Red Sox Admit Uniform Design Flaw, Not Fanatics' Fault

The team says the overlapping lettering and piping issue was their own oversight.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Boston Red Sox have acknowledged an issue with the design of their new home white jerseys, where the lettering overlaps with the red piping down the center. The team initially blamed themselves for approving a flawed design, but later issued a clarification absolving uniform manufacturer Fanatics of any wrongdoing, stating they executed the jerseys to the Red Sox's specifications. However, many remain skeptical of the team's defense, given Fanatics' history of uniform mishaps across Major League Baseball.

Why it matters

This latest uniform issue comes on the heels of the disastrous "Uniform-gate" incident of 2024, where new MLB uniforms designed by Nike and manufactured by Fanatics were plagued by problems like see-through fabrics, inconsistent sizing, and easily torn materials. The Red Sox's quick reversal in blaming Fanatics has raised eyebrows, as the company has developed a reputation for uniform blunders across the league.

The details

The Red Sox initially acknowledged the overlapping lettering and piping issue on their new home whites, saying they had approved a design that ended up needing cleaner spacing once produced. However, the team later deleted that statement and issued a new one absolving Fanatics of any blame, stating the manufacturer executed the jerseys to the Red Sox's specifications. Many remain skeptical of this defense, given Fanatics' history of uniform problems across MLB.

  • The Red Sox unveiled their new home whites ahead of the 2026 MLB season.
  • On February 19, 2026, the team acknowledged an issue with the jersey design.

The players

Boston Red Sox

The professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Fanatics

The sports merchandise company that manufactures MLB uniforms.

Nike

The athletic apparel company that serves as the primary league licensee and designer for MLB uniforms.

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What they’re saying

“We approved a design for our home white jerseys that, once produced and seen in person, we felt could be cleaner in the spacing between the lettering and piping.”

— Boston Red Sox (outkick.com)

“Fanatics executed to our specifications and has been an outstanding partner throughout. They deserve no blame, and we are grateful to them for making the new jerseys in time for Opening Day.”

— Boston Red Sox (outkick.com)

What’s next

The Red Sox will need to make adjustments to the home white jerseys to address the overlapping lettering and piping issue before the start of the 2026 MLB season.

The takeaway

This latest uniform mishap highlights the ongoing challenges MLB faces with its uniform partnerships, as well as the skepticism fans have towards the league and its licensees after the disastrous "Uniform-gate" incident of 2024. The Red Sox's quick reversal in blaming Fanatics has only further eroded public trust in the reliability of MLB uniforms.