Happy Saturday. Despite knowing what the Boston Red Sox’s City Connect 2.0 jersey was going to look like for months now, I was still nervous ahead of the formal launch because I wouldn’t put it past Nike to fuck it all up with the pants or cap or something.
Fortunately, the Sox (and Nike, credit where credit’s due) hit a home run with the new City Connect uniforms.
Ref smash! 💥 pic.twitter.com/BFw7KbscGh
— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 17, 2025
While there still isn’t any red like the team’s City Connect 1.0, I do think that the designers were able to capture the essence of Fenway in the uniform. For that, I think the Sawx’s City Connect 2.0 uniform is much more instantly recognizable as a Red Sox uniform than their City Connect 1.0 uniform.
Garrett Crochet.
That is the tweet. pic.twitter.com/Lyt3jk4T1J— Red Sox (@RedSox) May 17, 2025
I have only two complaints, and both are really minor in the grand scheme of things. One, I think the jersey should say “BOSTON” instead of “RED SOX”, to match the Green Monster’s scoreboard. Two, the “B” patch logo should be on the cap — while NESN broadcaster (and longtime Red Sox infielder) Lou Merloni mentioned that the caps will be big around St. Patrick’s Day,1 I really think that the traditional Red Sox “B” logo kind of clashes with the overall sans-serif aesthetic of the jersey. They did go this direction for the batting practice cap, which I think looks pretty nice but I would rather see it all-green.
I also think that New Era got the shade of green just a touch wrong — looks a little bit too close to mint green rather than Green Monster green.
But like I said, those complaints are pretty minor, and I’m extremely happy with how the uniform turned out. I love that the design was able to get both styles of numbers used on the Green Monster’s scoreboard, which to me indicates that the designers knew what the fans would want. One thing I’m really digging too is the pant striping — I think it’s super nice!
During the game, NESN broadcaster (and Hearts of Pine co-owner) Tom Caron reported that the design process for the new City Connects took over two years, and that while the designers knew that they wanted to take inspiration from Fenway Park, they initially bandied around other ideas, like the brick façade on Jersey Street, or the rich reddish color of the warning track dirt. But it seems obvious in hindsight that the Green Monster was the way to go.
I’ve never been the biggest fan of the City Connect 1.0 uniforms, despite their overall popularity among Red Sox fans. While I dig the inspiration behind the design, I’ve always thought that the yellow was too bright and never had any desire to purchase any City Connect gear for myself. I always thought the Sawx’s City Connect 1.0 uniforms were good uniforms but not good Red Sox uniforms. But I did buy myself a City Connect 2.0 sweatshirt yesterday. I think their City Connect 2.0 are both good uniforms, and good Red Sox uniforms.
One last thing to note: the Red Sox were one of only two teams not to wear their camo caps for Armed Forces Weekend. The other was the Cincinnati Reds, who also wore their City Connect unis last night.
Anyway, I love these. What do you think?
1: And he’s 100% correct about that.
The only thing missing are actual red socks.
Yes! Thank you! Them and Chicago (AL) have so many different possibilities while staying true to their name.
Thank you.
I seem to be in the minority, but I’m not a fan. Yeah, the uniform captures the essence of Fenway, but the uniform is just so bland. I’d prefer an alternate using normal team colors, and no city/stadium story telling. To me this feels like someone decided to mage a uniform based on the green monster and 15 minutes later finished the design.
Also, I’m picking nits here, but I don’t like the yellow numbers. Those are a nod to the foul poles, right? I guess, but it sent feel right to me. If the jersey is going to replicate the iconic Green Monster, stick with that. It’d be even duller, but at least consistent.
Pretty sure the yellow number are a nod to the numbers that are used for the score in the inning then being played…
I thought the yellow numbers were a nod to the yellow numbers they put up on the line score for an inning still in progress.
My thoughts exactly. Like it’s a good base, but it’s just kind of plain. Needs some texture or more decals.
