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Major League Baseball debuted its City Connect program in 2021. By the end of 2024, 28 of the 30 teams will have a City Connect uniform in their lockers — only the New York Yankees and Oakland Athletics will not have a CC. Here is every current City Connect uniform ranked from worst to best.
28. Detroit Tigers
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Unveiled on May 6, Detroit’s City Connect uniform is instantly the worst in MLB. Everyone knows that Detroit is known as the ‘Motor City’ — and it is reasonable for the team to play off that nickname for its CC design. The tire tread pattern on the top is hideous. The hat is even worse. ‘Detroit’ written out in a boring font…that’s the best you could do? Nike loves to throw out mono-colored uniforms, and more often than not they flop. This is another example of a look that needs to be retired ASAP.
27. Philadelphia Phillies
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I’m sure some people enjoy this uniform, but I am not one of them. Philadelphia’s normal uniform set is great. This, this is awful. The team opted to pay tribute to the city’s flag by using blue and yellow for their City Connect. The hat is easily the best part of the look — but the fade from light blue into navy is hideous. The Phillies should have embraced the maroon of years past instead of presenting this to the world.
26. Minnesota Twins
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Like the Minnesota Timberwolves before them, the Twins opted to embrace the Land of 10,000 Lakes for their first City Connect. The top features a ripple effect — not the best look but could be worse — and a new ‘MN’ logo which features the North Star. The hat features a great logo…however, the use of ‘10,000 Lakes’ on the side of the cap is a bit much. This would likely be a better uniform if the team opted for white pants, as well.
25. Baltimore Orioles
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I had high hopes for Baltimore’s City Connect uniform and it ultimately was a letdown. The all-black uniform isn’t a terrible idea, but the lack of color for a team that sports bright orange is jarring. The colors on the sleeve cuffs should be far more involved throughout the uniform. Players have worn colored sleeves and cleats to add a splash of color, but that only goes so far. The ‘B’ on the hat is nice — although I’d prefer it be orange.
24. Kansas City Royals
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This is a uniform that would immediately move up the rankings if the navy was switched out for royal blue. The Royals did well by avoiding pairing the navy top with navy pants, but not much else about this uniform is strong. The ‘KC’ on the chest pays homage to the fountains. That’s a good idea in theory — but it is also a bit hard to make out the design unless you are close to the players. I prefer the ‘R’ seen on the sleeve.
23. Pittsburgh Pirates
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The only thing keeping Pittsburgh’s uniform from being ranked higher is the ‘PGH’ across the chest. I am in favor of the Pirates embracing their yellow and black color scheme. The yellow pops off the screen and the black pants are a natural fit for the club. The pattern seen on the uniform was inspired by the Roberto Clemente Bridge that leads into PNC Park. In my opinion, the club should have utilized the classic pirate logo that the team used from 1997-2013.
22. Chicago Cubs
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Nike sure loves its mono-colored uniforms — hello, NFL Color Rush. Similar to my thoughts on Philadelphia’s overall look, the Cubs have one of the top uniform sets in baseball — if not all professional sports. I don’t have an issue with the ‘Wrigleyville’ script across the chest or the ‘C’ logo on the helmet. Unfortunately, the Cubs left a ton on the table by opting to go all-navy. Making matters worse, their neighbors to the South produced a far better look.
21. St. Louis Cardinals
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The subtle pinstripes on this uniform feel very unnecessary. Nelly, the famed rapper from Missouri, took part in the design process — so it isn’t shocking to see ‘The Lou’ on the jersey. The Cardinals had never worn a red jersey in a regular season game, so it was a bit jarring at first to see the team take the field with this look. The two birds remaining on the bat was a good call, but overall it feels a bit uninspired.
20. Texas Rangers
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Have you ever heard of a peagle? I hadn’t before the Rangers debuted their City Connect uniform in 2023 and I’m still not sure what to think of it. The peagle is a combination of the mascots of the minor league Fort Worth Panthers and Dallas Eagles. Peagle aside, I enjoy the color scheme here. The dark pants with white piping work well with the top. However, this uniform falls off for me when it comes to the number font and the busy ‘TX’ logo. Not the worst, but certainly could be better.
19. Toronto Blue Jays
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This uniform looks better on the field than it does in images. The hat is the best part of the look, and the skyline design on the front of the top is certainly one of the more unique design choices of the CC program. While I don’t particularly care for the mono-black design, the bright red and blue striping helps elevate the look overall. My main gripe is that the ‘Toronto’ wordmark and the front jersey numbers blend in with the skyline — resulting in a bit of a messy look.
