Ranking the MLB Uniforms

30.) Miami Marlins

I honestly prefer their old teal and black uniform that they wore when they were winning World Series while doing firesales. This new uniform is just bad. Mixing Orange and Green sounded nice (I mean, the Dolphins do it), but adding yellow and black just make it a complete mess.


29.) San Diego Padres

Just a boring imitation of better unforms, with nothing special at all. The font is cursive on one uniform and block-letter on the other, which is a strange mix. The camo-uniform has really outwork its welcome to me, and the 'SD' stylized crest is just trying to copy the umpteen other teams who have done it. At least they stopped using that sand colored one.


28.) Atlanta Braves

Just like the team was during the early 2000's, the uniform is just so boring. The gray uniforms look dull for a lot of teams, but especially so with Atlanta, who's deep red and blue don't pop at all. I also am docking them major points for switching to radial arches letters instead of vertical arched letters on the back (look it up if you don't understand what that means).


27.) Cleveland Indians

The Indians combine a lot of the elements that made the Padres and Braves low ranking. They have the boring, almost identically colored, look of the Braves. They have the mix of cursive and block letters with home and away uniforms. And they lose a lot of points for still using the Chief Wahoo, although to their credit they have definitely lessened its use over the past few years.


26.) Arizona Diamondbacks

When they unveiled their current uniform back in 2007, it seemed like a huge ripoff of the Astros, with the same color scheme. Now their alone with the colors, but it always worked better with Houston's cursive than the weird D'Back font. Also, trying to have 'Arizona' in that font gives a look that is way too busy. I do like that they kept the old 'A' logo for their alternate.


25.) Tampa Bay Rays

It's a more notable look over their previous green jersey, but that is probably more to do with their success with this uniform and long history of no success with the old one. My main problem with the Rays look is the way the "Rays" is put, with a clean, way too corporate looking feel. I may be being overly harsh, but what really kills me is the little star in the 'R' in the road and alternates.


24.) Texas Rangers

The Rangers could use some pinstripes. Jersey's that just have the name, with no stylized writing, just look to plain at times. The Rangers jersey's definitely have that effect. I believe the Rangers are the only team that has the Location on both jerseys and not use the Nickname at least once. I would like to see 'Rangers' on the home one, as it would take some more space. That Blue alternate, which they use a lot, is also a little jarring.


23.) Milwaukee Brewers

Way too many options, especially when the best is the throwback that they probably won't go back to. I like the color scheme, but I would love to have them put 'Milwaukee' in cursive on the road uniform. That color scheme is just a little boring, and I think they use too much blue and too little yellow, although judging by that ugly yellow alt, maybe using more yellow would be a bad idea.


22.) Chicago White Sox

Way too much black for a team called the "White Sox". The pinstripes is unnecessary, as it seems like they're trying too hard to match the Cubs pinstripes. I do like the SoX logo used on the home and alternate black uni, but then the cursive seems out of place. It's like they tried to have the home look of an old fashoined team and road look of a modern one. I do like the 70's red S-O-X throwback.


21.) New York Mets

Kill those blue jerseys. Their old black alternates were far better and less jarring. That blue just makes all the writing on the jersey unreadable. The other jerseys are really nice. They're one of just a few teams to use pinstripes and not a crest, but actually have writing. Also, love the stylized corners of the letters in 'New York'. If they just got rid of those alternates they use a lot, it would be so much better.


20.) Houston Astros

The Astros changed uniforms when they changed leagues and owners, and I don't know if it is an improvement. The color scheme is nice, pretty unique with that dark orange and dark blue, but I have two problems with the uniforms. First, the clunky wording, and secondly, the simple 'H' over a Star logo. Maybe it will grow on me, but for now I'm not a huge fan. I do really like that burnt orange alternate, though.


