MLB Responds To Player Uniform Complaints, Changes Coming in 2025-26

By Barry Janoff

September 30, 2024: Prior to the 2024 season, MLB and Nike unveiled changes to players’ jerseys and uniforms, which almost immediately drew complaints from players and the MLB Players Assn.

In May, MLB said it would work with Nike to address the issues.

Today, MLB said changes are planned for overall home and road team uniforms beginning next season and “will be fully implemented by the start of the 2026 season.”

They include pant customization, increasing the sizing of the lettering and returning to previously used materials that the players requested.

In another decision regarding uniforms, the league said there would be changes at the All-Star Game starting next season, which will see players return to wearing their primary home and road uniforms.

Regarding the overall home and road team uniforms, MLB said it worked with Nike, Fanatics and MLBPA to “conduct a league-wide survey to determine how best to move forward following criticism from some corners about the more lightweight look and smaller letters.”

After reviewing feedback, MLB and Nike said moved to address players’ requests for “enlarged letters for player names, embroidered sleeve patches and reverting back to full pant customization.”

The league said the decision to redesign the jerseys and uniforms was “finalized over the last few days” following collaboration among MLB, Nike, Fanatics and MLBPA.

“The changes will begin in 2025 and will be fully implemented by the start of the 2026 season.”

MLB’s new Nike Vapor Premier jersey design was intended to improve mobility and fit. Complaints from players said it did neither.

Nike Vapor Premier was introduced during the 2023 MLB All-Star Game presented by MasterCard in Seattle.

Nike signed a ten-year deal with MLB for uniforms in 2019, valued at more than $1 billion by industry analysts, They replaced Majestic Athletic, which had been MLB’s on-field uniform manufacturer since 1982.

Uniforms are made by Fanatics, with specifications set by MLB and Nike, in the factory in Easton, PA, previously owned by Majestic, as part of a deal in 2017 in which Fanatics acquired the sportswear manufacturing operation from VF Corp.

“Player and club feedback is extremely important to us,” commissioner Rob Manfred said via the league in May when the issues were brought to light. “Together with Nike, we listened to our players and as a result, we are addressing their concerns.

“We will continue to work with Nike to make adjustments with the goal of delivering a uniform that looks good and helps MLB players perform at their best.”

According to MLB and Nike, “production timelines will prevent all the uniform changes from being completed in time for the 2025 season.”

However, the road grey uniforms made from 2023 fabric “will be ready by Spring Training, and starting in 2026 all uniforms will return to using the previous materials from the 2023 season.”

Nike signed a ten-year deal with MLB for uniforms in 2019, valued at more than $1 billion by industry analysts, They replaced Majestic Athletic, which had been MLB’s on-field uniform manufacturer since 1982.

Uniforms are made by Fanatics, with specifications set by MLB and Nike, in the factory in Easton, PA., previously owned by Majestic, as part of a deal in 2017 in which Fanatics acquired the sportswear manufacturing operation from VF Corp.

Fanatics initially received blamed for the issues but was absolved by MLBPA.

When the issues were first being addressed, MLBPA sent a memo to its members blaming Nike for the uniform situation, according to ESPN.

"After weeks of conversations — including this past week between Nike and MLB — we are finally beginning to receive indications that changes will be made to both uniforms and pants no later than the start of the 2025 season," the MLBPA wrote to its members.

"This has been entirely a Nike issue," the memo read, per ESPN. "At its core, what has happened here is that Nike was innovating something that didn't need to be innovated."

"We cautioned Nike against various changes when they previewed them in 2022, particularly regarding pants.

"Fanatics recognizes the vital importance of soliciting player feedback, obtaining player buy-in and not being afraid to have difficult conversations about jerseys or trading cards," the memo read, according to ESPN.

"Our hope is that, moving forward, Nike will take a similar approach."

Separately, “MLB has decided that players will once again represent their ‘hometown’ teams for the All-Star Game itself, as was the case from the 1930s through 2019.”

At the All-Star Game starting next season, which will see players return to wearing their primary home and road uniforms.

The 2025 All-Sir Game is scheduled for July 15 in Truist Stadium, hosted by the Atlanta Braves.According to MLB, players selected for for the 2025 All-Star Game “will wear a special All-Star uniform during Gatorade Workout Day and the T-Mobile Home Run Derby the day before the All-Star Game.”

Players actually competing in the Derby will wear their primary home uniforms.

MLB said it is also working with New Era on the game cap for the All-Star Game.

Change-Up Pitch: MLB, Nike Will Address Dress Issues With Player UniformsBack to Home Page