Major League Baseball changed the game in 2021 with its City Connect jerseys. These Nike-designed uniforms do more than represent the 30 teams; they capture the essence of each city, celebrating their histories and vibes. While some jerseys were stylish hits, others were fashion fails that left fans and critics speechless. Here are the 15 most disappointing ones yet.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Debuted in August 2021, these uniforms pay homage to the Hispanic community and the world series champion, Fernando Valenzuela. But this honorable motivation is the only saving grace for an outfit that critics consider dull and poorly designed. Fortunately, swapping their previously blue pants for white helped elevate it, giving fans more color to work with.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers were going for a car theme with this costume, so don’t be surprised by the abuse of vehicle motifs. On the jersey, tire tracks give the impression that the players were run over by a truck. Then, there are road signs on the sleeves. Headlights, wipers, and a license plate are the only car essentials left.
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh’s signature colors are gold, black, and white, and the Pirates have honored this since 1881. However, this new look desperately needs Pittsburgh’s darker shades, as the yellow is overwhelming. Rather than cosplaying the sun, the pirates should wear something reminiscent of the past, like their 1979 outfit—a black jersey with yellow pants.
Philadelphia Phillies
A little goes a long way, but the Phillies have yet to realize this. This jersey features different gradients of blue alongside yellow, black, and white. If you find the text on the jersey odd, know that the font was inspired by Philadelphia’s 17th-century founding documents. We want to know who had the bright idea to do that.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants claim to honor their home state with this uniform, but the only thing that screams San Francisco here is the red gate bridge on the sleeves. Besides that, we’re left with a lazy white T-shirt and pants with a scribble of red for variety. The helmet is high quality but must be more fashionable to save this look.
Baltimore Orioles
Whenever confused about what to wear, people often reach for black outfits, as they’re considered safe. This is the case with the Orioles’ City Connect uniforms. They look like a basic black polo labeled “Baltimore”—nothing spectacular. For a splash of color, there’s a mosaic at the hem of the sleeves, but those are barely noticeable.
Chicago Cubs
Since the Chicago flag contains three colors—blue, red, and white—you’d think the Cubs would have a broader palette to incorporate into their outfits. Well, wrong. While these uniforms aren’t the worst on this list, the monochromatic fit makes the players resemble brick walls. A pair of white pants or black would have improved this uniform tremendously.
Minnesota Twins
What you see here is called the “Rippled Effect.” As their home state contains 11,842 lakes, the Twins decided to honor the natural beauty of Minnesota with an intense range of blue. They even included the phrase “10,000 lakes” on the side of their caps—as though the blue wasn’t a jarring reminder already.
Houston Astros
In 1961, NASA founded the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. Since then, the city has been at the forefront of space exploration and training. So, it’s no wonder the Astros boldly display “Space City” on their new jerseys. Still, this monotone dressing remains a fashion pass for the team, as they need to explore more neutral colors.
New York Mets
Blue and orange have been the Mets’ signature look for decades. But the team abandoned this iconic look for the City Connect season to rock this zebra-like gray style. This color represents everything that makes New York thrive, from the concrete streets to the subways and bridges. Regardless of their intentions, fans want their previous fits back.
Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays focused on Toronto’s city glow for their City Connect look. Here, the black represents nighttime, while the blue on the jersey is Toronto’s skyline. But they could have communicated that message better with amber or white to make the city glow in the dark. Instead, they chose a black two-piece, which anyone can get at Target.
Texas Rangers
This looks like a modern Texan cowboy outfit. All that’s missing is a hat and boots. Embroidered on the hats are the numbers “4-21,” representing Texas’s independence on April 21, with two logos inspired by Texan baseball history. This precision is commendable, but switching the colors of the shirt and trousers would have enhanced the look significantly.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona’s Diamondbacks deserve extra points for the cool emblem on their jersey. Curling a snake into the word “Serpientes” is a nod to Arizona’s rich Hispanic culture, which carries the entire uniform. The flaw, as you must have guessed, is the intense yellow, symbolizing the Sonoran desert. Thankfully, the jerseys are also available in black.
Cincinnati Reds
Before this, the Reds wore white uniforms and recycled that look for over 100 years. Then, they introduced this new one in May 2023 as a tribute to their beautiful city and a way to attract younger fans. And though this list doesn’t support monochromatic looks, the Reds made it moderate with vibrant red stripes.
Tampa Bay Rays
Also called the “Grit and Glow” uniform, the Tampa Rays’ new look is primarily inspired by their home city’s street culture. To achieve this, they designed darkish gray shirts that appear faded by the sun. If the designers had only switched the raggedy pants for darker ones, it would have been easier to appreciate the uniqueness of this jersey.
