MILWAUKEE -- Technically, they are called “City Connect” uniforms.
But it appears the Brewers are tipping their caps to the entire state of Wisconsin with their latest onfield look.
Leaked images purportedly showing the Brewers’ new alternate uniforms are making the rounds on social media, and it’s a bold departure from the subdued baby blue “Brew Crew” City Connects that dropped in 2022. Most notable is that the script on the chest does not reference the city of Milwaukee or the name of the team, but instead says “Wisco.”
A Brewers spokesperson said the club would not confirm the authenticity of the leak and would have no further comment. But the timing seems right, since MLB’s agreement with uniform manufacturer Nike allows teams to debut a new look every three years.
“This isn’t just Milwaukee’s team,” manager Pat Murphy said on Opening Day. “This is the state’s team. They see the way those guys go about it, and I think it’s a cool thing to be part of. I feel great about that.”
While the 2022 City Connects were a tribute to the People’s Flag of Milwaukee and featured a cap with the city’s area code -- 414 -- hidden within the letters MKE, what appears to be the new iteration is a nod to a state with two Great Lakes on its borders. With that in mind, it makes sense that the base color is blue.
For a splash of color trimming the lettering and numbers, there are oranges, yellows and blues reminiscent of a watercolor sunset on a summer night.
The font of “Wisco” is similar to the look of “Brewers” as appeared on the uniforms of the American Association Milwaukee Brewers, who played at Borchert Field in the first half of the 20th century -- sometimes with a young Bob Uecker sneaking through a gap in the fence during the late innings. And the leaked photos show an inside neck graphic that declares, “Forward,” which is Wisconsin’s state motto.
That’s all we get for now. If other City Connects are a guide, including the Brewers’ own 2022 version, the sleeve graphics will hold additional surprises.
For those, we will have to wait.