Nine Best Baseball Uniforms
We’ve done the ugliest uniforms and the crazy old-school uniforms—but what about the unis that actually look good? Here, your All-Star lineup of the nine best-looking get-ups in the majors:
1. Yankees. Other teams wear pinstripes. But the Yankees wear Pinstripes. In fact, “pinstripes” has become something of a metonym for the New York Yankees. For instance, if a premiere free agent came on the market and Hank Steinbrenner was jingling the change in his pocket, a pundit might comment by saying, “before you know it, he’ll be in pinstripes,” or words to that effect. In addition, in an age that sees many a major league team putting numbers on the front of their jerseys, or—horror of horrors—player names on the back of their home whites, the Yankees remain the only team in MLB without player names even on their out-of-town uniforms. Love them or hate them, you have to admit that is badass.
2. Tigers. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy once described their home uniforms in a column as “baseball tuxedos.” It was a rare moment of accord between Mr. Shaughnessy and myself. No other term better describes the simple elegance of Detroit’s black and white duds. And the away unis with the midnight blue and just a dash of orange? Brilliant!
3. A’s. First, the A’s get bonus points for venturing out of the safe, overdone area of red-white-blue uniforms. Yet they also manage to steer clear of the unfortunate teal-purple-turquoise realm. Oakland’s sunny yellow and forest green is distinctive, attractive, and appropriate for NoCal. (Additionally, many of the team’s players are themselves more attractive than average. This increases the aesthetics of their uniforms.) I know they catch a lot of flak for their white cleats, but I actually think the white looks better than the alternatives—especially when they wear their socks up, displaying a pleasing contrast between green sock and white shoe. In fact, I would like Oakland to consider making this a mandatory thing, because when the players don’t wear their socks up, and choose to go instead with a baggy, full-length pantleg, white blends into white and they end up looking like they’re wearing footie pajamas.
4. Giants. The black and orange? Hot. The interlocking “SF” logo on the cap? Very nice. The understated, sans serif font across the chest? Tres chic. Plus, the home whites with their bolder, more ornate typeface are also an easy hardball classic. They may lose the most games of any team in the majors this year, but they’ll look damn good doing it.
5. Pirates. The duds are simple, elegant, and distinctive. This is a rare example of a vest uniform actually working. (Plus, they get props for their piratical insignia. Pirates are so hot right now. Arrrr!) And unlike Colorado, Pittsburgh knows that if you’re going to go with pinstripes, you can’t add a lot of other elements—you’ve got to keep it clean and simple. The yellow really pops on the away grays, almost like a ray of sunny hope piercing a gloomy sky—all too appropriate for a beleaguered organization from a city that’s seen better days.
6. Dodgers. The Dodgers’ uniform is a statement. They want you to know that they are a classy, classic, all-American organization with a proud history. On another team, this uniform would be a bit too safe—maybe even boring. But because they’re the Dodgers, it just looks just right.
7. White Sox. Teams with too many crazy colors, take note: it’s really, really hard to look bad when you go with black and white. The White Sox are the third team on this list who dress in shades of gray. The simple “sock” patch on the sleeve, the elegant piping on the leg, the classic cursive script across the chest—everything works together seamlessly. In fact, all of Chicago’s various uniforms look equally good. No easy feat. Thus, this play on the right may look hideous, but the White Sox still look dapper.
8. Red Sox. The Red Sox have a clean, classic uniform. I personally liked their old socks a bit better—ridiculous, striped affairs that made one feel as if Ted Williams and Jimmy Foxx were somewhere just out of sight—but I do recognize the thematic consistency in having the Red Sox wear red socks. Red and white are over-used in the world of MLB uniforms (Reds, Angels, Cardinals, Phillies, Twins, Astros), but unlike some of their red-and-white compatriots, the Red Sox never take the field looking like a bunch of tomatoes, strawberries, or other overly red produce, thanks in part to the navy hats. (Red + navy = a fine New England tradition.) I only wish they’d kept the navy undershirts from a few seasons back. But the real tipping point here is the font. The font is so easily recognizable, it’s become synonymous with Boston itself. Not too many baseball uniforms have that on their resume. The one hitch is that nearly all of the Boston players are hirsute, pine-tar covered slobs who wear their unis several sizes too large. Thus, to see the Red Sox uniform as God intended, I have here chosen a picture of Jacoby Ellsbury.
