
Forgettable all-star uniforms detract from the specialness of all-star games: Betancourt
The 2025 MLB All-Star game had multiple highlights. A swing off? That's new and exciting. Although, admit it, there was a part of you that wanted Bud Selig to come out and say the game was ending in a tie.
But while that new element stole the show, there was something a little old school that was a widely welcomed sight for those who remember MLB All-Star game uniforms from a more civilized age (i.e. pre-2020). Each player wore their individual team's standard home or away jerseys when taking the field rather than matching one-off all-star uniforms. And as many all-star game scholars noted across social media in response to the change: that's the way it should be when it comes to all-star games.
Advertisement
Kobe vs. Jordan at Madison Square Garden. A-Rod telling Cal Ripken Jr. the Orioles legend is starting his final all-star game at shortstop. These games and the moments that define them are better when the all-stars are wearing the uniforms that made them icons in the first place, and not something less identifiable that almost always comes off as just a way to spruce up jersey and ballcap sales.
Which leads to an even more serious question for those of us who take big-league merchandise seriously: what is the buyability of all-star gear given the small window of relevance? Does an MLB All-Star cap or jersey purchased in July get worn later that September in the home stretch of a playoff run? I don't need statistics to tell me in the chase for a wild card or a division title you're likely grabbing the merchandise that most closely mirrors what your favorite team is wearing on the field during their most important games of the season as opposed to something colored in a shade your team would never use. No one in the Bronx is reaching for anything ice-cream colored in October.
If you're attending an all-star game, that's different.
A wild-colored jersey with 'American' or 'National' (or as was the case at the Derby this year 'AL' and 'NL' in an Atlanta-inspired cursive script that I'll say was pretty slick and a little comic-booky) and a cap with a few extra stars and a patch to signify the year and location of the game are nice keepsakes and the perfect souvenir to say 'I was there.' Ditto for an all-star game that takes place at your local stadium, if you're lucky enough to have one nearby.
This year's MLB festivities treated us to new star-spangled fitted caps and all-star jerseys worn during the Home Run Derby, as has been tradition since the '90s. The derby is a wonderful multi-hour commercial for said merchandise. There are the biggest stars in baseball, wearing slightly different caps and new jerseys that are remodeled each year and never stay the same, giving a slight uniqueness factor for those who care.
Advertisement
Every year I spend those Derby hours pondering. Not over the jerseys per se. You can't convince me those all-star jerseys are purchased with the intent of frequent usage. Although CC Sabathia gushing over James Wood while wearing Wood's 2025 All-Star jersey almost got me to bite as a Washington Nationals fan.
A post shared by Washington Nationals (@nationals)
The all-star caps almost get me every summer. Maybe if Wood wore his during his at bats in the Derby I would have caved, but he didn't, so my Ripken-like streak of not buying all-star gear continues.
The blast radius of enjoyment for these types of caps and jerseys, for me, really feels like all-star weekend itself. I'll wear a Washington Nationals City Connect cap (both of them) until the end of time, but all-star game gear? I just can't do it.
Wearing a 2025 all-star cap in 2026? Never.
Yes, I get it. The intended point is to get the next all-star game cap in 2026. But who is really collecting these things? And that's coming from someone with 25 fitted baseball caps by his office desk. A nice display piece? Sure. An all-star fitted can be that. A hat you're wearing during September call-ups? Unlikely.
That's not to say perfect all-star game gear worth reaching for your wallet doesn't exist. It happened. Once.
Those 1996 San Antonio-themed NBA All-Star game jerseys, the ones with the chili pepper on them that were worn by some of the greatest NBA legends of all time? Jordan. Shaq. Penny. Grant Hill. I'd wear that right now. But I also think pinstripes on NBA uniforms are cool. So maybe I'm just too into the '90s. The NBA then had players wear their own team's uniforms for all-star games from 1997-2002, and since going back to the one-off designs, nothing has stood out like those San Antonio threads.
And while I'm convinced no great Pro Bowl jersey exists, I would without hesitation purchase a Sean Taylor No. 21 Pro Bowl jersey to commemorate his dimensional-rift-causing de-cleating of punter Brian Moorman in 2007, even though those uniforms look like they're from the first Captain America movie. And not the one with Chris Evans. The one you saw on HBO at your grandparents house, with the rubber ears.
Advertisement
What made that jersey special was what Taylor did while wearing it, not the jersey itself. There's also something special about seeing a player in a San Diego Padres uniform celebrate with a teammate in a San Francisco Giants uniform.
But maybe I'm just bitter. Perhaps my refusal to buy into baseball merchandise custom-made for July comes from hurt feelings.
Look at the all-star game optics I had to endure last year.
In the 2024 MLB All-Star game, when Juan Soto got to first base and was greeted by Bryce Harper, the optics were just too much for me. There at first base was (soon to be) about a billion dollars worth of baseball players between the two. A billion dollars that my Nationals didn't have to spend (and yet the bullpen is still pending) after saying goodbye to both stars, illuminated in colors that could best be described as sherbet. That hurt. And not just because of how bright it was.
All love between former teammates Bryce Harper and Juan Soto at the #AllStarGame ❤️ pic.twitter.com/tLLo9AXj6U
— MLB (@MLB) July 17, 2024
I don't think there's any coincidence MLB toned down the colors this year and went back to basics.
But maybe the only thing all future all-star uniforms need to be memorable is a good chili pepper.
