When MLB and Nike agreed to a 10-year deal with Nike for on-field uniforms back in 2020, it was supposed to be seen as a positive step for the game. Gone were the days of Majestic making uniforms, and instead, the game was going to benefit from Nike’s immense resources for the on-field product.
Yeah, about that …
With new styling and materials for this season, Fanatics — the sports apparel giant — will be continuing the production of both the on-field and retail MLB uniforms. Nike licensed production to Fanatics back in 2020, meaning the uniforms have the Nike Swoosh but with Fanatics quality. Yet, the production/design-level changes in that arrangement are noticeable for this season.
As pitchers and catchers reported to spring camp, the initial reactions have not been positive.
This is what the back of the white jerseys look like with the new template. Players are pretty unhappy. Miles Mikolas says they also don’t fit right; pants are no longer as customized, and the fabric is a very different consistency.
“They look cheap,” another player said. pic.twitter.com/UoH4vVHTfd
— Jeff Jones (@jmjones) February 13, 2024
Players think the new materials look and feel cheap and have less customization for fit and comfort. The difference in the name and numbers are also apparent. The name on the back appears to be a considerably smaller font size with a more pronounced arc around the number.
2023 jerseys vs 2024 jerseys
They’re taking the curved names to an extreme this year. Imagine if Jared Saltalamacchia was still playing 😂 pic.twitter.com/LGbM2JtQgf
— Fuzzy (@fuzzyfromyt) February 13, 2024
It’s unclear why Nike would want to entrust Fanatics — a company notorious for producing poor-quality merchandise — with the actual on-field uniforms. That agreement for retail jerseys would make sense albeit bad for fans. But players are only going to complain about it more as they continue to report into spring training camp.
Last year vs this year’s replica jersey offerings from the fine folks at MLB, Nike & Fanatics. Last year’s being on the left and this year’s on the right.
I have a lot to say, so bear with me here.
Let’s just rip the bandaid off right away with this year’s new jersey offerings pic.twitter.com/3IShhlj0nL
— Bobby Mullins (@TheBobbyMullins) February 11, 2024
Already, though, we’re seeing plenty of negative reaction to this uniform deal.
This was how Twitter reacted
Nike is wilding letting Fanatics play with its branding like this. Yikes. https://t.co/3hh7gVw3HM
— Michael Sykes, II (@MikeDSykes) February 13, 2024
Fanatics doing what they do best. Ruin jersey designs and make everyone hate them. They’re truly the heel in every story they’re in. https://t.co/mZxpPfUQn9 pic.twitter.com/csqOXDlCE3
— Eli Morgan (@Eli_Morgan1112) February 13, 2024
Fanatics is the worst thing to ever happen to sports in this country and the owners are all complicit. https://t.co/KoKYkAZ42V
— B’s Memes (@BigBadBsMemes) February 13, 2024
Nike and Fanatics when it's time to ruin iconic sports uniforms https://t.co/5QrRQ3wPHZ pic.twitter.com/leiykuyesQ
— Austin Donley (@adonley3) February 13, 2024
Fanatics literally ruins everything they touch and leagues keep handing them work I do not get it https://t.co/U3JbF08EYK
— Zoo With Roy (@zoowithroy) February 13, 2024
Fanatics strikes again https://t.co/HQdEEf3VCf
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) February 13, 2024
Major League Baseball allowing Fanatics to make its uniforms. https://t.co/es7B1AybzJ pic.twitter.com/DvTR5tSJ0T
— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) February 13, 2024
Who would have thought that Fanatics making the on-field jerseys for MLB would result in a terrible product, outside of literally everyone except the executives who made the deal? What a shock! https://t.co/BaZqWotJHo
— Jack Godar (@JackGodar) February 13, 2024
Apparently the new 2024 MLB jerseys fit players uncomfortably. Time to update THE BAT X https://t.co/ckHeigTzoB pic.twitter.com/OBAP2W0JK2
— Derek Carty (@DerekCarty) February 13, 2024
Fanatics handling the on-field unis is going as expected https://t.co/jsfPemdSEU
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) February 13, 2024
Not an exaggeration to say that you can track the decline of America in late stage capitalism directly against the rise of Fanatics https://t.co/jVZVtVBAUY
— Luke Mayeux (@LukeMayeux) February 13, 2024
Who could have guessed that handing over jersey production to Fanatics would result in garbage quality https://t.co/UTPe9YOaj6
— Blake Ruane (@blakeruane) February 13, 2024