19.) Colorado Rockies

I want to like the Rockies' uniforms. I like the idea of purple being a trim color, but they've removed the purple over the years, especially for their home uniform. That purple strip on the buttons looks so sharp on the road uniform, but there's nothing purple at all with the home uniform. The purple alternate might be a little too much as well. That road uniform is just so good it makes up for it though.


18.) Minnesota Twins

Seeing that 'Minnesota' in cursive is why I think the Brewers should do the same thing with Milwaukee. They're one of the few teams to have uni numbers on the front and not make it look too crowded. Love that old cream alternate (I love almost all cream alternates floating around). My issue mainly is with that odd quasi-cursive stylized 'Twins' on their home and blue alternate uniform.


17.) Toronto Blue Jays

I love a lot of this uniform, but the one thing I don't like is the primary reason they look like what they do right now: that stylized way of writing BLUE JAYS. I realize that how it looked in their back-to-back title years, but it just looks amateurish. I do love the logo appearing on the front of the jersey, a far better alternative than putting a number. Those road uniforms look sharp, one of the few teams in MLB where I actually prefer the road uniform.


16.) Washington Nationals

Sharp colors, nice logo, there's a lot to like about the Nationals. They did try to go old school with using just the logo for hte home uni, but at least they didn't go pinstripes. I also love how they used the 'W' logo in the 'Washington' in teh road uniform (another sharp looking road uniform). Also really like the red border running down the buttons on the home uniform. The logo numbers aren't great on the home and alternate red uniform, and that Red White and Blue thing is terrible, but the pros outweigh the cons.


15.) Los Angeles Angels

Sharp looking team, all in all (they all are in this Top-16). I really have no quibbles other than that third uniform. Red is just not a good color to use for a uniform background, especially when the lettering is all in red as well. That red-over-red ruins what is a Top-10 level home and road set.


14.) Seattle Mariners

Great color scheme with the teal and dark blue. Great logo, consistent font for both home and road. The home uniform looks really sharp with the thin stripe on the buttons, and just enough use of green trim to make the words pop even more. I actually really like the team alternate, something completely unique in modern NFL professional sports. I wish they would use it more.


13.) Boston Red Sox

Might seem low, but this ranking is what you get when you combine a Top-5 home uniform, with a bottom-10 road uniform, with two middling alternates. The road uniform is way too simplistic and dull. No use of Red at all. It was an interesting decision to return to their roots with that uniform, but for me it just doesn't work. The home one makes up for it though, as it is as shark as any home uniform. Splitting 'Red' and 'Sox' to either side of the buttons was a great decision, making it seem full and not clunky at the same time. Just awesome.


12.) Los Angeles Dodgers

Another seemingly classic uniform that I don't like as much as most. Now, it is a great uniform, with good use of cursive, sharp blue colors, and a timeless look, but I have to issues. The first is numbers on the front of the uniform, which I've never really liked in baseball, and then the fact the numbers are red. It's just a jarring, nonsensical contrast. It's been like that forever, so I can't blame modern uniform issues screwing it up, but if that was blue it would be close to Top-5.


11.) Chicago Cubs

It goes up three or four spots because of the Bear logo for the alternate, and the bear logo shoulderpatch on the home and road uniform. Other than the Yankees, pinstripes never look better as well, complimenting a beautifully simplistic uniform. I don't love the CHICAGO in the road uniform, but the bear logo is too good.


10.) San Francisco Giants

It's a great uniform that honestly could look better. They have a great color scheme (as seen by Baltimore, which is still to come), and they make good use of it. They don't use the orange alternate too much anymore (which is a good thing), in lieu of using the old school SF-crest uniform, which is awesome. The home uniform is just stunning, a timeless classic that will never look bad. Even the road, the thin 'San Francisco' just looks really good. Wish there was more orange, though.


9.) Cincinnati Reds

The best non-block solid-color alternate elevates the Reds a bit. They realized that when you have a solid-color background having a lot of writing is always a challenge, so they use just the logo and number, which works really well. Elevating the number to the chest also looks really nice on the home uniform. The road uniform has great lettering, and more than enough red to overcome the dull gray.


8.) Kansas City Royals

The light-blue solid color gives the Reds' one a run for its money (and makes up for the less-used solid blue), but they have such a great combination of home and road uniforms. I love uniforms that have just two colors, the primary color and white. Many of the top-8 will have that (and #'s 10 and 9 did as well), and few look as good as the Royal home uniform. The 'Royals' is so clean. 'Kansas City' is more problematic on the road one, but that shoulder logo is great.


7.) Detroit Tigers

Might be the best home uniform in MLB outside of my Top-2 teams. So simple, so effective. Love the cap as well (haven't mentioned many caps because they rarely change my opinion). The white logo on the hat matching the reverse on the chest works well. The piping on the buttons is great. The difference between home and road may be larger here than anywhere else, but it works. The orange trim of the lettering makes it pop off the gray. Great look.


6.) Baltimore Orioles

That solid-black alternate may be my favorite alternate uniform in use. They use it a lot as well. So sharp, so good, with the orange 'Orioles' just jumping off the black background. The orange on white has essentially the same impact. Love the use of the bird logo as a shoulderpatch for the home and road unis as well. I also love the white panel on the cap for the home and alternate uniform. Overall, a perfect match of old-school and new-school uniform elements.


5.) Philadelphia Philles

They should ditch the pinstripes for that alternate cream look, which is incredible sharp as a retro look. Not that the pinstripes look bad, because they don't. Love the stars as the dots for the 'i's', and the deep red making the road uniform look shark and not dull. I just can't get enough of that cream alternate, though. Just an incredible old-school look.


4.) Pittsburgh Pirates

One of the best parts of the Pirates' revival last year was people getting to appreciate their amazing uniform sets. Every iteration looks shark. The yellow makes the lettering absolutely pop off the road uniform. The home uniform is simple and classy in its simplicity. That solid-black alternate is about as good as the Orioles black-alternate. Black and Yellow work in Pittsburgh, and they really work here. The black and yellow is a theme that pervades in every uniform so well.


3.) Oakland Athletics

Somehow, the yellow trim doesn't work as well here for the road uniform, but good lord are their other three uniforms awesome. The home look is the best (apart from the Top-2). The solid-green is an incredible sharp look, contrasting perfectly with the yellow lettering. Even the all-yellow alternate is sharp, with a dark yellow. All in all, green and yellow is a great mix of colors. The elephant logo also appears a few times, which adds to any uniform. Even the consistent use of cursive is nice. There are just no mistakes with this uniform.


2.) St. Louis Cardinals

These top two were incredibly close. No team has better lettering, with the two ebroidered Cardinals adornng the team name and the bat. It's a complicated piece of art, but looks so nice and fits so perfectly across the chest of the uniform. That 'St. Louis' alternate is beautiful, keeping the elements that make the Cardinals uniform unique but add a great retro mix to it. Both the red and black caps work perfect with either uniform. I love how the road uniform removes the blue and goes with just red, allowing for it to pop off the gray. Just an amazing job.


1.) New York Yankees

Honeslty, who else. It may be a boring choice, but that home uniform is just special. So simple, so elegant, pintsripes work here when they don't almost anywhere else. The cap contrast works here just as it works in Detroit. The road uniform avoids the idea of putting uniform numbers on the front, leaving it simple but elegant. Love the little stripe near the end of the sleeve on the road uniform. They just look so damn professional, so good in both forms. And their aversion to an alternate has to be credited.

Ranking the NHL Unforms

30.) Tampa Bay Lightning

I actually thought the old Lightning uniform, the jersey they won their cup in, was quite good. The new one has so many problems. First, the cartoonish outline of the Bolt logo. Then the randomly put 'Tampa Bay' above the logo on the road jersey (very, very few hockey jerseys have enough space to get away with that), then that terrible nickname of a nickname alternate jersey. Just a complete mess trying to play off the color scheme of the Maple Leafs.


29.) Nashville Predators

Another team's jersey ruined by a cartoonish logo. This creature is truly reprehensible, with ridiculously large teeth obscuring what could be a menacing look. The yellow is also just an ugly color at that level on the home uniform. The road uniform looks nice (I should mention hockey uniforms by and large are very good, so these rankings were hard), but the yellow is so overpoweringly bad.


28.) Dallas Stars

Is it me or is the green on the home uniform not the same green on the road uniform? If so, that is pretty inexcusable, especially for a team trying to make a new identity after finally shedding the North Stars color scheme. Too many logo versions are present, with a different main logo, shoulder patch and hip patch. The actual logo is quite bad, a mess that is hard to read. It's amazing how many of the new jerseys are in the bottom of this list.


27.) Florida Panthers

Another example of the colors not matching, with a lighter, brighter red on the home uniform versus the road whites. The actual logo is a little boring, no? Also, I just hate those stupid half-stripes on the sleeves of both uniforms, and the different forms of stripes on the socks. I just think there's too many differences between home and road, all nonsensical and neither versions are all that great.


26.) Phoenix Coyotes

The road uniform looks quite nice, with the brown color showing better as a secondary color than the primary one. The home uniform has way too much of that brown, and it takes over the uniform, making the logo blend into the background too much. Also, I have no idea why they invented a new logo for the alternate black jersey, as that logo is not apparent anywhere else.


25.) Carolina Hurricanes

The Hurricanes slightly changed their uniform for this season, removing a lot of stripes and extra fittings that are apparent on most hockey uniforms, and going with a more simple look. This was a case, for me, of subtraction by subtraction. The home uniform has too little black (which was not the case in the earlier version), while the stripe scheme of the road uniform is a little strange, with that large red stripe and two awfully thin black ones.


24.) Colorado Avalanche

The Avalanche embraced the Reebok designs added five years ago well for both uniforms. The diagonal chest stripes match parallel with the sides of the 'A' logo, which is nice. The Logo itself has aged really nicely over the years, as has the consistent use of the Abominable Snowman footprint. What hurts is the maroon color that is a tad ugly, and the pathetic ripoff of the Rangers with their alternate uniform.


23.) Columbus Blue Jackets

The Blue Jackets new logo is definitely cleaner than their old one, and has a innovative use of the unique shape and look of the Ohio state flag, but overall there is too much of an over red-white-and-blue appeal to the uniform. I have to remark on their third uniform. The circular logo has slowly pervaded around the league in the last few years, but this is definitely the strangest. Not only did the Blue Jackets invent a logo for it, but an entirely new color scheme to boot, which is definitely an interesting decision.


22.) Washington Capitals

The red-white-and-blue works a lot better for the Capitals, obviously, but I think the jerseys are a little too busy here, with sleeve stripes and lines, with a busy logo that takes up too much space. The alternate jersey is even busier with the added stars, but at least presents the 'Capitals' in an easier to read way. The red-white-and-blue is timeless look, and they could shoot up the charts by just cleaning it up a bit.


21.) Calgary Flames

You look at those three jerseys, and what immediately stands out is how much better their retro Alternate jersey is to the current home jersey. The Alternate is the actual reverse image of the road jersey (red where there was white, and vice versa). Also, the Canadian Flag patch is a little much, right? We know you're in Canada. Other than that, the logo is a classic, but I wish they ditch the black-filled home jersey for that beautiful alternate.


20.) Ottawa Senators

I love the symmetry and cleanliness of the hone and road jerseys. No extra stripes, no pointless colors, just a deep base, black sleeves, and a large Senator. But that logo contains the problem. It's a little too AHL-ish and cartoonish. Their earlier, less menacing, more 2D Senator was better. Still, at least they have the same Senator on home and away now (for a while they used the 2D at home and the current 3D for away). The third jersey, despite looking really retro, is actually a new, fan-created, design, which is really nice.


19.) Winnipeg Jets

The Jets jersey is unique, being the only one in the NHL to use the circular crest logo for home and away, and it is the simplest, but among the most effective, of those crests. The Jet over the Maple Leaf, is a simple, but effective logo. My only real issue with the uniform is the strange abundance of light blue trim, when that color is not present in the logo or wording. It's everywhere on both jerseys. Not necessarily a bad color, but a strange addition when the logo itself has three strong colors.


18.) Los Angeles Kings

The Black-and-White would have been nicer if the Raiders were still in L.A. (of course, which could happen by 2015), but it is a solid look that is somehow unique in the NHL. I'm fine with them removing almost all of the purple from their jerseys, differentiating themselves from the Sacramento Kings. The shield logo is also really nice. It's a pretty unique jersey, though has nothing special enough to make it get higher.


17.) Pittsburgh Penguins

The logo is nice, but the colors are just awful. I realize they're in the business of Pittsburgh Sports and wanted to go black and gold, but they've decided that gold is a different gold than the Steelers and Pirates. When the two older teams in that area wear a certain type of gold, the Penguins should as well. They used to, but when they incorporated the dancing penguin, they decided to go with the softer gold, which I am just against.


16.) Anaheim Ducks

The Ducks went from, quite literally, a cartoon logo, to a really nice one that is aging really well. The soft use of orange on the home and road uniform is really nice, a sharp trim that works really well (granted, it works less well in a more prominent role in the alternate uniform). I love when the logo gets incorporated in the lettering, which they do with the 'D' logo as the 'D' in 'Ducks'. So why is it so relatively low? The use of black. Black is an overused color for a lot of teams, and the Ducks really don't need it.


15.) New York Islanders

They have a Top-10 home and road set, but a Bottom-Everything alternate uniform. That alternate is awful, the most recent in a long line of bad alternate Islanders uniform (see: Gordon the Fisherman). Still, the actual uniforms have returned to their dynastic roots, shelving the darker colors for the classic look. The color scheme is close to identical to Edmonton's, which isn't a good thing to blindly copy, but it works really nice. Love the logo as well.


14.) New York Rangers

The Rangers are the lowest ranked of the Original 6, which goes to show just how good those uniforms are. I'm not really sure why. Honestly, the Top-20 hockey jerseys are better than the other two sports I'm doing. It gets hard here. I guess I'm not a huge fan of the diagonal lettering on the jersey. Also, too many stripes on the road uniform. These are nitpicky issues, but something has to be differentiating factors.


13.) San Jose Sharks

The Sharks previous jersey was almost the same but had more elements. It had shoulder stripes and and bottom stripes. It was glorious, if a little busy. This is too simple, so much so that some critics called it a practice jersey. It is simple, but that simplicity leaves the best parts of the original uniform, the great color scheme and the awesome logo. That logo incorprates the Shark, a hockey item, looks menacing, and is not too busy. Just an awesome logo.


12.) Minnesota Wild

The Wild were the first team to use the circular crest as their main logo, and it looks stunning. I would love to see it on their road jersey (instead of the old, but still quite good, bear logo). The Wild logo is very detailed, but looks good from afar and up close. That circle pops out from the dark red and dark green. The alternate is also stunning. What hurts is that road uniform. They should really either switch the road uniform to the lettering of the alternate or the circle crest of the home jersey. It's a little strange to have three different uniform types.


11.) Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres messed around with that red and black thing, then the Buffa-Slug, and finally just returned to their roots, with the Buffalo and the Swords. And Hey, guess what? It worked really, really well. The colors are unique and pop beautifully. The Circle crest works. The stripes are consistent and contrast well. Just a strong looking team overall.


10.) St. Louis Blues

The Blues get credit for having a great logo, and a good solid color scheme that doesn't go overboard. The Yellow trim pops on either jersey, the shoulder yoke color is nice on both. The design is the same but the colors are different, which are nice. Now, the alternate needlessly tries to go retro, but it still works better than most overt retro attempts. That logo is the real star, though, with the Jazz Note mixing with a puck and stick.


9.) Philadelphia Flyers

The only strange part of the Flyers uniform is the fact that the nameplate is colored white or orange, contrasting with the back of the jersey. It is unique, and doesn't look bad, but it is a strange choice. As for the actual jersey, much like the Blues, it's the exact same design but with different colors. The logo is a timeless classic. The color scheme is really unique, and just the large quantity of orange quickly creates a visual identity that works well.


8.) Montreal Canadiens

Just like the four Original Six teams left on the list, the Canadiens have a great, timeless, iconic logo. The only reason they aren't Top-5 is the blue stripe on the home uniform that goes from sleeve to across the chest to the other sleeve. It's a unique element that doesn't look bad, but it just asks the question, why? Why have a large element like that in the home uniform and not have it on the road one. And the road one looks so much cleaner. Still, hard to fault anything with the logo.


7.) Vancouver Canucks

They would be Top-5 if they took out the 'Vancouver' above the logo on the home and road uniforms. The logo was, and still is, great, and I give them credit for having the white tail on the home uniform and the blue tail on the road one to create more contrast. I love the consistency of the green stripe at the bottom, and that shade of green works so well with the shade of blue they use. Love the shoulder logo, and the pointed font they use for numbers and names. Just a really nice, modern uniform.


6.) Boston Bruins

They lose some points for the third uniform, though they rarely use it anymore. The jersey look is awesome. The color scheme works (interestingly, they would do better in Pittsburgh as the shade of yellow actually matches). Nice stripes, nice contrast, no extra colors. Everything worked really, really well. But so does everything for all the remaining uniforms.


5.) New Jersey Devils

Sure, there is some homerism ranking them this high, but what is there to complain about the uniform. The logo is great, with the Devil and NJ meshing so well. The stripes are large, but simple and effective. The black shoulder stripe is great. The colors are timeless, contrasting perfectly. The Devils have never had a third jersey apart from their extremely infrequently used Christmas Tree throwback, which gains them points in my book. They avoided the temptation to put out a black uniform, staying with Devil Red. It's worked in every form.


4.) Edmonton Oilers

They finally removed themselves from stupid uniforms from their roster, and what remains is such a good look. I love the Oilers circle logo. I love the color scheme, the beautiful orange and blue mix. It works so well, especially on that gorgeous road uniform. The alternate isn't bad, but I could do without it. The bottom and sock stripes are so strong. It helps that they won five Cups in this uniform, but it is a timeless look.


3.) Toronto Maple Leafs

Two colors. That's all there is on the Leafs uniforms. A lot of Blue, and a lot of White. I love that the road uniform is the exact same as the home uniform, but everywhere there was blue now there is white. It is so simple, but so awesome. The logo is great, the lettering is great. The shoulder leaf is intricate and nice. The sock stripes are unique and amazing. Absolutely everything works. My only quibble keeping them from Top-2 status is no Original Six team needs an alternate jersey.


2.) Chicago Blackhawks

The absolute best logo in sports. Sure, people can bring up the native american criticism, but it honors the natives, the warrior aspect of their people. It is an absolutely stunning, intricate work of art. The shoulder logo is really nice as well. The road uniform might be the best uniform in all sports everywhere in the world. The reason it isn't number one is the logo and stripes work about 5% less on the red. The red is so sharp that it doesn't hurt their overall work, but it dampens how glorious the logo is.


1.) Detroit Red Wings

Replace everything I wrote in the Maple Leaf section with 'Red' instead of 'Blue' and it matches the Red Wings. The one difference? The Red Wings have the better logo. The wheel itself is as intricate as the Blackhawk face. Complex, embroidered, it is a piece of art. Another random, but great, part of the Red Wings look is that they use vertical arching for their lettering on the back, as opposed to radial or straight letters that every other team uses. It's the simplest (only one, thick stripe on each), but the most beautiful.