Baseball Jersey Styles Through the Decades: A Visual History

Baseball uniforms have changed a lot in material and style, but a few traditions have lasted more than a century.

The early years: wool flannel

Early professional uniforms were made of heavy wool flannel. They were hot, heavy when wet, and prone to shrinking, but wool was what was available and it stood up to the dirt.

The white-at-home, grey-on-the-road tradition dates from this era. Road greys were practical because they hid dirt when teams couldn't wash uniforms between games on long trips. Most big-league teams still follow the pattern today.

Pinstripes, scripts and numbers

Over the first half of the twentieth century, many of baseball's lasting looks took shape. Pinstripes became a signature, most famously for the New York Yankees. Team names in flowing script lettering across the chest became common and are still used by many clubs.

Numbers on the back arrived as well. The Yankees were among the first to wear them full-time, starting in 1929, and they soon became standard across the major leagues.

The 1970s: polyester and pullovers

Synthetic fabrics took over in the 1970s. Polyester double-knit replaced flannel. It was lighter, easier to wash and kept its shape.

Many teams switched to pullover jerseys and elastic waistbands instead of button-fronts and belts. Colour got bolder too. The Houston Astros' striped "tequila sunrise" jerseys are the best-known example of the era's bright, experimental style.

Back to tradition

Through the 1980s and into the 1990s, most teams moved back to button-front jerseys and belted pants, now in lighter synthetic fabrics. Throwback and alternate uniforms became popular.

Since then, lightweight performance fabrics that move sweat away from the skin have become the norm at every level.

What has stayed the same

• Button-front jerseys.
• Light home uniforms and grey or darker road uniforms.
• A team name or city clearly across the chest.
• A number on the back.

These elements make a jersey read as baseball at a glance, whatever else changes.

Borrowing from history

Any era is fair game for a custom design. Pinstripes and a script wordmark give a classic look. Bold stripes and bright colours nod to the 1970s. A clean block-lettered road grey works for almost any team.

Sublimation makes it easy to mix old and new: the design is dyed into a modern performance fabric, so stripes, gradients and detailed lettering cost nothing extra and won't crack or peel. For prices, see the pricing page. Our designers can turn a retro idea into a proof you can review before anything is made.