9. Cubs. I love the bear cub. I love the bold, crisp “C” logo. I don’t super-love the pinstripes—the Cubs’ bold colors and clean logos don’t need it. It’s not a deal-breaker, but if they’d gone with a nice blue-and-red piping down the leg instead, the Cubs would be higher on my list. Yes, red-white-and-blue is overdone, but the Cubs do it very well. Even when the ivy hasn’t leafed yet.
Bench players
Indians. We like the everything-old-is-new-again look they’re sporting as an alternate uni this year, and I like their regular unis quite a bit. But I have to take points off for their insistence on retaining Chief Wahoo as their logo. I have no problem with the team’s name, but that cartoon character looks like something out of the 50s. Oh wait…it is.
Phillies. Philadelphia’s new alternate home uniforms are the hotness. The red-white-and-blue works well for the city of Ben Franklin and the Liberty Bell. The uniform is clean and classic, but not boring, thanks to the two little stars over the i’s and thanks to the slick piping down the outseam. The reason they don’t crack my starting lineup? They don’t wear this kickass alternate uni nearly enough.
Nationals. I love what they’re trying to do here, but it feels like there’s just too much going on—right down to the two competing logos. (One of these, the cursive “W”, looks like a pig’s tail, for crying out loud. They need to stick with the interlocking D and C.) There’s red, there’s blue, there’s yellow. The various uniforms don’t seem to have any bearing on each other, as if the Nats were that old Washington team, the Senators, and they were polling their constituents to see which look they should wear. I like the font they’ve used for the “Washington” across the chest, but they’ve made it look a bit cluttered by using two colors for it. In the words of Henry David Thoreau: simplify, simplify.
A few tips to ballplayers who want to increase the attractiveness of their uniforms: don’t wear the belt too high (yes, we’re thinking of you, JULIO LUGO!). Pull up your socks and show a little calf. Wear pants that fit—don’t go too tight (unless you’re very sure you’ve got the ass for it), but don’t go too loose or it will look sloppy. Finally, I know some of these early spring night games are chilly, but if you’re going to go with an undershirt, treat yourself to a nice fitted underarmor job instead of a wrinkly, bulky old turtleneck.
What do you think, Umpbumpers?
Oh, and if you pick “other,” I think you owe us a comment explaining who we missed. Thanks!
April 21st, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I wish the Phillies would wear their alternate unis for every home game. Not that there’s anything wrong with the red pinstripes, per say, but the new unis are simply gorgeous.
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April 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
I totally agree with you on the A’s look and also love the white shoes with the pants worn high. It seems to make guys look faster when they run and flashier in general. The baggy pant has no place in the game as far as I’m concerned and would like to see it gone. I am not a big fan of the Cubs’ alternate all blue jersey, I think it’s because I like the pinstripes with the traditional Cubs logo. San Francisco and Pittsburgh have nice home unis but I don’t really care for the road unis. I’m probably just not a fan of the color black with orange or yellow. It pains me to admit this but I think the one team you overlooked that has a good all around look and logo is the St. Louis Cardinals. The St. L on the cap is cool looking and the birds sitting on the ends of the bat is a good logo as well.
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April 21st, 2008 at 6:21 pm
Also, Sarah, while there’s no doubt that Jacoby has an enviable butt, he wears his pants too long. I think God intended all baseball players to show a little sock — especially the Red Sox.
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April 21st, 2008 at 9:12 pm
Yeah, I have to agree with Melissa that the Cardinals are a glaring oversight. Although I am certainly no Cardinals fan, their uniform is crisp, clean, and classic.
Plus, I always give teams bonus points for not significantly changing their uniform for many many years, and the Cardinals have basically the same look they had when Rogers Hornsby played.
The Cardinals are in my top five best uniforms.
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April 21st, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I disagree. I know a lot of people think the Redbirds have great unis, but Sarah Green is not one of them. I actually think that because it’s been around so long, people have just gotten used to it. It’s as if Tampa Bay had stuck with those ridiculous stingrays on their jerseys and fifty years from now, people decided they were “classic.” The only way the Cardinals would make my top five is if the uniform category weren’t “best” but rather “whimsical” or “avian” or “nonthreatening.”