Couldn’t agree more… Would it kill them to actually wear Red Socks?
It’s a joke. The “Red” Sox have not a spec of red in this so called uniform. Fans are such easy dupes apparently. They’ll waive any new piece of crap out there, and the sheep lap it up
I bet their history up until the past 10-15 years was infuriating to you as the Red SOX wore red stirrups with white socks.
In the baseball realm, there are two articles of footwear that can be referred to as “socks”, the stirrups and the sanitaries. I accept that Boston is named after the former; Chicago, the latter. The only time a team really took a stand on the issue was in 1976, when the Chisox jettisoned both and wore tube socks.
Two years to design? Come on. Cheap knockoffs look better than this. Just a downgrade from the home whites. What jersey colors are left for the team to wear now?
Right? I mean, the Green Monster is a pretty simple and old school wall/scoreboard, so I suppose the uniform should match. But two years for this? Jeez.
> “One, I think the jersey should say “BOSTON” instead of “RED SOX””
This should have been a no-brainer decision considering these are supposed to CITY Connects.
I actually asked Troup about that when we were discussing the unis. I wish I could remember exactly what he said, but the team did consider using “BOSTON” (in the exact font face used on the wall), and I believe it came down to two things: One, with the exception of the first city connect (and of course the special home white “BOSTON” jersey worn on Marathon Monday), every Red Sox home uni says “Red Sox” on it — so that was a point in favor of using RED SOX on the new CC. And two, the “old” CC has “BOSTON,” so they decided to go with RED SOX for the new CC.
They definitely did consider using “BOSTON” but in the end, went with RED SOX instead.
Then if Nike is going to continue churning out cash grabs (and we know they will), it might be time to ditch the CC moniker and pick a more nebulous name. The city connection explanations in the first wave of CCs were a stretch at times and it’s only gotten worse the second time through the league.
Thought that one argument for RED SOX instead of BOSTON would be that the former might not be affect the wording because it is already split (being 2 words and all) so seeing the D in RED being split anyway was mildly infuriating. Wonder if they would have also chopped the S in BOSTON off had they gone with the city name instead.
I barely pay any attention to City Connect. Generally because I really don’t like them. Generally because I remember the sanctitude of a major league uniform once a player reached the big time. I don’t enjoy the compromise of a team’s identity with a disposable uniform to generate merch sales.
Seems unusual to put the word “red” on the jersey when there is no red on the uniform. You would have to look close to realize it is the Red Sox playing and not the A’s.
Any green team that plays on a green field in a green building is going to find itself at a disadvantage, especially when the accent color, if there is one, is a neutral. The Eagles and Jets suffer from this handicap, and when they play each other, I shut the TV off because I know the result is like watching grass. Using yellow as an accent seems to take care of this problem.
On the one hand the Red Sox’ new City Connects are kinda cool, but on the other hand the game last night looked like a Red Sox vs. A’s game, but it was actually a Braves vs. Red Sox game, but Atlanta looked more like the Red Sox than Boston did. Also, I’m ok with a color switch for one alt, but since they also redesigned the CC 1.0 design as an official alt it’s super weird that 40% of their uniforms are now in non-Red Sox colors.
It looks good everywhere but the playing field. This shade of green blends in with the walls and the grass. It’s like camouflage.
Happy Purple Amnesty Day, everyone!!!
I read, and I looked down and – by accident, but perhaps by fate – I put on a purple shirt last night to sleep in! Actually, it’s a heather purple, but still: Happy Purple Amnesty Day to you as well, C.I., and to all in the uni-verse, but especially to our UW founder, hi Paul! And to the teams that dominate my violet-colored wardrobe, the Kansas State Wildcats!
Beat me to it.
After all the hype about how these were supposed to be good, they just…aren’t. It didn’t occur to anyone in this 2 year process that they were going to look like the A’s?
I’m just curious, Patrick. You (and several others) have said the CC’s aren’t “good”. What would you consider good?
