Phillies unveil blue and yellow City Connect jerseys

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Phillies have unveiled their 2024 Nike City Connect jerseys, a week before they're scheduled to wear them on the field for the first time.

The new threads were debuted to a line of waiting fans at the New Era Phillies Team Store at Citizens Bank Park at 10 a.m. on Friday.

That store will be the only spot fans can get their hands on the City Connect jersey, and other City Connect gear, during the initial launch.

The jerseys feature tones of blue with yellow outlining, matching the colors of Philadelphia's flag.

It also features the word ‘Philly’ across the chest. 

Friday's release also included other gear in the same colorway, including hats and other apparel. 

The cap and helmet are midnight blue. The helmet is complete with a matte finish, which the players reportedly requested. The logo on the cap and helmet features the Liberty Bell with two yellow stars and inside, the bell is a midnight blue city skyline and a light blue sky.

The jersey has a gradient effect with colors going from light blue to midnight blue. 

The word "PHILLY" has been placed on the front written in a custom-made font Nike created specifically for the Phillies. 

Inside the letters are subtle markings meant to represent the cracks in the Liberty Bell. There are 13 of them to represent the 13 original colonies.

The names and letters on the back of the jersey are yellow, the pants are midnight blue with yellow piping and the socks feature a city skyline with the same light blue to midnight blue gradation similar to the jersey. 

Special details on the jerseys include a "City of Brotherly Love" LOVE patch on the right sleeve, "Love" written under the brim of the cap and the design on the sweatband is the filigree from the Liberty Bell.

Phillies fans are also invited to a free block party on April 5, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Citizens Bank Way. Those festivities will lead into the team’s Friday night matchup with the Nationals in D.C. 

The Phillies revealed one year ago, the team's executives invited Bryce Harper, "the face of the franchise," to preview the Nike City Connect uniforms they would wear in 2024.

"Harper looked at the cap and jersey in executive vice president Dave Buck’s office at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla. He said nothing at first. His silence lasted for only a few seconds, but it felt like forever to everybody else in the room," an article posted by the Phillies recalled. "They’re dope," Harper said.

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Harper later addressed the pause in his initial reaction. 

"When I first saw them, I definitely didn’t think that was the vibe they were going to go with," Harper said. "I never thought blue, yellow, that kind of thing. I never thought those were going to be the colors. I thought red or green for the Phanatic, or even black. Those were on my mind before I saw it. And then I saw it, and then I got the story behind it, and I thought it was cool. It’s way different than anything anybody could have ever imagined, but it comes together so well. The look, the story, everything."

After Nike and the Phillies had several conversations on how to best connect the fits to Philly, the uniform was then made to be inspired by the City of Philadelphia flag, which is light blue and yellow.

The team will wear the new jerseys on the field for the first time the following Friday, April 12 when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates. 

As a part of the on-field debut, the team will be hosting a postgame party at Pass and Stow with DJ Jazzy Jeff. 

After that, the City Connect jerseys will be worn by the Phillies for every Friday home game during the 2024 season.

The main tagline for the Phillies’ campaign is: "Unapologetically Philly," which Phillies describe as a narrative built around the pride and uniqueness of the city. 

"You get us or you don’t. We’re bold, we’re loud, we’re lovable. We take care of each other. We never shy away from a challenge. We’re unapologetically Philly,"  said Michael Harris, Phillies Vice President of Marketing and New Media.