The Pittsburgh Pirates, a team steeped in baseball history, have recently caught the attention of uniform enthusiasts. Known for their classic black and gold, the Pirates became one of the latest MLB teams to experiment with their City Connect uniforms, offering fans and critics alike a variety of looks throughout the 2024 season. This exploration went beyond simple tweaks, venturing into unique combinations that sparked conversations about tradition, modernity, and team identity.
During a home series designated as “City Connect Weekend” in June 2024, the Pirates showcased not one, but three distinct uniform combinations, all centered around their City Connect jerseys. On the first day of the series, June 21st, they sported their standard City Connect uniform.
Pittsburgh Pirates City Connect Uniforms worn on June 21, 2024
The following day, June 22nd, brought a modified approach. The Pirates paired the City Connect jersey with a batting practice cap and crisp white pants, a departure from the monochromatic black associated with the City Connect set.
The final game of the weekend series, on June 23rd, presented yet another variation. They returned to the regular City Connect cap and jersey but continued with the white pants, further demonstrating their willingness to mix and match elements.
Pittsburgh Pirates City Connect Jersey with white pants and regular City Connect cap on June 23, 2024
Initially, it was speculated that these variations, particularly the white pants and batting practice cap, were exclusive to the designated City Connect weekend. However, the Pirates surprised fans by again sporting the City Connect jersey with white pants in a subsequent game against the Philadelphia Phillies. This indicated a deliberate uniform strategy beyond a one-off promotional event.
But the most unexpected twist came during a Saturday game against the same Phillies. The Pirates truly went “rogue” in uniform terms. This time, they combined the batting practice cap and City Connect black pants with their road jersey, emblazoned with “Pittsburgh” across the chest instead of the usual “Pirates” script found on their home and City Connect jerseys.
The result was a striking, almost monochrome black ensemble, highlighted by the gold accents of the Pittsburgh script and player numbers. Game photos captured the unique look in action:
Pittsburgh Pirates monochrome black uniform combination featuring road jersey and City Connect pants
Close-up view of Pittsburgh Pirates player in monochrome black uniform combination
For those familiar with baseball history, this combination immediately evoked memories of the iconic “We Are Family” Pittsburgh Pirates teams of the 1970s. Those teams, celebrated for their style and success, occasionally sported predominantly black uniforms as part of their on-field fashion repertoire.
The 1970s Pirates uniforms featured gold helmets, sleeves, and stirrups, providing a contrast to the black base. The 2024 iteration, while drawing inspiration from this era, leaned even more heavily into black, creating a modern, streamlined aesthetic while retaining a hint of throwback charm.
Full view of Pittsburgh Pirates monochrome black uniform combination during a game
This “franken-uni,” as some fans playfully dubbed it, marked the third distinct City Connect-adjacent uniform combination worn by the Pirates within a short period. In fact, by incorporating the road jersey, it arguably moved beyond the City Connect umbrella altogether. Nevertheless, the use of the City Connect black pants and batting practice cap firmly rooted it within the team’s broader uniform experimentation.
The Pirates’ willingness to deviate from standard uniform protocols highlights a broader trend in MLB. They are now the fifth team, following the Baltimore Orioles, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, and Los Angeles Dodgers, to modify their City Connect uniforms. While other teams have primarily mixed in non-City Connect elements or adjusted pant colors, the Pirates stand out as the only team to date to pair their City Connect pants with a completely separate, non-City Connect jersey. Their integration of batting practice caps into different City Connect combinations further underscores their unique approach.
This adaptability suggests that the Pirates’ City Connect design, with its black and gold palette, harmonizes well with their established team colors. While the City Connect program wasn’t explicitly intended for such mix-and-match versatility, the Pirates are demonstrating its potential. This raises the question: could other teams successfully emulate this approach? Could teams with black or dark blue City Connect pants, for instance, pair them with their regular jerseys? The White Sox, with their black City Connect pants, might create an interesting look with their classic white pinstripe home jerseys. Similarly, the Dodgers, despite retiring their initial City Connect jersey version, might find a compelling combination by pairing the original City Connect pants with their iconic home tops. However, the overall potential for other teams to mix and match elements with their City Connect uniforms remains largely unexplored.
Ultimately, the Pittsburgh Pirates’ uniform choices in 2024 have sparked debate and discussion among fans. The monochrome black combination, in particular, has proven to be a visually striking and conversation-worthy look. Whether these variations become recurring elements in the Pirates’ uniform rotation or remain as unique on-field experiments is yet to be seen. However, they undeniably showcase a willingness to innovate and engage with uniform traditions in a dynamic and unexpected way.
What do you think of the Pirates’ monochrome black “franken-uni”? Do you appreciate their willingness to mix and match uniform elements? Should more teams consider similar uniform experimentation? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
