The interleague matchup between the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers is a great one for many reasons. There’s a lot of history to it, and the classic looks of both teams’ uniforms makes for a very pleasing aesthetic experience.
It would have, at least, if the series hadn’t fallen on MLB’s annual Players’ Weekend. The event means that all 30 teams are wearing unique uniforms for the event, with road teams in black and home teams in white.
Two of the most iconic teams and uniforms in baseball are meeting this weekend at Dodger Stadium and we’re getting these uniforms? pic.twitter.com/LfiihqEWPy
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) August 24, 2019
The uniforms have not been well-received by fans, and it seems there are complaints within the game, too. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was openly critical of what he called “milkman” uniforms in his pregame media availability Saturday.
Dave Roberts: “It’s not our finest moment, wearing these all-white, milkman uniforms. But it is what it is.”
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) August 24, 2019
Roberts is right to go after the uniforms. It’s ironic that, on a weekend where MLB is supposed to be celebrating the individuality and personality of its players, they’ve chosen to dress those players in uniforms that completely strip them of both of those things. There’s no color or distinguishing feature, and when watching games, it’s hard to differentiate between the two teams in one game and the two teams in another. They look ridiculous, and the nicknames on the back of the jerseys — one of the major selling points of the event — are almost impossible to read on the home whites.
There are some neat touches that have come out of Players’ Weekend, but Roberts is right — the uniforms aren’t one of them.
