Following months of backlash from fans and players alike, Nike is poised to implement significant alterations to its Major League Baseball uniforms ahead of the 2025 season, according to a memo obtained by sources on Sunday.
The memo, circulated by the MLB Players Association to its members, outlines anticipated revisions to address prevalent concerns. These changes include reverting to larger lettering on jersey tops and reintroducing previous tailoring options, seam stitch counts, and higher-quality zippers for pants, reminiscent of the 2023 uniform specifications.
MLB is making changes to the new uniforms after weeks of complaints from players and fans, per @JeffPassan
The changes will include larger lettering on the back of jerseys, remedying mismatched grey tops and bottoms, and addressing the issue of jerseys collecting sweat pic.twitter.com/pM8xsHCakP
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 28, 2024
Moreover, the memo indicates Nike’s commitment to resolving issues related to teams’ mismatched gray uniforms and mitigating the visibility of sweat stains on jerseys.
The memo underscores the origin of the uniform controversy, squarely placing blame on Nike’s design innovations. It criticizes the sportswear giant for attempting unnecessary changes and acknowledges the dissatisfaction among players and fans alike.
However, it clarifies that the memo does not constitute a direct commitment from Nike and emphasizes that the introduction of the Nike Vapor Premier remains unchanged, particularly in terms of fabric and overall jersey design.
Nike unveiled the Vapor Premier earlier this year, introducing it during the 2023 All-Star Game, only to face swift backlash. Fans and players both criticized the diminutive size of the name-on-back lettering and expressed dissatisfaction with the fit and fabric quality of the pants.
As the season progressed, additional issues emerged, including the appearance of sweat stains, discrepancies in the tones of road gray uniforms, and durability concerns such as seam blowouts in pants. Despite these challenges, Nike initially downplayed concerns, prompting frustration among players and the MLBPA.
In its memo, the MLBPA reiterates its support for Fanatics, the previous manufacturer of MLB uniforms, and underscores the importance of soliciting player feedback and maintaining transparency in uniform design.
Neither MLB nor MLBPA provided comment on the matter. Fanatics, which has been producing MLB uniforms without issue for the past eight years, declined to offer a statement.
Moving forward, the memo encourages Nike to adopt a collaborative approach akin to Fanatics, prioritizing player input and fostering open dialogue to address uniform-related challenges effectively.
