Major League Baseball (MLB) players and fans alike have been vocal about their dissatisfaction with the new uniforms designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics for the 2024 season. The uniforms, made from a new material called Vapor Premier, have faced criticism for various reasons.
One of the major issues players have raised is the see-through nature of the pants, which has been a topic of discussion during spring training. Additionally, the sizing and alignment of letters and numbers on the jerseys have been called into question, with players finding them harder to read and inaccurately placed.
Furthermore, the moisture management aspect of the new uniforms has been a cause for concern. Sweat stains have been visibly discoloring the road gray uniforms, leading to an unappealing appearance on the field. Nike has acknowledged the issue and stated that they are working on a solution to minimize it, although reverting back to the old material has not been mentioned as an option.
In addition to these issues, Fanatics has faced criticism for failing to meet delivery deadlines for uniforms. This has resulted in teams like the Texas Rangers and Milwaukee Brewers having to postpone the debut of their City Connect uniforms due to non-delivery by the company.
The partnership between Nike, Fanatics, and MLB, which began in 2020 and is reportedly worth over $1 billion, has come under scrutiny due to the series of errors and mishaps surrounding the new uniforms. The lack of quality control and the negative impact on player appearance have led to widespread dissatisfaction among players, teams, and fans.
While Nike has acknowledged some of the issues and promised to address them, the overall sentiment remains negative towards the new uniforms. The ongoing problems with the uniforms have put all three entities involved - Nike, Fanatics, and MLB - under increased scrutiny and criticism from the baseball community.
