Fanatics and Nike's New MLB Uniforms Spark Fan Uproar, Player Disagreement
Four years after Nike became the official uniform supplier of MLB, the apparel giant may have just lost some support from players and fans across the country.
The brand-new Nike Vapor Premier jerseys were introduced Tuesday, along with a statement from the league that said every team will wear them in-game in 2024. St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado and Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman contributed statements to MLB's press release that lauded the new jerseys' material and comfortability.
The internet, on the other hand, had other thoughts.
For context, Nike has officially licensed manufacturing duties to online apparel retailer Fanatics. Fanatics' reputation among fans was already on shaky ground, and that got taken to new heights when people got their first real look at the Nike Vapor jerseys on Tuesday.
As was initially reported by Uni-Watch back in December, home jerseys are now slightly off-white. The size and placement of names and numbers have changed, as has the texture of the numbers and the fabric of the uniform on the whole.
Fans immediately blasted the new uniforms' look, comparing them unfavorably to the 2023 versions side-by-side.
The displeasure was not limited to fans online, either.
Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reported that players in the Cardinals' clubhouse were unhappy about Nike and Fanatics' new uniforms. Pitcher Miles Mikolas went as far as saying they didn't fit correctly, with the pants not being as customized as they had been in the past.
Cardinals players said they looked cheap, per Jones, and that the fabric had a very different consistency.
But while fans and Cardinals alike spent the day expressing their disappointment in the new uniforms, a few players have come out in support of them.
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward gave a review in a video posted by his team's social media accounts. The veteran said the new jersey actually felt "more authentic" than the ones from 2023, citing its breathability and textured number on the back.
Of course, fans naturally mocked Heyward for his dissenting opinion, joking that he must have been forced to say what he said.
Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout – arguably Nike's biggest MLB partner – said he was "a big fan" and that "change can be good."
With Spring Training getting started and Opening Day only a few weeks away, it remains to be seen if anything can be done on MLB's part regarding the Nike Vapor Premiers. NHL fans were plenty loud when their league signed a deal with Fanatics in 2023, but those complaints didn't end up stopping anything.
At the very least, Fanatics, Nike and MLB have all taken notable PR hits right as their newest venture was getting underway.
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