EXCLUSIVE: Angels Adding Pullover Throwback, Confirming Earlier Hints

Good morning! I’m not aware of any uni-notable developments from the four just-completed NFL playoff games, so we won’t have our usual Monday Morning Uni Watch report today. But don’t worry — I have some big MLB news to share with you.

So: Earlier this month I reported that the Angels appeared to have a 1970s throwback in the works, based on a throwback cap that was being listed for sale in online shops. Several readers quickly noted that the throwback plans seemed to be confirmed by the team’s 2024 promotional schedule, which designates July 25 through Aug. 1 — a seven-game span — as “Throwback Week.”

One thing that remained unclear was whether the throwbacks would be pullovers or button-fronts. As of today, I’m prepared to say that they’ll be pullovers, because a source has provided me with this page from the 2024 MLB Style Guide:

Let’s shift into FAQ mode:

Doesn’t the MLB Style Guide usually show the four different views of a generic player?

They used that format from 2001 through last year, but they’ve adopted a new format this year.

Did the old Style Guide show the sleeve ads?

Nope. In fact, the old Style Guide didn’t even show maker’s marks! (One thing that’s stayed the same, however, is the use of No. 5, which has long been the MLB Style Guide default number, much like No. 46 is always used in the NBA.)

Are throwbacks typically shown in the Style Guide?

If a throwback is a full-fledged alternate that’s part of the team’s uni rotation, like the White Sox’s 1980s Sunday throwback, it’s included. If it’s something that’s being worn just as a one-off or for a weekend, like most of the Negro Leagues throwbacks we see each year, then no, it’s not included. It’s not yet clear to me if the inclusion of this Angels design in the Style Guide means (a) that the seven-game “throwback week” promotion was enough to qualify this uniform for Style Guide status, or (b) that the team plans to wear it here and there in addition to that seven-game promotion. Either way, once the throwback cap appeared in the online shop as an “on field” item, it made sense that the rest of the uniform would be in the Style Guide, since those two statuses tend to go together.

That jersey collar looks a little funky.

It does, doesn’t it? The original collar, as you can see in the photo at the top of the page, was a standard V-neck, but the Style Guide mock-up seems to be more of a wishbone design. We’ll have to wait and see how that looks in real life.

Update: Reader/commenter Stanley reports that the Single-A Hillsboro Hops wore this collar style last season:

They’re using the wrong pants!

Indeed, if the Style Guide is to be believed, they’re pairing the pullover jersey with belted pants (including Nike’s new angled belt tunnels), instead of the period-appropriate sansabelt pants. Disappointing, but whaddaya gonna do.

Anything else jump out at you?

A coupla things:

• They’re using the McAuliffe number font and radially arched NOBs. According to Bill Henderson’s jersey guide, that means this throwback is based on the team’s 1973-1978 jerseys. Based on Bill’s photos, it looks to me like the jerseys consistently had set-in sleeves during that period, but the Style Guide mock-up shows raglan sleeves. (Here’s the difference between the two.) Obviously, that’s a very minor historical inaccuracy that most people won’t notice or care about, but it’s still interesting.
• The sleeve trim on those mid-’70s jerseys was slightly above the cuff, leaving a bit of white to peek out at the end of the sleeve. But the Style Guide mock-up shows the trim right at the cuff, with no white peeking out. The Angels did later use that style, but with a different number font and NOB format, so the sleeve trim on the throwbacks appears to be era-inappropriate. I’m pretty sure this is because of Nike’s new template, as we’ve seen with Atlanta’s new jerseys.

Do you have access to the entire Style Guide?

No. My source provided the Angels throwback page because I had written that earlier post about the throwback cap.

Have the source show you the new City Connects!

I’m told that City Connect designs for a given season are not shown in the Style Guide until the end of that season, so we’re out of luck on that front. But don’t worry, I’m pretty sure I’ll have some good non-CC info for you soon. Stay tuned!