On April 19, the New York Mets introduced their City Connect uniform, part of a Major League Baseball initiative to celebrate each team's connection to its home city through unique and vibrant jersey designs.

The Mets' City Connect jersey is a dark gray with bold black "NYC" lettering on the front, symbolizing the bustling streets and skyscrapers of New York City. Crafted by Nike, the jersey includes a distinctive purple swoosh and accents on the sleeves, inspired by the 7 subway line, which serves Citi Field, the Mets' stadium in Queens.

The pinstripes on the uniform are a subtle tribute to New York's intricate subway system. These stripes are composed of circles and diamonds, representing the subway's local and express lines. Additionally, the Queensboro Bridge, which links Queens to Manhattan, is depicted on the team's hats, pants, and sleeves, further emphasizing the strong connection between the team and its city.

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Launched in the 2021 season, Major League Baseball's City Connect series brings unique alternate uniforms that differ from traditional home and away kits in terms of color schemes, fonts, and graphics. This series aims to honor each city's unique history and culture, offering a fresh perspective on team identity.

Fans eagerly await the release dates of new City Connect uniforms, sparking discussions and debates about their visual appeal. These jerseys often become a hot topic among baseball enthusiasts, with opinions ranging from high praise to stark criticism. In fact, ESPN conducted a ranking of these uniforms, from the most vibrant and city-representative designs to those that fell flat, with some even dismissed as unremarkable or lacking creativity.

Here's a closer look at the City Connect uniforms that have been unveiled so far, as well as those currently in development.

Which MLB teams have released City Connect uniforms?

Major League Baseball and Nike introduced the City Connect series in 2021, with the aim of providing unique alternate uniforms that reflect each team's city. As of now, 22 MLB teams have launched their City Connect designs.

During the first year of the series, seven teams debuted their City Connect uniforms: the Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers. These initial releases showcased a range of styles, with each uniform offering a distinctive nod to the history and culture of its respective city.

In 2022, the City Connect series expanded to include seven additional teams, each revealing unique uniform designs. That year, the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres unveiled their City Connect jerseys. Among these, the Rockies' uniforms stood out, earning the top spot on ESPN's list for their balance of freshness and classic elements.

In 2023, six more teams joined the City Connect lineup. The Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Cincinnati Reds, Baltimore Orioles, and Pittsburgh Pirates debuted their new uniforms, each incorporating distinctive features that reflect their home city's culture and heritage.

With the series gaining momentum, fans continue to look forward to each new launch, eagerly discussing the unique aspects of these bold, culturally inspired uniforms.

Which teams are releasing City Connect uniforms in 2024?

In 2024, seven more teams are set to unveil their City Connect jerseys, further expanding Major League Baseball's effort to celebrate local culture through unique uniform designs. The Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Los Angeles Dodgers are all slated to release their City Connect uniforms this season. This comes in addition to the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies, both of which recently revealed their City Connect designs.

With these upcoming releases, fans can expect a range of creative interpretations, drawing on each city's distinctive history and cultural elements. The City Connect series continues to generate buzz as teams introduce new looks that bring a fresh perspective to their brand while honoring their hometown's unique character.

On April 18, the St. Louis Cardinals announced that their City Connect uniform will debut on May 20, a couple of weeks after the Detroit Tigers unveil theirs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers, who originally launched their City Connect jersey in 2021, have phased out their first version and are planning to introduce a new alternate uniform later this year.

While Major League Baseball has indicated that all 30 teams will eventually have City Connect uniforms, SNY reports that two teams, the New York Yankees and the Oakland Athletics (currently planning a move to Las Vegas), do not yet have scheduled dates for their City Connect launches.