# Let’s Talk About Those New Phillies Uniforms

- Link: https://chatterblast.com/blog/lets-talk-about-those-new-phillies-uniforms/
- Published: 2024-05-08T18:16:27-04:00
- Author: Cailin Giles

In mid-April, [about 30 minutes before](https://x.com/MattGelb/status/1776255053680038338)
the Philly area was startled by that random Friday morning earthquake, the Philadelphia
Phillies released their City Connect uniforms. Now, I’m not saying that the earthquake
was caused by how horrendous these uniforms are, but I’m also not _not_ saying that.

For those who may not know, since 2021 the MLB, in partnership with Nike, has been
releasing City Connect uniforms for the teams in the league. All teams, except for
the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics, will be wearing these uniforms as
a home alternate by the end of the 2024 season. 

The uniforms are intended to represent the city in a way that’s different from the
home team’s typical colors and theming, and some have absolutely knocked it out 
of the park [(lookin’ good, Miami)](https://twitter.com/MLB/status/1394296516295204868).
Others don’t seem to be practically thought out, like the [Mets, whose main color of the City Connect uniform is gray,](https://x.com/TalkinBaseball_/status/1784315122565235053)
meaning they’ll be wearing gray at home while playing a team who is away and wearing
_their_ gray alternates. That just seems like it could get confusing for the viewers
watching, but it’s not like I’m a designer or anyone who has any proper input on
color theory… (Spoiler alert: I am.)

Now let’s talk about those Phillies jerseys.

> An ode to Philly's past, present & future.
> ➡️ [https://t.co/5ZsDu5BBDu](https://t.co/5ZsDu5BBDu)
> [pic.twitter.com/RGnXRnl3zC](https://t.co/RGnXRnl3zC)
> — Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) [April 5, 2024](https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1776251474063794640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

If my subtle hints have gone unnoticed so far, let me clarify: I hate them. 

I understand what the design team was going for, I just think they went in the _wrong_
direction. The uniform has a blue collar and utilizes the city’s flag colors. It
uses bold lettering inspired by the founding documents. But [the 7 on Trea Turner’s jersey looks more like a question mark without its dot than a number.](https://x.com/TimKellySports/status/1776252964421693802)
Typography has evolved quite a bit from 1776, I think we can use a more modern style
of type, especially because this one is such a [pain to read](https://x.com/Phillies/status/1776253622398980169).

I’ll give them this though: out of all the iconography, I think the design of the
hat is cool. While I still don’t love the coloring, inlaying the skyline inside 
of the liberty bell, which for years has been a symbol of the team, is a cool motif
for a hat. I just think the team deserves something better than a [beer league uniform.](https://x.com/BRWalkoff/status/1781046158229479486)

![](https://chatterblast.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/image-1.png)

Source: [Wikipe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MLB-NLE-PHI-Uniform.png)[dia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MLB-NLE-PHI-Uniform.png).
Logos and wordmarks displayed on the uniform are owned by the Philadelphia Phillies,
Major League Baseball, The New Era Cap Company, Nike, Inc., and Stance. Design of
the elements of the uniform are owned by Majestic Athletic, The New Era Cap Company,
Nike, Inc., and Stance

There’s so many other directions Nike could have taken this design. An updated look
of the [retro 70s maroon uniforms](https://www.mlb.com/news/phillies-all-burgundy-uniforms).
A base color of green inspired by the best mascot in sports, aka the Phillie Phanatic.
Nike had so much success making the City Edition jerseys for the 76ers, I guess 
they just wanted to try something different for the Phillies. Well, this certainly
is… different.

Granted, no matter what, pleasing Phillies fans with these new uniforms was always
going to be an uphill battle. It doesn’t help that the Phillies home pinstripe uniforms
are one of the best uniforms in all of baseball (as a designer I can say this without
bias, obviously). There was no way to top what we already had. Philadelphians are
passionate, we love to stir the pot, and we love to make jokes on X/Twitter.

**Let’s start with the jokes on J.T. Realmuto’s yellow catcher’s gear, which debuted
during the second game our Phils wore these new unis:**

> OH MY GOD 
> OH NO WHO GREEN LIT THIS WHY [https://t.co/VsG9dtQi5N](https://t.co/VsG9dtQi5N)
> [pic.twitter.com/x5xfDsJ3Wo](https://t.co/x5xfDsJ3Wo)
> — Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) [April 19, 2024](https://twitter.com/mccrystal_alex/status/1781453756728533082?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> [https://t.co/B4Mj1IL9lB](https://t.co/B4Mj1IL9lB) [pic.twitter.com/8cbqnfMSus](https://t.co/8cbqnfMSus)
> — UK Phillies (@UKPhillies) [April 19, 2024](https://twitter.com/UKPhillies/status/1781455308700663917?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

(Some of the [CBM team was at this game](https://www.instagram.com/p/C6Jm0-uLMWx/)
and can personally vouch for my immediate shock upon seeing Realmuto in the bullpen
before the game began.)

**Now some from release day:**

> sixth most popular energy drink in the wawa fridge ass jerseys [https://t.co/wAOAK6Nayy](https://t.co/wAOAK6Nayy)
> — Bobby Wagner (@bwags) [April 5, 2024](https://twitter.com/bwags/status/1776291651113140452?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> the city connects are fine but we could have had it all [pic.twitter.com/AADwbflMDd](https://t.co/AADwbflMDd)
> — noah 🍉 (@stottbohmmarsh) [April 5, 2024](https://twitter.com/stottbohmmarsh/status/1776286384459796956?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> I hate them, but I'm sure once Castellanos ignores the top few buttons we'll collectively
> stop caring. [https://t.co/5oh7QDUSDz](https://t.co/5oh7QDUSDz)
> — Absolutely Hammered (@ah_pod) [April 5, 2024](https://twitter.com/ah_pod/status/1776244969134551213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> 10 am: “Sure the leaks for the Phillies’ city connect weren’t great, but how bad
> could they really be?”
> 10:25 am: god shatters the earth.
> — all my teams want me dead (@PanasonicDX4500) [April 5, 2024](https://twitter.com/PanasonicDX4500/status/1776255228674793901?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

> That earthquake was God telling us how much he hates the Phillies city connect
> jerseys
> — Fink Von Bro Dude (@ericjfink) [April 5, 2024](https://twitter.com/ericjfink/status/1776255584704004281?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

I think one of the biggest issues with these uniforms is that they’re just _average_.
Some people like them, some people don’t, and I’m sure in a few years the Phillies
will retire them (and hopefully bring back the spring training red alternate). But
Phillies fans want our team to be better than average. We’re yearning for the pennant
that has felt so close the past two years, so when the team doesn’t look their best,
it’s hard to feel our best. 

I’m sure with time the uniforms will grow on me, but I can confidently say I will
not be spending any money on buying the City Connect collection. #RingTheBell