And if you think the Sawx look like the A’s, do they look like 10 different other teams when they wear their red tops? Someone above said the Braves looked like the Red Sox — or did the Red Sox look like the Braves (or countless other teams with a navy alternate top)?
The green the Sox are wearing looks nothing like either green the A’s wear. And how many other “green” teams are there?
I’d rather there be two “green” teams than 20 red and/or blue teams, all of whom look alike to me.
And how do you feel about teams who wear white uniforms at home and gray roadies? Don’t they, by this “they look like the A’s” logic, look like every other team?
Not trying to be argumentative, but if your point is that these aren’t “good” simply because they are a different shade of green from the only MLB team to wear green, then where does this leave us? Should only ONE team be allowed to wear a red jersey, or a blue jersey? What about all the different powder blues — should only one team be permitted to wear those since, by this logic, they all “look like” someone else?
Anyway, if you could explain why they’re not good in your opinion — is there any reason you say this besides they are green (and not close to the green worn by Sacto — either the hunter or the kelly)?
I probably should have been more clear in my critique. In a vacuum, this uniform is fine. But to me it’s not a great Red Sox uniform. I miss the classic font, and at least some red elements would be nice. But it’s jarring to me to see (any shade of) green and gold being worn by anyone but the A’s. They completely own that real estate in MLB. But I totally get why they went with that, and I’m sure the fans will love it,
Thanks for the thoughtful reply!
Not that I’m defending the CC program (it has no reason to exist other than to sell merch), but the entire point — at least the way I understand it — is to “reflect the cultural aspects of each team’s home city.” Whether any of these successfully do so is debatable, but nothing about the program is designed to use a teams current colors or logos or font faces. Some may, but most don’t.
If we can’t accept that premise, then logically nothing else will follow. No, it doesn’t look like a Red Sox uniform — and almost by definition it’s not supposed to. But you say that in a vacuum, this uniform is fine.
That’s how I’m trying to look at this whole CC crap: judge it SOLELY as a uniform. If it fails in your eyes because say, the numbers or wordmarks are ghosted, or if it’s just a shitty design, or any number of factors, then it fails. But you can’t say it fails because it’s not a “Red Sox” uniform. Or not a “traditional” BoSawx uni anyway.
Now on to your other point. I’m sorry, the A’s (or any other team) don’t get to claim a color as their own. If so, how would we decide among all the red and blue teams who are allowed to use those colors. I wish there were more green teams and less red/blue/black. I’d love to see more pastel colors too. More gold (what most people call yellow) wouldn’t hurt either.
Anyway, thanks for the reply.
“That’s how I’m trying to look at this whole CC crap: judge it SOLELY as a uniform. If it fails in your eyes because say, the numbers or wordmarks are ghosted, or if it’s just a shitty design, or any number of factors, then it fails. But you can’t say it fails because it’s not a “Red Sox” uniform. Or not a “traditional” BoSawx uni anyway.”
That’s a really good point. I’m not a fan of the CC program either, but I should have approached it from this view.
Overall I think this is a good uniform even though it does not make me think of the Red Sox. Oddly it seems that Boston has a real talent in producing these cc uniforms. They have been very popular with the fans and seem to reflect the connection with the city well.
I like it, the jersey instantly reminds me of the Green Monster. But the B on the hat should match the one on the sleeve and it should say Boston like the scoreboeard does. I understand the reasoning for not doing so, but still it would have looked better. Interesting fact is that I read that one of the reasons it took 2 years to design it is that they could not get the right color fabric before. And it still does not match the Monster but it is close enough.
I would have loved a CITGO patch
Man all these combinations would look better with visible stirrups…the white pants down to the shoelaces looks lifeless…
I’m not a huge CC fan but if these had visible green stirrups and the batting practice B on the hat, i think it would be a great look, if not a traditional Bosox look
I think the yellow Marathon uniforms look great with the yellow stirrups as well, although id be happy if they never deviated from their whites and grays
But can we all just enjoy the retirement of their blue alternates?