Red Sox reveal 2023 uniform change

The Red Sox have one of the most iconic uniforms in sports. They’ve remained relatively unchanged dating as far back as the 1930s. Alternate uniforms added since then have been based on the primary look with the exception of the City Connect jerseys in 2021.

However, a big change is coming to the Red Sox uniforms in 2023. Not in terms of a redesign or alternate – but advertising.

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The latest MLB collective bargaining agreement included a provision that allows MLB teams to sell advertising space on their uniforms beginning this season. The Red Sox will be taking advantage of that, having signed a 10-year contract with Springfield-based insurance company MassMutual back in July. MassMutual will reportedly pay the Red Sox $17 million dollars a year over the course of that contract.

On Wednesday at an event formally announcing the partnership, the Red Sox offered the first look at what the patches will look like on the team’s uniforms. The patch is a rectangle on the right sleeve. On the majority of the uniforms, the patch is blue with white letters. On the blue alternates though, it’s white with blue letters.

In addition to the jersey patches, MassMutual will also get a new 80-foot sign above the center field scoreboard at Fenway Park. That will go where the John Hancock sign used to be, before being removed at the end of that partnership at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

The Red Sox aren’t the only team that will have ads on its jerseys this season. The San Diego Padres were the first team to read a uniform ad deal, announcing a partnership with Motorola back in the spring.

These ads won’t necessarily end with the jerseys either. The new CBA allows the league itself to sell ad space on batting helmets. That option began with the 2022 postseason, although it has yet to be implemented.

Major League Baseball is now the third of the four major North American pro sports leagues to adopt uniform adverting. The NBA began doing so in 2016, and the NHL followed last year. The NFL remains the lone holdout.

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.