Week 394 (15 - 21 May 2021)

There are few bonds as strong as that of a sports fan and their home team. Being a fan has become a central part of a person's identity and serves as an extension of their regional pride, community connection, family relationships and, even, cultural heritage.    

Major League Baseball (MLB) aimed to pay tribute to this special bond between fans and the history of their teams when they launched the City Connect Series along with Nike as its official uniform provider for the 2021 season. MLB and Nike are releasing a series of new jersey, uniform and merchandise designs for seven celebrated teams this season to highlight and showcase the pride of their communities, while lining up with important occasions in each city. 

This week, the Miami Marlins debuted their City Connect Series uniform that pays homage to the Cuban Sugar Kings, a Cuban minor-league team that had a tremendous influence on baseball across Latin America. The franchise only played from 1946 to 1960 but left a lasting legacy as they sought to become the first MLB team based outside of the United States.

The team consisted of players from all over Latin America, including Cuba and Puerto Rico, and went on to win multiple league championships and the Junior World Series. While they did not achieve their goal of becoming the first franchise outside of the US, they helped pave the way for many players in the region to enter Major League Baseball. 

The Sugar Kings eventually moved to Jacksonville, Florida and became the Miami Marlins Triple-A affiliate team. The Miami Marlins City Connect uniform honours the impact that the Cuban Sugar Kings had on baseball in Latin America and Florida, and falls in line with Cuban Independence Day on 20 May. The Marlins will debut the jerseys on 21 May at their home game against the New York Mets. 

 The new bright red uniform captures the vibrant culture and energetic vibe of Latin America. The lettering on the jersey uses the hand-painted style of the Little Havana Neighbourhood, home to the Marlins, and the sleeve patches include the Marlins logo on the left arm and the Sugar Kings logo on the right arm.

Miami Marlins Vice President of Experience and Innovation Michael Shaw told MLB.com that the new City Connect uniform “seeks to blend sports and lifestyle fashion, remixing the Sugar Kings’ stylish uniform that embodies the unique sense of energy, passion, and swagger from our community.”

Baseball is a sport so deeply rooted in tradition that a change in uniform is not always well-received by fans. But the Marlins’ successful social media launch of their Sugar Kings legacy campaign and the debut of their City Connect jerseys were widely welcomed by fans.  

Given the instant popularity of the City Connect Series, MLB and Nike have announced that all 30 teams will have an opportunity to be a part of the Series in future seasons, beginning a new baseball tradition. The Miami Marlins’ inspiring City Connect Series jersey honours the past and simultaneously embraces the future of baseball, making them JTA Communicator of the Week. 

Image: Miami Marlins Twitter