BOSTON — New York Yankees players recently pitched higher-ups on the team wearing alternate jerseys for the first time in franchise history, a league source briefed on the conversations told The Athletic.
Players suggested the team during occasional road games wear its navy batting practice jerseys, which feature “New York” across the chest in gray letters and numbers with white trim and the Starr Insurance sleeve patch. The players did not propose any changes to the home uniforms or to the regular road jerseys. The Yankees have only two official jerseys: white with blue pinstripes at home and gray on the road.
The batting practice tops look similar to the Yankees’ Nike alternate replicas that are sold on MLB’s website, though another league source said the jerseys have already been approved by Major League Baseball for game use. The jerseys can be found in every player’s locker on the road.
The final arbiter, likely, will be owner Hal Steinbrenner, who has shown some appetite for change in recent years. The Yankees eliminated their nearly 50-year-old ban on facial hair last season. In 2024, the club altered its road jerseys slightly, removing white outlining and sleeve trim. In 2023, the Yankees added their first jersey sponsor with the Starr Insurance logo in a deal that reportedly nets them $25 million a year on average.
The Yankees have never had an official alternate jersey. Every other MLB team has an alternate. The Los Angeles Dodgers recently bucked tradition and added a blue alternate road uniform to their regular gray uniform.
New York is also one of two teams that don’t have City Connect jerseys. The Athletics, who are between homes, are the other. The A’s, who left Oakland after the 2024 season, are playing in Sacramento until their stadium in Las Vegas is completed.
Several players told The Athletic on Tuesday before the Yankees’ 4-0 win at Fenway Park that they were hopeful they would get to wear the alternate jerseys soon, though they weren’t sure whether it would happen. The players spoke on the condition of anonymity because it wasn’t their decision to make.
The Yankees have long been very traditional with their jerseys. They are the only club without names on the back of both their regular home and road jerseys.
They have, however, participated in MLB’s Players Weekend, wearing black uniforms with player-chosen nicknames on the back.