.
The Detroit Tigers followed closely behind with an average score of 24.75. The homage to the Motor City’s ingenuity with car-inspired details like tire treads and road signs was seen as overdone and uninspiring.
The Pittsburgh Pirates ranked 24.5 with their incorporation of the black and gold colors, typical of Pittsburgh sports. While bright and loud, the panel felt the design was safe and lacked inspiration.
The Philadelphia Phillies scored 23.5 with their blue-and-yellow kit inspired by the city’s flag. The panel found the design to be unapologetically Philly, but the gradient from blue to black was criticized as ridiculous.
The San Francisco Giants ranked 22.0 with their Golden Gate Bridge-themed uniforms. While the theme had potential, the panel felt the execution was poor and the design looked awkward and incomplete.
The Baltimore Orioles came in at 21.5 with basic black uniforms featuring mosaic designs. While the uniform was seen as slightly clever, it was ultimately underwhelming.
The Chicago Cubs ranked 20.25 with their Wrigleyville-themed uniforms. The panel found the design to be unspectacular and remarkably ordinary for such a storied franchise.
The Minnesota Twins scored 20.0 with their blue and yellow color scheme paying tribute to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. While not terrible, the panel felt the design was lackluster and uninspired.
The Houston Astros came in at 18.25 with their Space City-themed uniforms. While the colors and font were praised, the panel felt that the dark blue background detracted from the overall design.
The New York Mets ranked 18.0 with their homage to all boroughs of the city. While the purple accents were praised, the design was criticized for being too dark and difficult to read.
The Toronto Blue Jays scored 17.75 with their Night Mode-themed uniforms reflecting Toronto’s energetic nightlife and illuminated skyline. While the design was praised, the illegibility of the colors was a point of criticism.
The Texas Rangers tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks at 17.5. The Rangers’ uniforms were inspired by Texas’ independence day, while the Diamondbacks paid tribute to the Hispanic culture of the region. Both designs were criticized for being too busy and confusing.
The St. Louis Cardinals ranked 16.75 with a more traditional and understated take on a City Connect uniform. While the design was seen as safe and inoffensive, it lacked the wow factor of other designs.
The Cincinnati Reds scored 14.75 with their all-black City Connect uniforms. While the design was praised for honoring the team’s history, it was criticized for being too dark and difficult to read.
The Tampa Bay Rays came in at 14.25 with their skateboard-influenced design celebrating the counterculture energy of the team’s home. While the design was seen as lively and fun, the illegibility of the colors was a point of criticism.
The Washington Nationals ranked 13.0 with their pink and gray City Connect uniforms honoring the city’s cherry blossoms. While the design was praised for being unique and distinctively D.C., the use of the “WSH” abbreviation was criticized.
The Kansas City Royals scored 12.5 with their dark blue uniforms paying tribute to the city’s fountains. While the design was seen as inoffensive, it lacked the wow factor of other designs.
The Cleveland Guardians ranked 12.25 with their classic color scheme and Art Deco influences honoring Cleveland’s famous Guardians of Traffic. While the design was praised for its classy elements, it was criticized for being too safe and uninspired.
The Atlanta Braves came in at 5.5 with their tribute to Hank Aaron breaking the home run record in 1974. The design was praised for its nod to history and the use of the current “A” logo.
The Miami Marlins scored 5.0 with their tribute to the Cuban Sugar Kings. The design was praised for its boldness and historical connection to the Havana Sugar Kings.
Finally, the Colorado Rockies topped the list with a score of 3.0. The Rockies’ uniform, inspired by the state of Colorado’s license plate, was praised for its simplicity and evocative design reminiscent of the state’s landscapes.
Overall, the City Connect uniforms have sparked a mix of opinions, with some designs being praised for their creativity and nods to history, while others have been criticized for being uninspired and lackluster. Despite the varying opinions, the City Connect initiative has brought a fresh and unique perspective to MLB uniforms, showcasing the creativity and diversity of each city’s identity.