The San Francisco Giants are bidding farewell to their City Connect uniforms, marking the end of an era that began in 2021 as part of MLB’s initiative to deepen team connections with their cities. While the concept of the City Connect program was ambitious – aiming to outfit all 30 MLB teams with unique uniforms over three seasons, followed by new editions every three years – the rollout experienced delays, and not every team received the initial City Connect treatment. It took four years for 28 teams to get their City Connect uniforms; notably, the New York Yankees opted out, and the Oakland Athletics, facing relocation, were not included in the program.
Interestingly, in 2024, only the LA Dodgers debuted a new City Connect uniform, being one of the original seven teams from the 2021 launch. The other inaugural teams, including the San Francisco Giants, continued to wear their initial designs, entering their fourth season in these uniforms.
When the San Francisco Giants’ City Connect uniforms first appeared, they faced widespread criticism. In initial rankings of the 2021 City Connect series, they were positioned at the very bottom, primarily due to significant issues with number legibility. This negative reception persisted in later comprehensive rankings of all City Connect uniforms released up to that point, where the Giants’ uniform landed at a low 26th out of 29. The core issue remained the same: the numbers were simply hard to read.
However, fans who were critical of the Sf Giants Uniform can now rest easy. The Giants officially wore these City Connect uniforms for the last time recently, confirming their retirement from the team’s wardrobe in 2025. But for enthusiasts of MLB’s City Connect Program, there’s good news: the Giants are set to unveil new City Connect uniforms next year, promising a fresh aesthetic for the team.
Despite the aesthetic critiques, the concept behind the sf giants uniform City Connect design was rooted in San Francisco’s identity. Designers drew inspiration from the city’s iconic fog, aiming to represent the marine layer through gradients on the numbers and the chest logo. The challenge, however, lay in the execution. By attempting to visually mimic fog enveloping the numbers, they inadvertently compromised the primary function of a uniform: player identification. A simple remedy could have drastically improved the design: outlining the lower portion of the numbers in orange to enhance readability.
San Francisco Giants fans might have mixed feelings about the uniform’s departure. Statistically, the team achieved a 30-16 record when wearing them over 46 games across four seasons. However, their performance in the 2024 season while sporting the City Connect uniforms was less stellar, with a 4-6 record, suggesting their absence might not be deeply mourned by everyone.
Like many teams, the Giants had a set schedule for wearing their City Connect uniforms, choosing Tuesday home games for the occasion. As the recent Tuesday home game was the last of the season, it marked the final appearance for this particular sf giants uniform.
While opinions among Giants personnel were varied, the team’s positive win record while wearing the sf giants uniform City Connect might have swayed some views. Giants manager Bob Melvin noted, “Most of the city connects, I find, are a little unique wherever I’ve been… But I think the winning percentage has been pretty good in it, right? So there’s always that risk.”
Looking ahead, questions arise whether the other five teams from the original 2021 City Connect launch will also receive new uniforms for the 2025 season. While MLB hasn’t officially confirmed widespread changes, indications suggest that multiple teams will refresh their City Connect looks. The Miami Marlins, for instance, are also reportedly retiring their current City Connect uniforms and are expected to debut new ones next season. As more announcements are anticipated, fans and observers are keenly watching for further developments in the evolving landscape of MLB’s City Connect program and the future of the sf giants uniform.
The initial seven teams in the City Connect program included Boston, Miami, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Arizona, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. With the Dodgers already sporting a new City Connect design, and San Francisco and Miami confirmed to be following suit in 2025, the program continues to refresh and redefine team identities.
