Orioles City Connect Ranking

We are only a few days removed from the on field debut of the Cincinnati Reds City Connect uniforms that took MLB fandom by storm with their inventive and futuristic look. Naturally, one would assume that would be a tough act for the Baltimore Orioles City Connect uniforms to follow up after, especially since they are using the same black-on-black template. How well do the birds make their statement?

Criteria for Orioles City Connect

Since it’s earliest conception, I consistently evaluate City Connect uniform under the following criteria: 

1. Does it actually connect to the city, as the name implies?

2. Does it look like it belongs to the team they represent?

3. Does it look like it fits the mission of exotic, but not obnoxious?

Orioles City Connect Evaluation

I did not think any other team would possibly get as boring and bland as the Angels, and yet here we are. A uniform so uninspired and so boring must have been intentional sabotage. When it’s all said and done, and I see these hats on TV, that’s what I will think the “B” stands for: boring. The plain lettering of the “Baltimore” on the chest looks like Great Britain from the World Baseball Classic.

The only ounce of effort or imagination that went into this is the mosaic strips on the sleeve. The explanation given by the organization is that the mosaic represents the many neighborhoods in Baltimore. In my honest opinion, I would expect better symbolism out of a 5th grade a art project. This whole uniform looks like it was done the night before it needed to be submitted.

I can’t even say it looks like it belongs to the orioles because there isn’t one splash of orange outside of the Nike logo. No one even thought to make the mosaic different shades or Orange, or to even put any orange in the mosaic at all.

Baltimore had such an easy path for their Orioles City Connect uniform by just using the name Charm City, which was coined in the 1970s. At least put a crab on the uniform somewhere to represent the world-wide reputation of the Chesapeake Bay area. Swinging and missing on this softball pitch is about as eye-rolling as the Angels claiming to have a surfing uniform without any representation of water or a surf board. This uniform misses by a mile, and is by far the worst of the mostly underwhelming 2023 City Connect uniforms.

Ranking

1. Astros 
2. Marlins
3. Rockies
4. Reds
5. Padres
6. Nationals 
7. Brewers 
8. White Sox
9. Red Sox
10. Diamondbacks
11. Braves
12. Rangers
13. Dodgers
14. Mariners 
15. Cubs 
16. Royals 
17. Giants
18. Angels
19. Orioles

Let us know your thoughts on the Orioles City Connect uniforms in the comments below!