PHILADELPHIA – A true representation of the City of Brotherly Love, the red alternate jerseys have been adored by fans since their introduction in 2016. The choice by the Phillies to move on may or may not be surprising but the good coming out of this is that they’ll be receiving a City Connect jersey for the 2024 season.
In With the New, Out With the Old
The top was originally worn as home alternates until the organization demoted them to spring training jerseys in 2018. It wasn’t until 2021 when they found their way back to the pro level and were worn for the final day of road trips and other select road games throughout the season. Little did we realize, the last time these jerseys would be worn was during Game 5 of the National League Championship Series on Oct. 21, the final road game of the season.
Uni Watch founder, Paul Lukas, released this statement from Phillies Nation on his social media platforms regarding the decision:
“The Philadelphia Phillies red jerseys will not return in 2024, Phillies Nation has learned.
Earlier this month, we wrote about the possibility that the red jerseys had been worn for the final time with a City Connect jersey set to be introduced by the Phillies at some point in 2024. Nike has a “4+1” rule, meaning they will produce four jerseys per team, and five if the fifth is a City Connect uniform.
The Phillies already had five — pinstripes, cream, powder blue, gray and red — meaning one needed to be ditched with the impending arrival of the “+1” in the form of the City Connects. MLB.com‘s Todd Zolecki hinted earlier this week that the red tops will be dropped from the rotation, and Phillies Nation has confirmed that is indeed the case.“
-via Phillies Nation
New Era in Phillies’ History
When I think back on the Phillies, I remember seeing the statement about the release of the cream-colored City Connect jerseys in 2007 and how impactful that was going to be in the rotation of uniforms. There was no feeling close to being at Citizens Bank Park and watching iconic players like Ryan Howard, Chase Utley, and Jimmy Rollins don the cream unis while competing at the highest level in The Show.
The City Connect jersey program was introduced back in 2021 with the concept of creating a uniform that represented that team’s city and essentially paid homage to its foundation. The unique graphics and colors employed are something baseball fans can now look forward to every year and Phillies fans can especially be excited about for the 2024 season.
It truly is a shame to see the red tops go but the other uniforms in play are still fantastic. I mean multiple teams have the powdered blue alternates but only the Phillies seem to come out as the one to be named when thinking about that uniform. A tough choice was made here today but a welcome change is on the horizon and now finally the announcement of a City Connect jersey for the Phightins!
Photo Credit: (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
