Getty Image
Major League Baseball and Fanatics are receiving heavy criticism from fans and players on social media for their latest uniforms, which are being described as terrible.
This is not the first time that both Major League Baseball and Fanatics have faced backlash from fans for their poor choices.
Nike is also facing scrutiny as they, along with Fanatics, signed a 10-year deal with Major League Baseball in 2020 to produce these disliked uniforms.
However, it is Fanatics that is facing the majority of the criticism due to their track record of creating unsatisfactory official merchandise for major sports leagues.
Jeff Jones, a reporter for the Belleville News-Democrat covering the St. Louis Cardinals, revealed that pitcher Miles Mikolas and another player on the team dislike the new MLB gear.
The back of the white jerseys, which feature the new design template, have received negative feedback from players who find them ill-fitting and made of cheap fabric.
“These look absolutely terrible,” commented Michael Waterloo of The Athletic.
Nick Stellini of CBS Sports expressed a similar sentiment, stating that Fanatics’ handling of the on-field uniforms was expected to be disappointing.
In Seattle, a thread on X has gained significant attention with numerous people expressing their strong dislike for the new Mariners jerseys.
A comparison between last year’s and this year’s replica jerseys from MLB, Nike, and Fanatics has sparked a discussion, with many criticizing this year’s offerings.
“They took shortcuts and raised prices, citing high demand and inflation as reasons for the gradual price increases,” stated Bobby Mullins, a self-proclaimed jersey enthusiast. “The quality of the actual jersey materials is not terrible, but it is not outstanding either. It is just satisfactory, which is acceptable for a replica jersey.
“They significantly reduced the amount of stitching on the jerseys and instead opted for a heat press method, resulting in a visually unappealing appearance and a shorter lifespan for the jersey. Gone are the multi-layered, raised lettering and numbering on the front plackets, names, and numbers. Instead, they chose to use a multi-color, single-layer heat press technique on the jersey.
“In what seems to be a competition to see how much worse things can get and how high prices can soar, this year’s jerseys are simply disappointing. The materials used for the jerseys are now lighter. The replicas, unlike the authentic jerseys worn by players, are made from a cheaper material that was previously used on last year’s All-Star Game jerseys. This change is completely unnecessary.
“The differences are noticeable when comparing the jerseys side by side. The MLB logo has been moved lower, below the neckline piping, and the spacing is poorly executed. There is an excessive amount of content crammed into a small space, which does not create a visually appealing look. The multi-color lettering and numbering are less defined and lack visual crispness.”
(He posted an additional nine tweets expressing his dissatisfaction with the Fanatics MLB jerseys, but the point is clear. People are extremely unhappy.)
MLB commissioner Rob Manfred expressed his excitement about the partnership with Nike and Fanatics in 2019, stating, “Nike’s global brand and reputation as a marketing leader and innovator make them an ideal partner. Additionally, Fanatics has proven to provide our fans with fast, efficient, and high-quality service. We are thrilled about the potential that this unique collaboration offers us over the next ten years.”
If the current outcome is a result of these “possibilities,” hockey fans should brace themselves for a remarkable experience when Fanatics becomes the official provider of on-ice uniforms for the NHL starting in the 2024-25 season.
According to the Source brobible.com