
COLORFUL CLASSICS
UPDATED VERSIONS OF A FEW '70S-ERA FAVES HIGHLIGHT BASEBALL'S NEW LOOKS
SOME MAJOR league tweaks are coming: limited mound visits, a single trade deadline and, to the excitement of nostalgia buffs, a return of powder-blue uniforms (2), which the Cardinals will wear for Saturday night road games. In other sartorial news:
• Derek Jeter continues to put his stamp on the Marlins, who have undergone a(nother) complete makeover. Remember your old Lite-Brite toy? That appears to have been the design inspiration for the new neon-on-black jerseys (6).
• The Indians have a new red alternate jersey (3) and snazzy All-Star Game sleeve and cap patches. One thing the Tribe won't be sporting: Chief Wahoo. The controversial logo has been shelved.
• An odd spectacle will unfold on June 29 and 30, when the Yankees and the Red Sox play in London. They are technically Bosox home games, but MLB wants to showcase those iconic Yankees pinstripes, so both teams will wear their home whites.
• Speaking of the Bronx Bombers, newly acquired reliever Adam Ottavino (4) is about to become the first Yankee to wear number 0. (And you thought they'd retired all their single-digit numbers!)
• The Phillies' infamous solid-maroon Saturday Night Special uniform, which caused such a stir in 1979 that it was mothballed after one game, will be revived (1) on July 27—a Saturday night.
• Most teams will celebrate the 150th anniversary of professional baseball by wearing a small "MLB 150" patch on their sleeves (5) all season and on their caps on Opening Day. The lone variation is the Reds, who'll wear their own 150th anniversary patch and will also trot out a whopping 15 throwback designs from their uniform history—easily a single-season record.
• More patchwork will be found around the league, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Padres; commemorating the final season at Globe Life Park for the Rangers; and memorializing Frank Robinson (Reds, Orioles and Indians), Don Newcombe (Dodgers), and Peter Magowan and Willie McCovey (Giants).
• The days of teamwide shoe colors are over. MLB is relaxing its footwear rules so players can wear cleats in black, white, gray or their team colors.
For a more detailed rundown of all the 2019 MLB uniform changes, see SI.com.