Logos and uniforms of the Boston Red Sox

The logos and uniforms of the Boston Red Sox have gone through a limited number of changes throughout the history of the team.

Manny Ramirez (left) in 2007 wearing the current primary home uniform, and Dick McAuliffe in 1974 wearing the prior primary home uniform

Uniforms

Reggie Smith (left) in 1969 wearing a primary home uniform without red piping, and La Schelle Tarver in 1986 wearing a road uniform with blue lettering

Home uniforms

The current primary home uniform is white with red piping around the neck and down either side of the front placket and "RED SOX" in red letters, outlined in blue, arched across the chest. This has been in use since 1979, and was previously used from 1933 to 1972, although the piping occasionally disappeared and reappeared. From 1973 to 1978, the Red Sox wore pullovers with the same "RED SOX" template. There are red numbers, but no player name, on the back of the home uniform.

Road uniforms

The Red Sox current uniform and cap logo set has been in use since 1946. While the home uniform has remained virtually the same since then, the road uniform has undergone several minor changes, most notably changing between red and blue lettering on five occasions.

From the introduction of the Red Sox current cap and uniforms in 1946 until 1971, the road uniforms used blue block letters and numbers. With the switch to pullover jerseys in 1972, the lettering was switched to red in the same typeface as the home uniform. The pullovers were dropped in 1979 and the road uniforms once again used blue block letters. However, the red home lettering returned in 1990, along with the home typeface. In 2009, the lettering was switched to blue yet again, but using the home typeface. In 2014, the road uniforms again switched to red in the home uniform font.

Since 1946, the blue and red lettering have each been used three times.

Alternate uniforms

The Red Sox alternate home uniform jersey is red and worn with white pants. The original version of the red jersey was introduced in 2003. "RED SOX" is displayed across the chest in blue lettering outlined in white. Like the regular home uniforms, it does not feature the player's name on the back, with numbers in blue with white trim. Originally, the uniforms had blue piping that replicated the piping pattern of the regular home jerseys. The uniforms were worn very sparingly from 2003 to 2007, being used only for Sunday afternoon home games and the 4th of July. Thus, they were not seen on national television, except in the circumstance that they were used as part of a doubleheader. In 2008, the uniforms were worn for all Saturday home games, regardless of the game taking place in the afternoon or at night. In 2009, the blue piping was removed from the jersey and they began to be worn for all Friday night home games. For the 2009 season only, an alternate cap was used with this jersey featuring the "hanging Sox" logo.

The alternate road uniform was introduced in 2009, and involves gray pants and a blue jersey with "BOSTON" in red lettering outlined in white across the chest. The numbers and name are also in red with white trim. They are also worn on most Friday road games. The alternate cap was also used for these uniforms in 2009 only.

Since 2018, the Red Sox began wearing both their red and blue alternates more often. As such, the uniforms are no longer exclusive to Friday games, and the team sometimes wore their normal white and grey uniforms on select Fridays. The blue alternates were worn when the Red Sox won the 2018 World Series at Dodger Stadium.

Other uniforms

B STRONG logo

For the spring training St. Patrick's Day game, the Red Sox wear bright green jerseys with "RED SOX" in white letters outlined in red across the front and the hanging Sox logo is displayed on the left sleeve. While the other uniforms all use blue caps, this alternate uses a green one matching the uniform shirt. This uniform made its regular season debut on April 20, 2007, to honor former Boston Celtics coach, general manager and president Red Auerbach, who died during the previous off-season. A similar green uniform was worn June 20, 2008, to celebrate the recent Celtics victory over the L.A. Lakers in the NBA Finals. The uniforms had a white stripe down the side and the team wore their normal navy caps. Additionally, the Sox wore a variation of the standard uniforms for Earth Day 2009. The uniform featured a white pullover shirt with a red undershirt and the team name in green. The uniform trim featured green piping along the pants and was finished out with the traditional red socks. Lastly, the hanging Sox logo was modified to feature a green recycling symbol around the logo.

On April 20, 2013, the Red Sox changed the text on their home uniforms from "RED SOX" to "BOSTON" for one day to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, which took place earlier in the week. Also, a "B STRONG" patch was stitched to the shirts, which was also worn by the opposing Kansas City Royals. Because of the hastily created nature of the jerseys, the text on the front of the jerseys was lacking the blue outline, although the numbers on the back did have it. On Patriots' Day 2014 (April 21), the Red Sox wore these modified home uniforms again to mark the one-year anniversary of the bombing. To accurately replicate the original jersey, the blue outline was not present on the front of this version either.

Caps

"Hanging Sox" logo (left) and traditional "B" logo

The Red Sox typically feature a navy cap with a red "B" in ornate lettering. This has been a Red Sox standard for a majority of their existence, though from 1975 through 1978 the caps were red with a blue brim, and the "B" in blue with white trim.

In 2009, the alternate hanging Sox logo caps were unveiled, and were paired with the alternate uniforms. However, during the 2010 season they reverted to the regular "B" cap regardless of what uniform they wear.[1]

Socks and sweatshirts

From 1936 to 2002 (with the exception of the 1974 alternate home uniform), the club sported blue undershirts or sweatshirts and tri-colored stirrup stockings, with a red anklet and two white stripes on a navy blue background on the upper sock. In 1974, the team wore red sweatshirts (and solid red stirrups) at home and traditional blue sweats with tri-colored stirrups on the road. Since 2003, the team has worn all-red stockings with both their home and away uniform sets, along with red sweatshirts, with one exception: as part of the 2009 logo and uniform redesign, the Red Sox initially wore solid blue stockings and sweatshirts with their road uniforms. The changes drew some criticism from fans for featuring solid blue stockings, instead of red, and their similarity to the Yankees' uniforms,[2] and the team switched back to red sweatshirts and stockings after their first road trip[3] and the remainder of the season. While Curt Schilling notably wore stirrup stockings during his Boston career, most players have abandoned stirrups for full socks.

Historic Red Sox uniforms
Dutch Lerchen, circa 1910
Hugh Bradley, circa 1912
Jimmie Foxx, circa 1937
Manager Darrell Johnson, circa 1974
Contemporary Red Sox uniforms
Daniel Nava wearing the current Red Sox home uniforms
David Ortiz wearing the current Red Sox road uniforms
Kevin Youkilis wearing the Friday Red Sox home uniforms
Brandon Workman wearing the Friday Red Sox road uniforms

See also

References

  1. Silva, Steve (2008-12-11). "Red Sox unveil new club logos and uniforms". Boston.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  2. Benjamin, Amalie (2009-04-24). "No gray area: 'Baggers don't like the new look". Boston.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  3. Benjamin, Amalie (2009-04-29). "Dee issues some fashion statements". Boston.com. Retrieved 2010-05-28.

Further reading

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