Red Sox unveil new Boston Marathon-themed alternate uniform

There might not be a Boston Marathon this year, but that doesn't mean the Red Sox won't be in the Boston Marathon spirit. In addition to playing their usual 11 a.m. game, the team will wear new alternate uniforms throughout the weekend that pay tribute to the Marathon and the city itself.

The new 'Nike City Connect' uniforms were unveiled on social media on Tuesday morning. They'll be worn the Saturday and Sunday the 17th and 18th, leading up to what would have been Marathon Monday. For the Monday game, the Red Sox will wear their 'Boston' script throwbacks, which they've been doing since the attack in 2013.

How the older generation of Boston's baseball fans will handle a Red Sox jersey without any red on it remains to be seen, but these colors are hardly random. They represent the colors of the City of Boston flag, as well as the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the Marathon.

Beyond the colors, the connections continue. The font of 'Boston' on the front, as well as the font of the numbers on the back, are similar to the two fonts seen on the Marathon's finish line. Speaking of the back of the jersey, it doesn't have the player's name - much like the traditional Red Sox home jerseys. The Sox are one of the few teams left in baseball to not have the name on the back of their home jerseys.

The final noticeable element is the patch on the left sleeve. It reads '617' and is designed to look like a runner's bib.

It's not easy to create a new look for a team whose uniform has gone mostly unchanged for the past few decades. However, it appears Nike did well here, with the jersey getting a largely positive reaction on social media. It's a welcomed change, after Nike's Celtics alternates have gotten mostly negative feedback for the past few years.

It's not just the Red Sox getting the new look. Major League Baseball tweeted out Boston is one of seven markets getting the new city-based jerseys. Will any of them top the Red Sox?

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Alex Barth is a writer and digital producer for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Thoughts? Comments? Questions? Looking for a podcast guest? Let him know on Twitter @RealAlexBarth or via email at abarth@985TheSportsHub.com.