When it comes to uniforms, 2024 has certainly been a year to forget for MLB and Nike. And the apparent uniforms for this month’s MLB All-Star Game in Texas won’t help either.
Up until 2019, All-Stars for the competing National League and American League squads wore the home and away uniforms of their respective teams during the actual All-Star Game. MLB’s uniform supplier at the time, Majestic, did design special AL and NL jerseys, but those were only worn at the Home Run Derby until 2017 and workout day in 2018 and 2019 (there was no All-Star Game in 2020 due to the pandemic-shortened season).
Yet, when Nike took over in 2020, there was a shift to have players wear All-Star jerseys during the actual game. The results haven’t been great, and 2024’s edition might be the worst one yet.
First look at the American League All Star jersey
(via @snyyankees) pic.twitter.com/RqUXTb9niZ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 3, 2024
A photo hit social media on Wednesday showing a look at Juan Soto’s All-Star Game jersey at the Yankee Stadium team shop. It was a tan jersey with red sleeves, and really, nothing about it had a connection to the host Texas Rangers. Of course, they could look better on the players as opposed to a clothing rack, but I wouldn’t hold out hope for that.
If Nike was smart, it would bring back the regular team jerseys for the All-Star Game and only use these special jerseys for workouts. It does the All-Star Game zero favors if the players are out there looking terrible.
MLB fans also had plenty of thoughts on the jersey.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
We used to be a civilized society… https://t.co/DWgiFauUav pic.twitter.com/98MkWhyXRW
— James Trietley (@JamesTrietley) July 3, 2024
The crime is @Nike is paid and paid well by @MLB to produce this nonsense. These look like the softball jerseys your friend got for the team at that "sports and trophy store" in the strip mall around the corner https://t.co/NzLnzJuZzx
— Peter Groff (@realpetercgroff) July 3, 2024
I hate being the “Get off my lawn” guy but MLB is not helping here. These are pitiful https://t.co/L4kWl4qCN4
— Sheffield Shuffler (@SheffieldShuff) July 3, 2024
I understand it’s all about money and selling merch, following what other leagues do, but man.
Please just have them wear their respective teams’ uniform out there. Always thought it was cool seeing the different looks on the field together, was a unique thing MLB had going. https://t.co/RFO1ymKmqx
— Bryan Simmons-Hayes (@bryguysh) July 3, 2024
Happy "MLB Dropped Yet Another Jersey That the Entirety of the Internet is Going to Hate On" Day to all those who celebrate! https://t.co/ZzYibInZF0
— Just A Yankees Fan (@CasaYanks) July 3, 2024
The designers @nikediamond continue to swing and miss.
How about they just go back to playing in their respective team uniforms? https://t.co/6xPTVhigPp
— Eric Johnsen (@ericjdesigns) July 3, 2024
people will often overreact when talking about how terrible jerseys are but these are legitimately the worst i’ve ever seen
absolutely nothing about them is unique or even creative, it’s kind of impressive https://t.co/JZm6JLZE4E
— alex (@bantheshift) July 3, 2024
Starting to buy into the idea that Rob Manfred & Nike are in cahoots to destroy league perception, because what are we doing man?
90% of the City Connects are embarrassing, All-Star uniforms are egregious every year….. https://t.co/AWZ95u2kBz
— Grayson Boone (@gboone_) July 3, 2024
These are terrible. Please just bring back teams wearing their usual uniforms with patches and styled hats. https://t.co/9SAM7ltoje
— Better Call Sal (@BetterCall_Sal1) July 3, 2024
