BALTIMORE -- Before the Orioles' City Connect 2.0 uniforms were released on Thursday, some of the team's players were given an advance look at the new threads. They donned the set for a photoshoot and had a chance to get acclimated with the unis they'll be wearing sporadically at home throughout the year.
There was an overwhelming consensus among those in Baltimore's clubhouse -- they're big fans of the Camden Yards-inspired uniforms.
"I think they rock. They’re fantastic," first baseman Pete Alonso said before the Orioles debuted the unis in their series opener vs. the Giants on Friday night. "I think they’re really exciting and a huge ode to Camden, and I think they did a great job of just putting together a great looking uniform."
It's a bit of a new look in Baltimore, as the O's uniforms have traditionally featured orange, black, white and/or gray. The City Connect 2.0 jerseys are predominantly a cream color -- as are the pants -- with accents of orange and dark green, which is a shade featured throughout Camden Yards via its seats, walls and structure.
"It’s just a phenomenal colorway, really good palette," catcher Adley Rutschman said. "Just the accents to the stuff, the stadium, the green, the patch on the sleeve. I think it’s constructed very creatively."
Utility man Blaze Alexander hasn't been in Baltimore long, as the 26-year-old is playing his first season for the O's. He's still getting acclimated to playing his home games at Camden Yards, while also learning about the passion the fans in the city have for the team.
But Alexander is a Cape Coral, Fla., native whose travel baseball team when he was 10 years old had uniforms inspired by the University of Miami. So he's all for the green and orange, which he used to associate with the Hurricanes.
"I’m a fan of it, I like it," Alexander said. "If you really pay attention to the small things, the little details, kind of gives a nod to the ballpark here, the whole City of Baltimore. I think they’re one of the best ones out there."
Alexander was alluding to various components of the City Connect unis with that comment. The brick pattern on the trim is designed to look similar to the historic warehouse at Camden Yards.
The home run patch on one sleeve is identical to the plaques placed on Eutaw Street for home runs that land there. The jocktag is a logo of the historic, 19th-century clock that sits atop the center-field videoboard.
"I especially love the detailing of the brick," Alonso said. "Fantastic, very well done."
The new dark green color has presented only one potential issue for some players.
"I don’t have any shoes or anything to match them," outfielder Dylan Beavers said with a smile. "But I’m working on it."
Camden Yards has long been considered among the best looking ballparks in MLB. The sights there are as impressive now as they were when it opened in 1992, especially after the significant upgrades and renovations it underwent this past offseason.
It only made sense for the Orioles to honor the place they tout as "The Ballpark That Forever Changed Baseball" when they had an opportunity to do so via the City Connect initiative.
"I just think it has so much character," Rutschman said of Camden Yards. "I think every time you see the warehouse, and then you go to other stadiums, there’s nothing quite like it. I think everyone in this locker room feels very fortunate to be playing here and be part of such a great history and play at a great ballpark."