The World Baseball Classic (WBC) is not just a tournament showcasing international baseball talent; it’s also a stage for national identity, proudly displayed through team uniforms. Following our initial look at Pools A and B, we now turn our attention to Pools C and D, featuring some of baseball’s powerhouses and their sartorial choices for the 2023 competition. Among these, The United States Uniforms For The Wbc Logo stand out, steeped in tradition but also ripe for discussion.
Pool C
Mexico
Alt text: Mexican national baseball team players in vibrant green uniforms with “MEXICO” wordmark and player number.
Mexico enters Pool C with a uniform set that’s undeniably vibrant. Their color palette, dominated by green, immediately sets them apart in the WBC, shared only by Australia. The white uniform offers a clean, classic look, while the light blue and pink alternate is a bold, memorable choice, arguably unique in baseball. A minor drawback is the somewhat generic font used for the names and numbers, reminiscent of standard word processing software. Despite this, Mexico’s uniforms are a strong visual representation of their national team. Overall: A.
United States
Alt text: Team USA player in white home uniform featuring the United States WBC logo on the chest and navy cap.
The United States, as defending champions, bring a uniform tradition to the WBC that has remained remarkably consistent since the tournament’s inception in 2006. The core design of the United States uniforms for the WBC logo has seen minimal changes over the years. While undeniably classic, there’s a growing sentiment that the USA could explore more adventurous designs.
Looking back, there are opportunities to draw inspiration from their rich baseball history. A faux-back uniform echoing the 1934 US tour of Japan uniforms could offer a vintage charm. Alternatively, incorporating the iconic “US” cap logo more prominently could inject a dose of historical significance and visual interest. The current cap logo, while recognizable, feels somewhat dated, carrying a late-1990s aesthetic.
The gray “road” uniform for this WBC appears to be a lighter shade compared to the 2017 version, a subtle but noticeable change. Overall, the United States uniforms for the WBC logo are inoffensive and recognizable, but they lack the flair and dynamism that could truly represent American baseball pride on the world stage. Overall: C+. There’s nothing fundamentally wrong, but a refresh is overdue.
Canada
Alt text: Canadian baseball player wearing white uniform with small “Canada” wordmark and number, during World Baseball Classic game.
Canada’s uniforms represent a departure from their previous WBC looks, but the execution raises questions. While innovation is appreciated, several design elements feel disproportionate. The wordmark across the chest appears notably small, as does the front number, positioned awkwardly close to the wordmark. The truncated collar and truncated pant stripes contribute to an unbalanced aesthetic. The gray road uniforms do little to improve the situation.
Ironically, Canada’s previous WBC uniforms were perfectly acceptable – not exceptional, but solid. The most perplexing aspect remains the undersized wordmark. Even on the coaching staff’s windbreakers, the wordmark appears larger than on the jerseys themselves. It’s a design choice that feels like an oversight. Overall: D-. Credit for trying something new, but the execution falls short.
Colombia
Alt text: Colombian baseball team uniform showing unique number and name font on the back, with blue and yellow color scheme.
Colombia distinguishes itself by prioritizing the often-overlooked details of names and numbers on their uniforms. While opinions on the specific font may vary, the attention to detail is commendable. The wordmark is well-designed, though the absence of red from the primary jersey color scheme is a curious choice, making the red pant leg logo more prominent. The addition of a pant leg logo itself is a positive element, mirroring trends seen with teams like the Cubs and Puerto Rico.
The yellow alternate jersey with white pants reveals a sleeve cuff striping detail that doesn’t extend fully around the sleeve, likely due to template limitations, but still a minor design compromise. The cap and pant leg logo, while distinct, don’t fully integrate with the overall uniform design. Overall: B. Good attention to detail and a solid overall look.
Great Britain
Alt text: Great Britain baseball player in white uniform with “GREAT BRITAIN” wordmark in a plain font.
Unfortunately, Great Britain’s uniforms have become a talking point for the wrong reasons. The wordmark, rendered in what appears to be a very basic font, lacks any visual flair. Adding to the woes, player Ian Gibaut famously lost the “T” from “Great” on his red jersey, becoming a symbol of the uniform’s overall shortcomings. The red jersey is marginally better, but still uninspired.
Interestingly, archival images from qualifiers show a much more appealing Great Britain wordmark. The drastic downgrade for the tournament uniforms is puzzling. Overall: F. A significant missed opportunity.
