There has been buzz about the San Diego Padres getting new uniforms lately. Yesterday the Padres ended it buy dropping the news: they are getting a uniform makeover.
Sort of a three-part makeover, actually, with (a) subtle additions of yellow and blue to the regular home uniforms; (b) the adoption of old-style brown uniforms with the yellow and brown caps for Friday home games; and (c) the switch to a Navy digital camouflage jersey for their home Sunday games and, presumably, a dropping of the old desert camo look.
Here are examples of them all:
James Shields wants to know what you think of the new home and Friday jerseys? 👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/w2DGilz8KQ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) December 2, 2015
I am long on record of preferring some update on the old brown/mustard variations of the past, so the Friday alternate is nice. Still, seems like a half-measure. They should go to it full-time. And, of course, it appears as though it’ll only be a solid alternate-style brown, not a classic white uniform with brown accents, which could’ve been amazing. Maybe it’s a baby step.
The yellow additions to the regular uniform may only last a year, as they are described as commemorating the 2016 All-Star Game, which takes place in San Diego. A one-year placeholder until they go full-brown in 2017? That’d be nice.
Finally, I get why they do camo all the time in San Diego, but I also think it’s a bad look for a baseball team. Both from an abstract aesthetic perspective and from the perspective of it being weird for athletes to, in a way, dress up like soldiers or sailors. I realize, though, that my complaining about is neither a popular position nor one that is going to make any difference.
Overall, though: eliminating the boring blue and white home uniform is a step in the right direction.