18. Los Angeles Dodgers
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The original City Connect uniform that the Dodgers unveiled in 2021 was putrid. The top was blue and featured ‘Los Dodgers’ script across the chest — that was the only solid choice in the creation process. However, the original CC also came with blue pants (horrible) and one of the worst hats in MLB history. The same ‘Los Dodgers’ logo appeared on the hat, but the ‘Los’ was stacked atop ‘Dodgers’. The Dodgers became the first team to have a second CC jersey when they debuted this look in June. The specks of color throughout the uniform are a nod to the seats at Dodger Stadium. A new logo — combining the classic ‘LA’ and the script ‘D’ — adorns the hat. While this is a lot better than the first iteration, a few things hold it back from being higher on the list. The ‘Los Angeles’ wordmark resembles DirecTV and the use of two digits for players with single-digit numbers (Freddie Freeman’s uniform shows ’05’ instead of ‘5’) is a miss.
17. Cincinnati Reds
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This uniform isn’t far off from being a top-5 City Connect look. The all-black with red piping works well for the franchise. The thickness of the red on the cuffs and down the pantlegs is rather nice. The hat? Fantastic. Unfortunately, the ‘Cincy’ across the chest and the number and NOB are often hard to see — whether you are watching on TV or in person. A slight tweak to that could elevate this look a ton.
16. Houston Astros
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We are in the stretch of City Connect uniforms where there is a ton of potential but fall just short of a higher ranking due to a small decision. Houston decided to channel NASA with its look. The ‘Space City’ text is clear and looks good, as does the multi-colored piping on the top. The hat is arguably the best addition to MLB that the City Connect program has produced. However, I can’t get past the navy pants. White pants would have been better — hell, even orange pants could have been a fun twist for the team.
15. San Francisco Giants
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This is a uniform that many people may have a lower opinion of, but I am a fan of its simplicity compared to some of the other City Connect creations. The Giants could have gone the route of Baltimore with an all-black uniform with subtle inclusions of orange but instead opted to showcase the color. The addition of the Golden Gate Bridge on the sleeves is cool, as is the inclusion of ‘fog’. The ‘G’ logo, NOB, number and the Golden Gate Bridge have white at the bottom of each graphic to give the illusion that they’re rising from the fog. Pretty solid.
14. New York Mets
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One of the most recent City Connects to hit the field debuts at No. 13. The Mets made a bold choice by putting ‘NYC’ across their chest, but I am a fan of the font and the simplicity. The inclusion of purple is a nod to the subway system — specifically the 7 line, which is purple and stops at Citi Field. The look of the Queensboro Bridge on the hat doesn’t work for me, but it looks great on the helmet. If anything, the Mets aren’t a few spots higher because this looks more like something the Yankees could potentially trot out than the Queens residents.
13. Washington Nationals
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With the Nationals set to retire this uniform following the 2024 season, we are running out of time to see it in action. Embracing the city’s cherry trees, the Nats included hints of pink to a gray top. It is hard to see, but there is also a floral pattern on the jersey, as well. I am not the biggest fan of Washington’s normal attire — and this is about on par with the everyday set. The franchise should have embraced the pink and been a bit bolder.
12. Cleveland Guardians
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The only thing keeping the Guardians out of the top-10 is the ‘CLE’ across the chest of the uniform. The texture and color of the wordmark — and the pants color — is a nod to the Guardians of Traffic statues that can be found on Cleveland’s Hope Memorial Bridge. While the color is fine, the block ‘CLE’ is too clunky. The striping on the uniform is nice, as is the shade of blue. The hat is arguably the best aspect of the look.
11. Seattle Mariners
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This uniform is one change away from being a top-2 City Connect option. The top is awesome — the ‘Seattle’ wordmark resembles the old mark of the Seattle Pilots. The Trident hat with a black bill is also awesome. The black pants aren’t bad by any means, but it doesn’t allow the top to pop as much as it should. White pants would have made this a top-tier uniform in all of baseball.
10. Milwaukee Brewers
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If Seattle had these pants with its City Connect, top-2. So, why are the Brewers being held back? Simply, I am not a fan of the ‘MKE’ logo nor the ‘Brew Crew’ moniker. The color palette is perfect. The grill logo — not visible in this picture — is a great addition. Unfortunately, I just can’t get past the two most notable parts of the look.