Pool D
Venezuela
Alt text: Venezuelan baseball player in vibrant uniform featuring cursive “VENEZUELA” script and bold colors.
Venezuela’s uniforms are a vibrant and energetic statement. Despite not being pre-tournament favorites, their undefeated run (at the time of writing) is mirrored by their visually striking uniforms. Forgoing minimalist trends, Venezuela embraces a busy design with multiple elements, including a cursive ‘z’ in the wordmark, sleeve cuff stripes, and a rich color palette. The maroon alternate uniforms are equally compelling. These uniforms embody the spirit of the WBC – fun, electric, and vibrant. Overall: A.
Puerto Rico
Alt text: Puerto Rican baseball uniform showcasing wave and tower design element on the jersey front.
Puerto Rico’s uniforms are defined by the distinctive wave-and-tower design. The tower is a representation of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, a historic landmark in San Juan. While the tower holds cultural significance and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, its integration into a baseball jersey design is debatable. The wave effect is also largely obscured when players are in action, tucked into their pants. The red alternate jersey, lacking the El Morro elements, is considerably less interesting. Similar to Colombia, Puerto Rico features a pant-leg logo and deserves credit for attempting a unique design. Overall: C-. Ambitious, but not entirely successful.
Dominican Republic
Alt text: Dominican Republic player wearing white uniform with new “Dominicana” wordmark and red and blue accents.
The Dominican Republic has opted for a new wordmark, moving away from the previous design that had been in place since the WBC’s beginning. The new wordmark is less traditionally “baseball-y,” but for a tournament setting, it’s a welcome change. The cuff striping adds a nice detail. The Dominican Republic also features a gradient jersey, with a gradient direction opposite to Cuba’s. While gradient jerseys can be divisive, they are likely popular with fans. Overall: B-. A solid update with some interesting elements.
Israel
Alt text: Israel baseball team uniform featuring Star of David cap logo and pinstripe jersey.
Israel’s standout feature is undoubtedly the Star of David cap logo. Its simplicity and iconic nature make it a strong visual element. The rest of the uniform is less impactful. Comparing them to the 2017 uniforms, the move to pinstripes is a positive change, but the shift from a script wordmark to a lined wordmark on pinstripes creates a somewhat cluttered appearance, impacting readability. The wordmark works better on the blue jerseys. The sock striping is a nice touch, though only visible on players who wear high cuffs. Overall: C-. The cap logo is a home run, but the rest is mixed.
Nicaragua
Alt text: Nicaragua World Baseball Classic uniform in blue with simple wordmark and number design.
Nicaragua’s WBC debut is accompanied by exceptionally understated uniforms. The white uniform is essentially an inverse of the blue. Lacking any distinctive features, the uniforms are almost unremarkable. Even the cap logo and wordmark fail to add visual interest, with a rather unappealing font choice. While simplicity can be effective, in this case, it results in a bland and forgettable uniform. Perhaps they are, at least, better than Great Britain’s. Overall: D-.
Guess the Game from the Uniform
Today’s GTGFTU is presented by Preston Feiler.
Alt text: Guess the Game From The Uniform image featuring two baseball uniforms with distinctive design elements for readers to identify the game.
Test your uniform knowledge! Identify the date, location, and final score of the game based on the uniform details in the photo. Post your guess in the comments below.
Guess the Game from the Scoreboard
Guess The Game…
…From The Scoreboard, brought to you by Teddy Wells.
Alt text: Guess the Game From The Scoreboard image displaying a partial baseball scoreboard for readers to identify the game.
Examine the scoreboard and determine the game, including the date, location, and final score. Share your insights in the comments. Bonus points if you were at the game!
Uni Tweet of the Day
Hoping for the return of a classic look for the Eagles this season…
Happy Saint Patrick’s day and friendly reminder the Eagles kelly green uniforms are borderline erotic pic.twitter.com/2DVL04wpeT
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 17, 2023
And finally…
That concludes our review of the World Baseball Classic Pool C and D uniforms. A special thank you to Anthony Emerson for his insightful analysis. While many teams brought compelling designs, the United States uniforms for the WBC logo, despite their classic appeal, highlight an opportunity for a modern refresh to truly capture the spirit of American baseball on the global stage.
Have a great weekend!
Peace,
PH