The Athletic maintains full editorial independence in all our coverage. When you click or make purchases through our links, we may earn a commission.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
LA Sparks' Cameron Brink nears return after 13-month ACL recovery
NEW YORK (AP) — Cameron Brink can see the light at the end of the tunnel. She's been out for 13 months after tearing the ACL in her left knee in a game at Connecticut in June last season. Now she's been cleared to play again and is eager to get back on the court with her Los Angeles Sparks teammates. 'I feel great. I'm super thankful that the Sparks have let me take my time and really feel great coming back,' Brink said to a few reporters after shootaround Saturday. 'I'm excited to be out there with my teammates.' Brink has been working toward playing in a game. After the Sparks finished their pregame shootaround, Brink went to the Barclays Center practice court and got in another 20-minute workout. 'I've put in a lot of hard work. I feel like what people usually see is me living my life normally, but people don't see the hours and hours that I put in the gym with my trainers, amazing training staff," she said. 'I've been working my (behind) off, so I definitely see the light at the end of the tunnel for sure.' Coach Lynne Roberts said that Brink won't play against the Liberty on Saturday night, but expects the 6-foot-4 forward back soon. Three of their next four games are at home after Saturday. 'It's hard to come in midseason, and then you add the mental aspect that every athlete struggles with being out that long,' Roberts said. Brink's been around the team as much as she could over the past year and also found ways to keep herself busy during the long rehab process, starting a podcast and graduating from Stanford. 'It's really tough mental, waking up every day and watching your team from the sideline cheering everyone on. I love cheering on my teammates, but there comes a point where I want to be out there too,' Brink said. 'So, I'm just really happy to be at that point and just thankful for everyone along the way.' Brink said that it's been tough during the long recovery period. She knows it will take time to get back to where she was before she got injured. Before she got hurt, Brink, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, was averaging 7.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. 'It's a little nerve-wracking for sure., I'm just really going to try to be patient with myself because I'm definitely not where I was last year,' she said. 'It's still a work in progress, but yeah, just thankful for the fans. Really excited to be able to just go out there and do what I love.' ___ AP WNBA:
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Coyote vs. Acme' Finally Reveals a Release Date at Comic-Con
If the long, twist-filled 'Coyote vs. Acme' fight for a release was 'It's a Wonderful Life,' then Ketchup Entertainment would be all the townspeople at the end (79-year-old spoiler) chipping in to make sure George Bailey doesn't go under. That's as far as the analogy goes, though film fans can easily guess who is Mr. Potter in this scenario. Regardless, the townspeople have won the day, and 'Coyote vs. Acme' is indeed on its way — finally — with a theatrical release set for August 28, 2026. To sum things up as quickly as possible: the $70 million live-action/animated movie was one of a few (paging 'Batgirl') that were shelved in 2023 as tax write-offs for Warner Bros. (to the tune of $30 million), even though the movie had tested well. After a fan outcry, the film was put up for sale to other studios… but then it quickly was dead in the water again, when nobody met the price WB wanted. A cast and crew funeral screening was even held for the movie. It was dead. George Bailey was going to jump off the bridge. More from IndieWire How 'Oh, Hi!' Makes Doomscrolling Funny What If 'The Virgin Suicides' Felt More Like a Cursed Object? Try the Feverish 'Honeycomb' for Summer Enter Clarence- eh… 'The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Toons Movie,' which Ketchup distributed, though it was only set for a streaming HBO Max (or Max at the time) release. They then made a deal earlier this year for 'Coyote vs. Acme,' which the film's star Will Forte expressed relief over earlier this year, telling THR, 'I never thought it would happen so it just came out of nowhere and I'm so thrilled,' he said. 'Thank you Ketchup Entertainment, I'm so excited for people to see this movie. I'm gonna promote the crap out of it, just tell me what you want me to do and I'll go, I'll do whatever — go to the top of Mount Everest, I'm there.' So the film's San Diego Comic-Con panel, to say the least, was hotly anticipated. And Ketchup did not disappoint. 'This movie wasn't suppose to come out,' panel moderator Paul Scheer said (via Deadline). 'I heard Warner Bros wouldn't release the film — I've never heard of Warner Bros! This is really an Acme decision and I'm saying that for legal purposes.' The even had 'an Acme lawyer' appear, attempting to halt the film's release. 'These are cease and desist papers from the Acme Corporation. You do not have permission to share information and footage from this anti-Acme film. Please leave the stage,' the performer said, then addressed a cosplaying audience member, 'As a copyrighted costume, sir, please disrobe.' May the other shelved Warner Bros. properties — which also includes another animated film 'Scoob! Holiday Haunt' — one day find such a rebirth. Until then, they await discovery at the Island of Misfit Toys. But that is another analogy for another day. Until then, check out 'Coyote vs. Acme' in theaters August 28, 2026. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
24 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Steelers announce 2025 Hall of Honor class headlined by Ben Roethlisberger
Few NFL franchises can boast the sheer volume of talent over the decades that the Pittsburgh Steelers can. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is filled with former Steelers and the franchise has six Super Bowl championships. The team also has their own Ring of Honor and each year a select few former Steelers legends get their names added. On Saturday, the Steelers announced the three former Steelers who will be a part of the 2025 class. This class is headlined by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. He is joined by center Maurkice Pouncey and outside linebacker Joey Porter. To be considered for the Hall of Honor, a player must be retired for at least three seasons, have spent at least three seasons with the Steelers, and obviously have had a significant impact on the team during their tenure. Other members of the Hall of Honor include Terry Bradshaw, Joe Greene, Franco Harris, Jack Lambert, Jack Ham, Mel Blount, Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, John Stallworth, Rod Woodson, Troy Polamalu, Donnie Shell, Ernie Stautner, Jerome Bettis, and Alan Faneca. According to the team's press release, the Steelers will welcome the 2025 Hall of Honor Class when the team takes on the Miami Dolphins on Monday, Dec. 15. This article originally appeared on Steelers Wire: Steelers announce 2025 Hall of Honor class headlined by Ben Roethlisberger