LAKELAND, Fla. -- Arguably no topic in Detroit sports has better encapsulated the city’s challenge of preserving history while embracing modernization than the Tigers uniform. For more than 30 years, generations of fans, players and team officials have wondered how to balance the history of an American League charter franchise with a game embracing alternate uniforms.
It’s a maneuver as difficult as a Tarik Skubal fastball on the corner. On Thursday, after nearly two years of study and input from fans and players, the Tigers made their pitch, unveiling navy blue and orange alternate jerseys to be worn at select road and home games this season, respectively. They’ll be worn in Spring Training along with the MLB-designed Grapefruit League caps, and will go on sale beginning Friday at the D Shop in Detroit and Lakeland and online this weekend.
The announcement follows 18 months of fan and player input through surveys, focus groups and testing. The feedback revealed the challenge: Fans and players welcomed alternate uniforms, but wanted something that preserved the tradition of the Olde English D and the great history of the club, especially the 1984 World Series champions. The Tigers have been one of just two Major League teams without regular alternate uniforms aside from the City Connect/Motor City jerseys unveiled two years ago. Fans were ready for change, but they wanted it done right.
The results should look familiar, a colorful twist on the lettering and script that have been a critical part of the Tigers’ identity for generations.
“We’re proud to introduce these new uniforms, which have been years in the making,” Ilitch Sports + Entertainment president and CEO Ryan Gustafson said in a statement. “We believe it’s important to ask fans what matters to them, and constantly hear responses centered around getting more creative with merchandise, exploring alternate jerseys, incorporating more elements from uniforms worn by the 1984 team, and steering into the color orange.
“Our creative team developed hundreds of concepts that were debated by colleagues in the front office, fans in focus groups, and players in the clubhouse. What you see today is a result of nearly everyone being drawn to the alignment between our existing uniforms and new alternates, featuring the iconic Olde English ‘D’ and script Detroit, while bringing navy and orange to the forefront. These uniforms are thoroughly rooted in our tradition -- fresh takes on Detroit classics -- pushing us to evolve with authenticity in mind, just like our city has for centuries.”
The Olde English D, an iconic part of the Tigers’ home white jerseys, takes a similar perch and navy color on the chest of the new orange alternates for select home games. The script Detroit, part of the road gray jersey since the 1990s, will go orange with white trim to adorn the chest of the new navy blue road alternates.
Both jerseys will feature elements from the 1984 Tigers, from the three-color striping on the end of the sleeves and the V-necks to a new circular Detroit Tigers patch reminiscent of the team Tiger logo from 1961 to 1993. The striping will also adorn the accompanying white and gray pants.
To top off the look, the alternate caps will feature the Olde English D in orange with an orange bill, similar to a style worn in the 1990s. Those will go with the alternate jerseys once the regular season begins and will go on sale along with the jerseys.
The orange alternate jerseys will be part of the home rotation with the Motor City jerseys that will serve as the City Connect jerseys for a third season.