The Philadelphia Phillies have decided which current color combination it will switch out to accommodate the new fit, as the team is scheduled to receive their City Connect jerseys during the 2024 season.
MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki left the red uniforms off a list of the ballclub’s current jerseys when he was doing a throwback post in late November. The red jerseys will be completely removed from the starting lineup, according to Tim Kelly of Phillies Nation.
The jerseys gained more support when players asked to wear them on the road beginning in the 2021 season. Originally introduced in 2016, they were primarily used for Spring Training matches. At that point, the team started wearing them alternately, mostly on the road, in the gray uniforms that have been worn for away games since 1992.
Since 1992, the ballclub’s primary home jersey has been the traditional red pinstripe design. Reintroduced in 2008, the cream jerseys have served as a backup home option, primarily for games held during the day. The well-liked powder blues made a reappearance in 2018. Although they pay homage to the team’s primary road uniforms from the 1970s and 1980s, they are primarily used for home games on Thursdays these days.
It has been somewhat of an uphill battle for the red jerseys. After just a few years, the team was forced to shelve their appearance outside of spring training. They had been introduced as a home alternate in 2016. They became a possibility for the final game of the regular season after the players requested to have them return.
As for the City Connect jerseys, the goal is to create a uniform that celebrates the city. Introduced as a concept across the league in 2021, the upcoming 2024 season finally marks the year the Phillies’ new jersey will be unveiled. Now, attention turns to what the official design will look like for Philadelphia.
Kyle Pagan of Crossing Broad mentioned the possibility of the design being modeled after Philadelphia’s flag, in the same vein as the uniforms donned by the Eagles in 2007. There is also speculation that the new jerseys will incorporate things like the Liberty Bell, the Phanatic, or the other pro sports teams in the city.
