They call it America’s pastime, and there’s no denying that Americans love baseball.
When the Chicago Cubs won the world series, their victory parade was the seventh largest gathering in human history.
There’s just something about baseball that captures the heart of Americans. The thrill of a home run, peanuts and crackerjacks, and those iconic uniforms.
But not every team has had good uniforms. Some of them are just plain bad.
In this article, we’re counting down the best and worst baseball uniforms in history.
The Best Baseball Uniforms
The best baseball uniforms have shaped the whole family industry, from throngs of fans wearing their favorite team’s jersey to sports socks and the ubiquitous baseball cap.
Here are hands down the most iconic.
New York Yankees
The Yankees are an institution in the MLB. They have 27 (!!!) World Series titles to their name and have even been home to some of the most iconic players ever, such as Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle, and the immortal Babe Ruth.
And their uniforms are just as iconic. The design is sleek and simple: light grey with midnight blue pinstripes, with the famous NY logo on the chest.
It’s the most recognizable uniform in baseball. Just don’t let George Costanza near them.
Boston Red Sox
When it comes to design, simpler is often better.
And the Boston Red Sox have one of the cleanest, sleekest uniforms in the league.
The crisp white button-up uniform has a simple red outline with the team name emblazoned in striking red text.
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs are one of the oldest and most beloved teams in professional baseball. While they might not have the most impressive winning streak, that hasn’t cooled their fans affections for them at all.
Their uniforms certainly don’t hurt either. They rock a white uniform with dark blue pinstripes and the iconic red, white, and blue logo on the chest.
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates took a while to land a good look (more on that later), but once they did, they struck gold. Literally.
Their modern uniforms feature their stylish gold logo on a plain black uniform. It’s minimalistic but very effective.
St. Louis Cardinals
While simplicity is key to great design, little details can make all the difference.
Case in point: the St. Louis Cardinals. Their clean white and red uniforms have remained mostly unchanged over the last 100 years — and for good reason.
Their home uniforms are adorned with a charming illustration of two cardinals perched upon a baseball bat.
Their cream-colored alternate is especially striking.
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers aren’t well known for their winning streaks, but that doesn’t put a damper on their uniforms.
The light grey with black accents is timeless and stylish.
But the real money maker is the Gothic-style D logo. Whether it’s embroidered onto the chest of the uniforms, their ball caps, or printed on fans’ t-shirts, the logo is as chic and iconic and as the uniforms themselves.
The Worst Baseball Uniforms
Not every baseball uniform is a home run though. Some of them are downright regrettable.
Cleveland Indians
While every team wears different uniforms home and away, they usually try to maintain some kind of cohesion between those uniforms.
Not so with the Cleveland Indians. Their uniforms change colors and lettering styles all the time. But at least they’ve phased out the problematic Native caricature “Cheif Wahoo.”
Miami Marlins
The jury’s still out on whether or not these uniforms are ugly or endearingly unique, but there’s no doubt that they’re eye-catching.
On a plain black jersey, the team name and logo is emblazoned with a neon, multicolored color scheme. It’s certainly on brand with their Miami heritage, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it looks great.
Washington Nationals
There’s not actually anything egregiously ugly about the Nationals’ uniforms. White accents on a red field are a classic combination.
But when you look at the logo, things get a little more complicated. The word “Nationals” appears nowhere on the uniform. Instead, a single cursive W is on the chest.
It stands for Washington, of course, but it just kind of looks like the Walgreens logo. Not that there’s anything wrong with Walgreens, but it’s not exactly what you want to think of when you’re watching baseball.
Baltimore Orioles
In the 1970s, the Baltimore Orioles unveiled some egregious all-orange uniforms. They’re totally retro, but not in a cool Sean-Connery-as-Bond way. More like a crumbs-in-your-shag-carpeting kind of retro.
But they must have missed the memo when they reintroduced them in the 2010s as an alternate uniform. They’re a faithful throwback, but that doesn’t make them a good call.
Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona’s major league team has a long and storied history of bad uniforms. From brash teals and purples to inexplicable dots, the Diamondbacks have never found a truly winning combination.
Their current jerseys are a more conventional red, which is a step above the odd color schemes of the past. But the cartoony font only makes the team’s unfortunate abbreviation more regrettable.
Seriously: they say “D-backs.” Who thought that was a good idea? Did no one read it aloud?
America’s Pastime
The good thing about baseball is that whether your favorite team is decked out in a timeless style or if they wear one of the worst baseball uniforms in human history, that doesn’t change the thrill of the game.
So go to the stadium, buy a hot dog, and cheer on your team — no matter how ugly their uniforms are.
If you’re reading this in the offseason and need something to keep yourself busy, check out this article about the best winter workout clothes.
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