I had a pretty detailed assessment of the Twins’ new uniform set on Friday. But I was so focused on those granular details that I overlooked a larger story emerging from that unveiling — or at least implied by it.
Here’s the deal: As you may recall, Nike was test-driving a new baseball uni template in 2021. The Royals wore it in spring training that year, and the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders wore it during their regular season. The new template had several small details that deviated from the longstanding Majestic template, the most visible of which was the use of mesh rear-numeral fabric:
At the time, Nike was still using the Majestic template, so we were all wondering if this new template would be used in 2022. But as I wrote in my 2022 MLB Season Preview, “A source tells Uni Watch that those plans [for the new template] have been pushed back at least to 2023, and possibly even 2024.”
And then, frankly, I kind of forgot all about the new template, so it wasn’t on my mind when the Twins unveiled their new set last Friday. But as you can see in the photo at the top of this page (and in several other rear-view photos from the unveiling), the Twins’ new rear-jersey numbers are standard tackle twill, not mesh. None of the other tailoring details from the 2021 test-drive template are included in the new Twins set either — it’s still the Majestic tailoring.
Obviously, they wouldn’t have unveiled this set in the existing template if they were planning to introduce the new tailoring next spring for the 2023 season. So it appears that the new Nike cut is indeed being pushed back until at least 2024.
None of this occurred to me until yesterday. I’ve now confirmed via another source that nothing template-wise is planned for 2023. Personally, I count this as good news.
Good! Mesh anything looks like cheap practice gear.
I know I definitely don’t like the look of the mesh numbers on the NHL teams that have used it under Adidas.
I saw the Rail Riders this year, and the numbers looked like a cheap screen print
Nike is just a trendy logo for these leagues tob push the retail. They cant ever actually produce on their promises in a timely manner. Multiple nike sponsors over the years have had to wait midseason for their uniforms to be available or delay specially scheduled uni events for certain teams. Meanwhile you can buy the unavailable jerseys in the team shop. This only being a template change isnt as critical but im just tired of nike nonsense.
The twins should just consider themselves lucky they aren’t a green team. Nike can’t get green gear out on time for anything.
I would say they’re probably saving it all for U of O but the ducks hardly wear green anymore anyway.
Is there a UniWatch advertiser or another source that does one-off vintage jersey production?
Try oldschooljersey.com.
Mitchell & Ness or Ebbets Field Flannels might do it, but you’d have to order a specific quantity in order for them to justify the production costs. I don’t know of any vintage jersey manufacturer that does one-offs.
Saving money in production costs for authentic uniforms and thus maximizing profits goes hand in hand with the current taste in oversimplified, minimalistic logo and uniform design with a practice gear aesthetic. Day after day I see proof of this trend.
Mesh numbers are another example of Nike being Nike. How many plays will be made or not made based on the weight of the uniform numbers? Not enough to matter.
Nike adds things just to be conspicuous. The weird cutout notch on the sides of NBA shorts and the shoulder striping that truncates do nothing in terms of performance but they are clear from a mile away so everyone sees it’s a Nike job without seeing the swoosh.
Mesh numbers are another example of Nike being Nike. How many plays will be made or not made based on the weight of the uniform numbers? Not enough to matter.
I suspect that it has less to do with performance and more to do with deterring counterfeiters, since perforating the numbers will be beyond the capability of most knockoff manufacturers.
I’m afraid you’re right Paul. The holes are “perforated” with an industrial laser. A lot of work and additional cost for a product most Uni-Watchers don’t like.
Hadn’t thought of that. But I would think that a meticulous counterfeiter will make it happen, and a counterfeiter who already doesn’t Get It™️ in little details like proper colors, fonts and striping won’t notice the perforations.