The City Connect uniforms are finally coming to Atlanta.
The Braves unveiled their Nike City Connect uniforms, which are a tribute to Hank Aaron, on Monday. The team will be the first of six Major League Baseball teams to debut City Connect uniforms this season. The Braves will wear them on Saturday, April 8 against the Padres. They will also wear the jerseys every Saturday home game for the remainder of the season. The debut comes on the anniversary of Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974.
“The Atlanta Braves are proud to honor Hank Aaron with our City Connect uniforms,” Braves President and CEO Derek Schiller said in a statement. “We are thankful to Nike who collaborated with us on the designs as we recognized the impact that Hank continues to have. on our organization while also celebrating the role of the Braves in our community.”
The jersey is inspired by the iconic 1974 Braves uniform and is reimagined with “The A” emblazoned across the chest. The inside collar features a “715″ graphic in a font reminiscent of the scoreboard lights at Atlanta Stadium (later Atlanta Fulton County Stadium) after Aaron’s record-breaking homer. The design on the sleeves is a nod to Aaron as the home run king. The new ribbing pattern on the peak of the crown mirrors the Presidential Medal of Freedom bestowed upon Aaron by President George W. Bush. Aaron’s motto and number – “Keep Swinging #44″ – appear above the jock tag.
The cap has the classic “A” logo and bears the colors of the 1974 uniform. “Keep Swinging #44″ is embroidered on green fabric under the bill.
City Connect merchandise goes on sale on Saturday at the Braves Clubhouse Store at Truist Park. It will also be available at several other locations such as Nike.com and mlbshop.com. A portion of the proceeds from merchandise purchased at the Braves Clubhouse Store will benefit the Henry Louis Aaron Fund. The fund was established to support Aaron’s lifelong passion to increase minority participation in baseball on and off the field and invests in creating opportunities for diverse entrepreneurs and minority-owned small business.
The City Connect uniforms were launched in 2021 and will reach a total of 20 MLB teams with the addition of the six, including the Braves, this year. The Rangers (April 21), Mariners (May 5), Reds (May 19), Orioles (May 26) and Pirates (June 27) will also have on-field debuts this year.
Launched in 2021, the Nike MLB City Connect program was created to highlight the bond between each team and its city. According to MLB, the uniform series “explores the personality, values and customs that make each community and their residents unique.” Nike and MLB teams partnered to design jerseys.
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