In April, amidst some seismic activity in the Philadelphia area, the Philadelphia Phillies unveiled their City Connect uniforms for the 2024 MLB season. While the earth tremor might have been coincidental, the reaction to the new Phillies City Connect jerseys has certainly been earth-shattering for some fans, and not in a good way.
Since 2021, Major League Baseball and Nike have collaborated on the City Connect series, creating unique alternate uniforms for teams to celebrate their cities. By the end of 2024, all MLB teams, except for the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics, will sport these special uniforms as home alternates. The goal is to move beyond traditional team colors and themes, and some teams have truly hit a home run with their designs, like the Miami Marlins. However, others, such as the New York Mets with their gray-dominant City Connect, have raised eyebrows with choices that seem less practical and more prone to on-field confusion.
But now, the spotlight is firmly on Philadelphia and their new Phillies uniforms 2024. Let’s dive into the details and fan reactions.
An ode to Philly’s past, present & future.
➡️ https://t.co/5ZsDu5BBDu pic.twitter.com/RGnXRnl3zC
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 5, 2024
For many, including design enthusiasts, the Phillies New Uniforms 2024 have been a swing and a miss. The design concept aims to incorporate elements of Philadelphia’s heritage, utilizing the city’s flag colors and bold lettering inspired by historical documents. The blue collar and the overall color palette are intended to reflect the city’s flag. The typography is meant to evoke the spirit of the nation’s founding documents. However, the execution has left much to be desired. The number 7 on the jersey, as worn by Trea Turner, has been widely mocked for its resemblance to a question mark rather than a numeral. While paying homage to history is commendable, the chosen font style has been criticized for its legibility, proving to be visually challenging for many viewers.
Despite the overall negative reception to the Phillies City Connect jerseys, there are some redeeming features. The hat design, incorporating the Philadelphia skyline within the Liberty Bell, a long-standing symbol for the team, has been acknowledged as a clever and well-executed detail. Yet, even with this positive aspect, the overall aesthetic of the uniform has been likened to a less-than-professional beer league team uniform, falling short of the high standards expected for a Major League Baseball franchise.
Philadelphia Phillies City Connect uniform for the 2024 MLB season, featuring city flag colors and skyline hat design.
Source: Wikipedia. Logos and wordmarks displayed on the uniform are owned by the Philadelphia Phillies, Major League Baseball, The New Era Cap Company, Nike, Inc., and Stance. Design of the elements of the uniform are owned by Majestic Athletic, The New Era Cap Company, Nike, Inc., and Stance.
Many fans and critics have pointed out missed opportunities in the design of the Phillies new uniforms 2024. Instead of the chosen color scheme, Nike could have explored an updated version of the popular retro 1970s maroon uniforms. Another potentially vibrant direction could have been incorporating green, inspired by the beloved Phillie Phanatic mascot. Nike’s successful City Edition jerseys for the Philadelphia 76ers basketball team set a high bar, leaving many to wonder why the same creative success wasn’t replicated for the Phillies. The resulting City Connect uniforms are undeniably “different,” but not necessarily in a positive way for most fans.
The challenge of creating a universally loved uniform for the Philadelphia Phillies was always going to be significant. The Phillies’ classic home pinstripe uniforms are widely regarded as one of the best in baseball, setting an extremely high benchmark. Philadelphia fans are known for their passionate opinions and active engagement on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), readily sharing their thoughts and jokes.
The debut of the Phillies City Connect jerseys on the field was further amplified by the introduction of yellow catcher’s gear for J.T. Realmuto during the second game wearing these uniforms. This stylistic choice became an immediate talking point and source of amusement, as highlighted in numerous fan tweets:
OH MY GOD
OH NO
WHO GREEN LIT THIS
WHY https://t.co/VsG9dtQi5N pic.twitter.com/x5xfDsJ3Wo
— Philly Sports Sufferer (@mccrystal_alex) April 19, 2024
https://t.co/B4Mj1IL9lB pic.twitter.com/8cbqnfMSus
— UK Phillies (@UKPhillies) April 19, 2024
The initial reactions following the release of the Phillies new uniforms 2024 were a mix of disappointment and humor, perfectly capturing the passionate and often critical nature of Philadelphia sports fans:
sixth most popular energy drink in the wawa fridge ass jerseys https://t.co/wAOAK6Nayy
— Bobby Wagner (@bwags) April 5, 2024
the city connects are fine but we could have had it all pic.twitter.com/AADwbflMDd
— noah 🍉 (@stottbohmmarsh) April 5, 2024
I hate them, but I’m sure once Castellanos ignores the top few buttons we’ll collectively stop caring. https://t.co/5oh7QDUSDz
— Absolutely Hammered (@ah_pod) April 5, 2024
10 am: “Sure the leaks for the Phillies’ city connect weren’t great, but how bad could they really be?”
10:25 am: god shatters the earth.
— all my teams want me dead (@PanasonicDX4500) April 5, 2024
That earthquake was God telling us how much he hates the Phillies city connect jerseys
— Fink Von Bro Dude (@ericjfink) April 5, 2024
Perhaps the most common sentiment is that the Phillies City Connect uniforms are simply “average.” While some individuals may find them appealing, and it’s expected they will be retired in a few years, Philadelphia fans aspire for more than just average for their team. With the Phillies aiming for a pennant after coming close in recent seasons, there’s a desire for the team to look and feel their best. When the on-field appearance doesn’t match these high expectations, it can impact the overall fan experience.
Time may soften opinions, and the Phillies new uniforms 2024 might eventually grow on some fans. However, as it stands, the initial reception suggests that these City Connect jerseys have not yet captured the hearts of Phillies faithful. #RingTheBell
