CLEVELAND, Ohio — The wait is over. Guardians fans are getting their first look at the club’s new Nike City Connect uniforms. Hats, jerseys, hoodies and more are set to go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday at the temporary team shop outside Progressive Field and at retail locations throughout the area.
The club released a full reveal video on its social media channels Sunday night that shows players wearing the new designs for the first time back in spring training. The same video was leaked on Major League Baseball’s video portal late Saturday hours prior to the planned uniform drop.
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Inspired by the Guardians of Traffic pillars that stand along the Hope Memorial Bridge just south of the ballpark, Cleveland’s new uniform marks the end of a nearly three-year process of design and development in an attempt to bridge the organization’s historic past with the city’s present.
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Players will wear the new design for the first time on the field Friday in their series opener against Minnesota. A José Ramírez bobblehead featuring the new uniform will be distributed to 12,500 fans during Saturday’s game against the Twins.
In observance of Armed Forces Day, the Guardians and Twins will wear special Armed Forces gear on Saturday, but Cleveland will go back to wearing the City Connect uniforms on May 19.
For the remainder of the season, the Guardians will wear their City Connect uniforms for every home Friday game. Players will decide which home games they wear the uniforms beyond that.
Manager Stephen Vogt told cleveland.com on Sunday that he “likes parts” of the new uniform, including the piping down the sleeves and pants.
“I’ll like them a lot more if we win Friday,” Vogt said.
But players such as Josh Naylor are said to be in favor of wearing the new look for as many home games as possible. David Fry voiced his approval after Cleveland’s win against the White Sox: “They’re awesome. Really cool.”
The Guardians will not wear their City Connect uniforms on the road in 2024.
Cleveland is among the last big league teams to get City Connects after the alternate uniforms debuted in Major League Baseball three years ago. Seven other major league clubs are part of the 2024 City Connect series. The Phillies, Tigers, Mets and Rays have already released their new threads while the Twins, Cardinals, Blue Jays and Dodgers will debut theirs in the coming weeks.
Los Angeles will become the first team to don a second City Connect design, having already debuted their “Los Dodgers” uniforms in 2021.
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The Guardians have big plans to celebrate the debut of their new uniforms at the ballpark this weekend. Friday’s matchup will feature a pregame party on the Gateway Plaza in honor of the new uniforms beginning at 4 p.m. The Big Don Band will perform and fans can take part in face painting, balloon artists, speed pitch and mascot appearances while walking away with exclusive City Connect prizes.
A City Connect-inspired mural designed and painted by local artist Lisa Quine will also be revealed inside the left field gate.
Fans looking to purchase City Connect gear will find the biggest inventory at the team store tent on Gateway Plaza. City Connect merchandise will also be available at 10 a.m. online at MLB.com/shop and local sporting goods retailers. The team store will stock on-field gear including replica City Connect jerseys, hoodies, jackets and caps.
Team store hours will be extended from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. May 13-16 in celebration of the City Connect launch. Fans can shop from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. this week on Gateway Plaza.
Promotional giveaway items that include the City Connect design are scheduled for at least six dates on the Guardians upcoming home schedule.
• May 17: City Connect-inspired Free Shirt Friday (10,000 fans)
• May 18: José Ramírez City Connect bobblehead (12,500 fans)
• June 19: City Connect tote bag (10,000 fans)
• July 25: City Connect beach towel (10,000 fans)
• August 14: City Connect belt bag (10,000 fans)
• August 24: City Connect flag (15,000 fans)
Fans will also have the opportunity to purchase fee-free tickets for the May 17-19 series against the Twins beginning Monday on CLEguardians.com.
Fans can learn more about the Cleveland Guardians City Connect uniform at CLEGuardians.com/cityconnect.
Cleveland.com Guardians beat writer Paul Hoynes contributed to this report.
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