The team that has what might be the most iconic jerseys in sports is undergoing a few uniform alterations prior to the 2024 season.
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The New York Yankees' road uniforms have featured white outlining on the chest lettering, back number, and a decorative trim on the sleeve cuffs ever since 1973, when they transitioned from flannel to stretch knit jerseys. However, according to a report from UniWatch, the Bronx Bombers are ditching both the white outlining and sleeve trim for the 2024 season.
The Yankees are making changes to their road jerseys next season https://t.co/SJr36nwXui pic.twitter.com/rHVOpLOlGI
— SNY (@SNYtv) January 23, 2024
Although this might seem like a trivial change, the Yankees are notoriously stubborn when it comes to even the slightest jersey alterations.
In fact, the last time New York made any changes to its road uniforms was in 2016, when it elected to increase space between the "New" and "York" on the front of their jerseys.
While the Yankees' road grays are iconic in their own right, they don't come close to their pinstripe home jerseys — which are probably the most recognizable jerseys in all of sports history.
Yet, the Yankees have shown in recent years that they're even willing to make controversial changes to these iconic pinstripes. In 2023, Yankees fans were upset with their squad for a few days after the team decided to add a uniform sponsor (Starr Insurance) in the middle of the season. Considering how Yankees fans adore their team's history, the decision to "ruin" their pinstripe uniforms for a few extra bucks to their already-expansive payroll wasn't received well by the fan base.
Our home and away uniforms with the Starr Insurance patch. pic.twitter.com/cakDuS5Mp7
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 12, 2023
Like much of the 27-time World Series winning team's history, the story behind these pinstripe jerseys is muddied in myth. A common misconception about the pinstripes is that they were created in the 1920-30s, so that Yankees legend Babe Ruth would look slimmer while hitting at the plate and pitching on the mound.
The truth, however, is that the Yankees first adorned their uniforms with pinstripes in 1912, then re-added them on a permanent basis in 1915.
While that fact isn't as fun as placing the pinstripes' origin on Babe Ruth's huskiness, Yankees players having worn the pinstripes at home for well over 100 years is still legendary stuff.
Given that the Yankees went 40-41 on the road last season, perhaps these new away-jersey alterations will precipitate better performances. If not, at least Yankees fans will have something fresh to blame for their team's shortcomings.