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April 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 am
Sarah, Are you serious? This is just a big bowl of wrong. Tell me the St L logo on the hat isn’t classic. Their uniforms are not whimsical simply because they have a Cardinal on them. I thought maybe you just overlooked them, I’m shocked and dismayed that you actually dislike them. This causes me to question your uniform fashion sense. They aren’t old fashioned or familiar - they are classic. They have maintained a traditional feel without looking stale or dated. Their home unis are a lot of white and really sharp looking, similar to the A’s. I can’t believe as a Cubs fan I’m doing this but I have to defend the Cardinals uniform, it’s a winner. Kansas City is another one that I think is a good look and the KC logo on the hat is one of my faves. And would someone please stop Atlanta from wearing the bright red alternate jersey? They make my eyes hurt.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 am
Yeah, I’m reiterating, but the cardinals unis are great. The moment has since been tainted by steroids, but you have to admit that when McGwire was hitting all those home runs in 1998, that crisp white Cardinals uniform looked pretty sharp.
It still does.
And also, the Cardinals actually still wear those funny striped socks you claim to miss from the Red Sox.
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April 22nd, 2008 at 8:00 am
Yes, the logo on the cap is super-classic. But when I see those two cardinals balancing on that bat, it just makes me feel a little giggly. I feel like any uniform that makes me laugh doesn’t go in my top nine. But maybe I just need to lighten up—after all, it’s not like I want the Cardinals to change their uniforms. I couldn’t really imagine them any other way. It’s just that I find them…sort of…funny looking.
The Royals unis are okay. I give them props for bringing back the baby blue alternates, and also for switching to royal blue cleats and belts this year. But I feel like with the Royals, disaster is always around the corner. If they want to get onto any best-dressed list, they need to string together a couple of good years and prove that this season’s sartorial excellence isn’t just a fluke.
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April 23rd, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Maybe…just maybe…you’re wrong about this one when it comes to the Cardinals uniform.
First of all, the STL logo is arguably the best in baseball. It’s been around for a hundred years and still looks great.
Second, To put teams like the A’s with that barf green and yellow over the Redbirds is a travesty. How can classic Red and White be wrong.
Last, so many people (especially non-Cards fans) think the jerseys are great, as you can see from the comments here. Maybe starring at those Oakland jerseys has fried your brain.
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April 23rd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Whoah, Dave, whoah! You’ve gone into crazy-serious mode. That’s not the mode in which we discuss the all-important issue of baseball uniforms, at least not here at UmpBump. It’s my list and the Redbirds unis make me laugh. It’s just a matter of taste! I’m well aware that I’m in the minority, but it’s not a democratic list—that’s what the poll at the end of the post and this robust comments section are for.
Though I just have to say, if you barf forest green, then you should call your doctor. Immediately.
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April 26th, 2008 at 3:52 am
I really like the Marlins uniforms.
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April 30th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Swell article,
In lieu of Jacoby Elsbury (an excellent player) I would have used Jason Varitek i.e. pants up and his Red Socks proudly showing.
Take care,
Brendan
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May 17th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Another great article.
It was a tough choice voting for just one. I nearly went with the Red Sox - I love the crispness of the white, the rather subtle piping and the lettering is just swell.
In the end there could only be one winner for me and I went with the A’s. They were one of the teams in the first game of baseball I saw and although I didn’t become a fan, I’ve always held a soft spot for both the organisation and the unis.
The colours work well together, the logo is good as well as the lettering on the jersey.
My Mets were not mentioned so I’ll do so here:
Love the white uni sans pinstripe; love the grey away, love the black alt as well. The use of the blue with the orange outline just does it for me
Also, totally agree with Sarah about the Cardinal logo. What a load of sh**. Sorry Cards fans, but I’ve always thought it looked rather naff
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June 10th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
The Brewers GLOVE (MB) logo is arguably the best logo ever. I’m not crazy about their unis though.
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June 24th, 2008 at 12:30 am
The best years for baseball uniforms were 1978-1979.
Baseball uniforms have been boring for so long.
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