American baseball players compete with Nike over new uniforms
Major League Baseball's new uniforms are lighter, more flexible and more comfortable than ever before — at least, according to apparel manufacturer Nike, which makes the suits. It seemed that the baseball players themselves did not talk much about this matter at the beginning of the preparation for the new season. Because of dissatisfaction with the clothes, they even went to the players' union.
“It looks cheap,” Los Angeles Angels forward Taylor Ward told the sports blog. The athleteWhich measures the mood among baseball players. “The material feels a bit papery.”
Finished by the author
Koen van der Velden describes De Volkskrant About sports in the United States. Lives in New York.
More than a month before the start of the new season on March 20, the players returned to their clubs last week, in the warm southern regions where the teams are preparing. The new uniform quickly became the talk of the town.
To develop the Nike Vapor Premier apparel, the brand says it scanned the bodies of nearly three hundred players, but many players still found that the shirts and pants did not fit them comfortably. The pants will not be custom tailored. “I feel like I'm wearing somebody else's clothes,” Angels pitcher Carlos Estevez said. Tommy “Tight Pants” of the New York Yankees wasn't satisfied either. The bowler, known for his tight pants, now has to make do with a looser pair. “I liked the old one better.” For a pitcher who is nearly two meters tall, Estevez felt as if he could rip his shirt off at any moment.
According to many players and fans, the new jerseys also leave a lot to be desired aesthetically. The major league logo was placed under a stripe at the collar and the player name letters were much smaller than last season. One player joked that the faded shirts wouldn't look out of place on Walmart's discount shelves. The athlete.
The new uniforms were actually introduced last season during the annual All-Star competition, a demonstration match with the biggest stars. At the time, reviews were mainly positive, especially from players under contract with Nike.
They were quoted again last week in a press release from the apparel manufacturer and the major league. “It's like I can wear my favorite jersey on the field now,” said St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Nolan Arenado, for example. “It's easy to move.”
Traditional baseball. There has been frequent criticism of innovations in clothing, although not much has changed over the years. Today's pajama-like uniforms still resemble those of the Knickerbocker Baseball Club, the first baseball club to take the field in 1849. At that time, suits were made of flannel and wool, and players wore a bamboo hat and a small bow tie.
Experiments were often dropped quickly. In 1882, players in a certain position at each club were given the same jersey – for example, all pitchers in competition wore a striped uniform, and only the color of the socks indicated which club they played for. The different styles within the team made baseball players look like a bunch of clowns, according to the public. Suits can go back to the closet. (At thrift stores, such as the International chain Loop, classic striped baseball pants have been a hit for years.)
It was the same with sleeveless shirts from the 1940s, or the shorts of the Chicago White Sox in 1976. Not a good idea, according to supporters. The experiment lasted three games, because baseball players have to wear long pants with a belt. If you want, you can fold up your pant legs to show your socks. The latter was common and has become more common in recent years.
With the advent of color television, snow-white uniforms became increasingly colorful in the 1970s. This also initially led to resistance, but critics eventually gave in.
Major League President Rob Manfred expects that will also be the case with the new Nike apparel. “In baseball, every piece of news can initially be based on negative reactions. I think the jerseys will eventually become very popular.”
Manfred received support from Cincinnati Reds catcher Luke Miley. “It's like toilet paper.” At first you will notice the difference, but after a while it becomes just toilet paper.
It is not yet known whether the players union’s move will lead to amendments. Like it or not, baseball players will have to make do with Nike's innovations in the coming years. The manufacturer signed a ten-year contract with the major league in 2020, worth $1 billion. Nike jerseys are therefore expensive: fans can buy identical versions for $450 (416 euros), and a slightly modified, cheaper version sells for $180.
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