
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
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jussie Smollett to speak in Netflix documentary about hate crime hoax
Jussie Smollett's alleged hate crime hoax is the subject of an upcoming Netflix documentary. The streamer announced Tuesday that 'The Truth About Jussie Smollett?' will be released on the platform Aug. 22, according to Deadline. Producers of the true-crime hits 'Tinder Swindler,' 'Trainwreck' and 'Don't F**k with Cats' are behind the 90-minute project, comprised of interviews with police officials, lawyers, journalists and Smollett himself. The film centers on the yearslong legal saga launched by Chicago investigators, who determined the 'Empire' actor staged a 2019 hate crime attack as a 'publicity stunt' to advance his career. The documentary has been described as the 'shocking true story of an allegedly fake story that some now say might just be a true story.' In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, director Gagan Rehill said the film 'is a thrilling ride, and we were lucky enough to have access to the key players.' Smollett claimed in January 2019 that unknown assailants attacked him on a Chicago street, punching him in the face, pouring a chemical substance on him and putting a noose around his neck while yelling racial and homophobic slurs. Two brothers associated with Smollett, Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo, later confessed to having been involved in a scheme orchestrated by the openly gay actor to make it look as though he'd been accosted by Trump-supporting extremists. The 43-year-old NAACP Image Award winner was arrested and later found guilty on a handful of charges related to the incident. He was sentenced to 150 days in jail in 2022, but was released after six days pending an appeal. His conviction was overturned last November as part of a plea deal with prosecutors in exchange for community service and the forfeiture of his $10,000 bond. Smollett, who has always denied any wrongdoing, also agreed to donate at least $50,000 to Chicago's Building Better Futures Center for the Arts organization to resolve the city's lawsuit against him. _____
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rafael Devers starts at first base and helps Giants beat Braves 9-0 to snap 6-game skid
ATLANTA (AP) — Rafael Devers was error free in his first career start at first base and added two hits and an RBI as the San Francisco Giants snapped a season-worst six-game skid with a 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night. Devers was traded from Boston to the Giants in June after his relationship with management deteriorated less than two years into a 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed in 2023. The Red Sox signed Gold Glove third baseman Alex Bregman during spring training and asked Devers to move to designated hitter. He balked before agreeing, but when Boston first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury, he was approached about playing the position and he declined. San Francisco starter Landen Roupp (7-6) gave up four hits and a walk with six strikeouts in five scoreless innings. The Giants have won five of Roupp's last six starts. Casey Schmitt hit a solo homer off Davis Daniel (0-1) to highlight San Francisco's four-run second inning. Devers doubled to lead off the fifth and scored on a single by Willy Adames to make it 5-0. Devers added an RBI single before Wilmer Flores hit a three-run home run in the seventh. Matt Olson had three hits and Michael Harris II added two for the Braves. Sean Hjelle and Joey Lucchesi each pitched an inning before Carson Seymour worked the eighth and ninth and. Four Giants pitchers combined for 14 strikeouts. Key moment Adames drew a leadoff walk in the second and Chapman followed with an RBI triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Flores. After Schmitt's homer, Bailey doubled and later scored on a sac fly by Heliot Ramos to give the Giants a 4-0 lead. Key stat Giants manager Bob Melvin has 1,650 career wins, tied with Mike Scioscia for 20th on MLB's all-time list. Buck Showalter is 19th with 1,726 wins. Up next San Francisco RHP Justin Verlander (0-8, 4.99 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Wednesday against Atlanta RHP Spencer Strider (4-7, 3.59) . ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ben Rice hits tiebreaking home run in ninth inning, Yankees beat Blue Jays 5-4
TORONTO (AP) — Ben Rice hit a tiebreaking home run in the ninth inning, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger also homered and the New York Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 on Tuesday. Rice connected off Blue Jays closer Jeff Hoffman (6-3) for his 15th home run as the Yankees snapped a five-game losing streak against Toronto. Ian Hamilton (2-1) got one out for the win and Devin Williams finished for his 15th save in 16 chances. Addison Barger had two hits and George Springer reached base four times but Toronto's franchise-record home winning streak ended at 11 games. New York led 4-2 before a throwing error by Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe opened the door to a game-tying rally in the sixth. The error was Volpe's 13th, tying him for most in the majors. It was his second error in two games. Pinch hitter Myles Straw reached on Volpe's error and scored when pinch hitter Davis Schneider doubled off left-hander Tim Hill. Jonathan Loáisiga came on to face George Springer, who drove in Schneider with a game-tying single. Making his second career start, Yankees right-hander Cam Schlittler allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked three and struck out three. Toronto's Max Scherzer allowed four runs and five hits in five innings. New York jumped out to an early lead when Chisholm hit a three-run homer off Scherzer in the first, his 18th. Barger hit a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the first, but Bellinger's one-out blast in the fifth, his 18th, made it 4-1. Key moment Rice hit a 389-foot homer on the first pitch he saw from Hoffman. Key stat Schlittler's fastest pitch of the game was clocked at 99.5 mph, one of four he threw above 99 mph. Up next Yankees LHP Max Fried (11-3, 2.43 ERA) is expected to start against Blue Jays RHP Chris Bassitt (10-4, 3.89) in Wednesday's series finale. ___ AP MLB: