Nationals fans will be tickled pink at the chance to get their hands on this new uniform. Yesterday, the Washington Nationals unveiled their Nike City Connect uniform, the first of seven new uniforms to be released by Nike during the 2022 season as part of their City Connect series.
Blooming cherry blossoms, a symbol of spring’s arrival for the DMV, is the major motif for this uniform. Just like how the start of the MLB season symbolically marks the beginning of spring, this uniform and it’s cherry blossom imagery is the perfect introduction to this year’s new slate of City Connect uniforms.
This uniform will be a fresh new look for the Nationals as it features an anthracite base with grey cherry blossom petals threaded throughout the jersey. Petal pink and ivory accent the base color and make up the lettering across the chest and the number on the back of the jersey.
“Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms represent hope and new beginnings, making them the perfect symbol of this Nationals team,” said Nationals managing principal owner Mark D. Lerner. “We’re excited to unveil these beautiful uniforms as the embodiment of our historic organization’s hopeful future.”
The “WSH” lettering on the front of the jersey “echoes [Washington, D.C.’s] chiseled monuments and takes inspiration from the iconic W of the 1924 World Series Champion, Washington Senators,” according to a release on the Nationals team website. “This uniform weaves a powerful connection between a team and the region it represents.”
The District of Columbia flag is also featured in two different places on the uniform, as a patch on the left sleeve of the jersey and as the main design across the uniform’s socks. The flag consists of three stars and two horizontal bars and is based on the Washington family’s coat of arms. However, the flag’s appearance on the uniform doesn’t only pay homage to America’s first president, but to every Washington, D.C. citizen throughout America’s history.
Throughout the 2021 season, Nike released seven new uniforms as part of their new MLB City Connect series. The goal of this project by Nike was to create uniform designs that “explore a franchise’s connection to its city and its fanbase… [while also] balancing that sanctity and ingenuity in a club’s identity.” The seven participating clubs last year were the Cubs, D-backs, Dodgers, Giants, Marlins, Red Sox, and White Sox. Seven more teams will join the City Connect series this season, starting with the Nationals on April 9 and April 10, the weekend games of their opening home series.
Below is the full schedule of when each newly participating team will debut its 2022 City Connect uniform:
Washington Nationals: April 9
Houston Astros: April 20
Kansas City Royals: April 30
Colorado Rockies: June 4
Los Angeles Angels: June 11
Milwaukee Brewers: June 24
San Diego Padres: July 8