9. Arizona Diamondbacks
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In my mind, the top eight uniforms on this list are clearly better than the rest of the options currently in circulation. Ever since Arizona decided to ditch the purple-teal combination that it entered the league with, the franchise has had a handful of bad uniforms. Fans (and players) continue to call for the return of the original colors — however, the D-Backs have largely stuck to black and red. The City Connect uniform is the best look the team currently has. With ‘Serpientes’ across the chest and a cool desert-sand color throughout the look, it is easily the most fitting uniform for the franchise.
8. Colorado Rockies
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The Rockies have been one of the worst teams in baseball for a handful of years now, but at least they have a cool set of uniforms. Their everyday look has remained largely unchanged since the franchise came into existence in the 1990s, and the green City Connect was a great addition to their closet. Drawing inspiration from Colorado’s iconic license plate, the Rockies debuted these beauties in 2022. At first, the Rockies paired the top with green pants — but have now started to wear white pants with the green top, as well. I also enjoy the new logo featured on the hat/helmet.
7. Boston Red Sox
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At first glance, it is jarring to see the Red Sox wearing yellow and baby blue. Boston was the first team to debut a City Connect look, and it remains one of the league’s best. The residents of New England take a ton of pride in their region, so paying homage to the Boston Marathon was a good, albeit bold, choice by those in charge. The colors play well off each other, and thankfully the team opted for white pants instead of a mono-yellow look. Unless a new City Connect uniform is in the works, this feels like a uniform that will stick around for a long time.
6. Miami Marlins
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The top-8 are all close, but the top-6 are truly interchangeable. If you believe this is the best City Connect look, I would not argue. From 1954 to 1960, there was a Triple-A team named the Sugar Kings that played out of Havana, Cuba. Of course, Miami is known for its incredible Cuban community — which makes this uniform a great look for the city. The original Sugar Kings logo is on the sleeve, and the crown on the hat/helmet remains similar other than the addition of an ‘MM’. Just like Arizona’s ‘Serpientes’ City Connect, this look is the best one that Miami has in its closet.
5. Atlanta Braves
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Atlanta features some of the best uniforms in the sport, so it wasn’t shocking to see the team play it safe with its City Connect addition. This look pays tribute to the iconic Hank Aaron as it’s an updated version of their 1974 uniform. There are a few subtle nods to Aaron as well — Aaron’s motto “Keep Swinging #44” appears above the jock tag, and a crown design on the sleeve pays homage to Aaron’s quest to become the home run king. This is a look that the Braves could keep permanently and not many people would complain.
4. Los Angeles Angels
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The Angels’ current uniforms are fine. They are perfectly average, in fact. The franchise has had some much better looks in the past and is arguably in need of a refresh. With that being said, its City Connect option is very strong. Inspired by Southern California’s surf culture, the cream color is a nod to the sand. The ‘Angels’ text is inspired by surf brands, while the ‘S’ is meant to mimic a fish-tail end of a surfboard. The two-tone hat is particularly strong, and I am a huge fan of the design of the front-number.
3. Tampa Bay Rays
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The latest City Connect uniform to make its on-field debut (until Detroit takes the field May 10) is this beauty from the Tampa Bay Rays. Similar to the Diamondbacks, a large portion of Tampa Bay’s fanbase has longed for the franchise to return to its roots and bring back the ‘Devil Rays’ uniforms. Tampa’s current set is fine, but certainly not memorable. This uniform rates high for a few reasons. Not only did it bring back some of the flair from the original look, but it also introduced a few awesome logos. The cap logo is a combination of a ray and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge — A+. On the hip, Tampa debuted a logo of a Ray executing a “stalefish” skateboard trick — A+. I would have preferred the ‘Tampa Bay’ and the numbers to be filled in with color, but this is still an awesome look.
2. San Diego Padres
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Only two teams could pull off pink and mint in their color scheme — the Padres and the Marlins. San Diego is a city close to the border shared by the United States and Mexico, and the team decided to tap into the Hispanic culture of the city. Pink, mint and yellow are often seen throughout the Baja peninsula. The font used for ‘San Diego’ is supposed to echo that of a weathered beach sign. This is certainly a loud design, and I am all for it.
1. Chicago White Sox
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I know — I have given low marks to a majority of the teams that have featured a mono-colored uniform. However, the White Sox created a uniform that is far superior to the likes of the Phillies and Tigers. The gothic ‘Southside’ across the chest is perfection. Pinstripes are an elite element of a uniform when done right, and this certainly passes the eye test. The ‘Chi’ on the hat fits with the team’s look and also connects with people living in the region. The White Sox may be a terrible team at the moment, but they knocked it out of the park with their City Connect.
