Mar 17, 2019; Clearwater, FL, USA; Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (3) reacts after striking out in the first inning of the spring training game against the New York Yankees at Spectrum Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports Jonathan Dyer
One of the most fun traditions about Spring Training for the Phillies used to be when they wore green jerseys on St. Patrick's Day. You can thank Nike for the elimination of that.
Nike — who became the official uniform providers of Major League Baseball in 2020 — has a rule that limits teams to five total jerseys. They can have four base ones, and a fifth if it's a City Connect. Fittingly, this is called the "4+1 rule." And they've become pretty strict on enforcing what they will ask Fanatics, who produces the uniforms with the Nike licensing, to make.
This led to the elimination of the St. Patrick's Day jerseys in 2023. The green jerseys with a shamrock on the sleeve had been worn on the Irish holiday every year from 1986-2022.
Why doesn’t @Bobcooney1076 care about uniforms? He explained to @TimKellySports and @AntSanPhilly in a new episode of the OnPattison Podcast dropping tomorrow morning 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/cCdiim2uKm
Basically, the 4+1 rule applies not only to the regular season, but to Spring Training as well. The Phillies have four base uniforms — their home pinstripes, road grays, alternate creams and throwback powder blues — plus the polarizing City Connects that they introduced in April of 2024. Essentially, Nike has cut them off at those five.
The 4+1 rule not only led to the demise of the St. Patrick's Day uniforms, but also the red tops. Not only were the red jerseys retired as a regular season alternate after the 2023 season, but the Phillies also stopped wearing them for Spring Training.
So if you're watching today's Minnesota Twins-Phillies game and you don't see the Phillies wearing green or red tops, that's why.
