Nike and Major League Baseball on Monday completed a total reversal regarding the much-maligned Nike Vapor Premier jerseys that debuted this season. Not only will the uniforms return to previous fabric, fitting and lettering specifications, but players will once again wear their primary home and road uniforms for the All-Star Game beginning next season.
Consider it a triumph for public outrage.
When Nike unveiled its new uniforms in spring training, they were met with immediate blowback from players and fans. The issues included poor fit, small lettering, perceived translucencey, lack of customization, low supply and design that one player said “looks like a replica.” More complaints arose once the season began. Pants splitting along the seam. Mismatching road grays. Sweat stains showing through the jersey top.
MLB announced in April that it would work with Nike to change the uniforms. The result came in an announcement Monday: They’re going back. Back to larger lettering. Back to fully custom-fitted pants. Back to embroidered sleeve patches. Back to the old, heavier Majestic fabric that had been used through 2023.
The All-Star uniforms will return to the way they were from the 1930s through 2019, with each player wearing his team’s home or road jersey for the Midsummer Classic. In recent years, MLB opted for standard American and National League uniforms designed by Nike. That was an unpopular decision.
Now, individualization is back in style. Players attending the Home Run Derby will wear a special All-Star uniform but the participants will wear their primary home uniforms.
The league said it is working with New Era to design a game cap for the All-Star Game.
(Photo: Kirk Irwin / Getty Images)
