In the past, baseball uniforms have changed dramatically throughout history. From their debut in 1869 with the Cincinnati Red Stockings playing in all white uniforms, to the advent of the modern baseball uniforms in the 1900s, uniforms have been a staple part of every team. In the early years of baseball, teams would wear mostly solid colors with minimal advertising.
However, as time went on and money became involved in major league clubs, they began wearing different types of patterns and colorful designs to attract attention and make more money.
The 1800s
In the 1800s, baseball uniforms were very plain and typically made of solid white fabric with a horizontal red pinstripe. The players wore caps as well as long stockings and heavy shoes. In the later years of the century, players began wearing stirrups or “sanitaries” as they were called. These stirrups were long pieces of fabric that were folded over and sewn onto the bottom of the players’ pants.
The early 1900s
In the early 1900s, uniforms were still very plain and typically consisted of a button-down shirt with horizontal stripes and long stockings. Caps or hats would also be worn but they did not feature any logos or designs whatsoever.
The 1920s
In the 1920s, some teams began wearing knickers as their uniforms while others kept with the traditional long pants. Knickers were similar to shorts except they had cuffs at the knee which made them look like knickers.
Also, new stirrup designs were created that looked very much like modern day stirrups but actually harkened back to the old 1800s sanitary pad days. The caps also began featuring small logos on the front such as a team logo or the players’ number.
The 1930s
In the 1930s, teams began wearing button-down jerseys which were much different than today’s modern jersey. They featured a collar and buttons all the way down to the waist and sometimes sleeves.
A major change in uniforms was also brought about because of Major League Baseball’s decision to allow the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators to move their home games indoors due to poor field conditions. This marked the first time that players began wearing light-weight uniforms during games.
The 1940s
In 1942, baseball commissioner Kennesaw Landis ordered every team owner in Major League Baseball to wear a standardized baseball uniform as part of patriotism during World War II. Although these uniforms did not feature any logos or designs, they were the first step towards modern day baseball uniforms.
The 1950s
In the 1950s, teams began adding piping to their jerseys and pants while some added vertical stripes as well. There was also a new trend in caps that featured two tones of blue or red and a large logo in the front. The stirrup uniforms of the previous decades were replaced by loose fitting pants with belt loops and elastic waistbands.
The 1960s
By the 1960s, teams had begun using contrasting colors for their jersey and pants such as light blue on dark blue or yellow on black. There was also an increase in the number of logos and designs on caps.
Do mlb players wear new uniforms every game?
No, MLB players typically wear the same uniform every game. If a team is wearing their lighter “Sunday” uniforms, they usually switch back to their darker “Saturday” uniforms for night games. Sometimes players will switch out their pants if they are wearing pinstripes and the opposing team is wearing solid colors such as black or white.
One of the major changes in uniforms was brought about because of Major League Baseball’s decision to allow the Detroit Tigers and the Washington Senators to move their home games indoors due to poor field conditions. This marked the first time that players began wearing light-weight uniforms during games.
Today’s baseball players typically wear button-down jerseys which feature a collar and buttons all the way down to the waist and sometimes sleeves.
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