ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals unveiled a new alternate jersey Monday that breaks from tradition while celebrating the history of the team and the city.
The Cardinals teamed up with Nelly to unveil the team's City Connect jersey that features the iconic Birds on the Bat above script that reads "The Lou." The jersey is the latest in MLB's partnership with Nike to create city-inspired uniforms.
“The St. Louis Cardinals jersey is one of the most iconic in all of sports and we are proud to introduce our new City Connect uniform to build on that legacy,” Team President Bill DeWitt III said in a press release.
When the Cardinals wear the jerseys for the first time on June 7, it will be the first time the team has worn a red jersey in the regular season.
Lettering on the cap and near the bottom of the jersey pays homage to the team's 1920-21 lettering, the last uniforms before the Birds on the Bat were introduced.
The uniform features pinstriping for the first time on a Cardinals jersey since 1929, but it's not your conventional striping. The stripes mimic the flowing rivers on the St. Louis flag. The jersey features a patch with two St. Louis symbols: the fleur-de-lis and the Gateway Arch.
And to highlight the birth of the team, an "1882" stamp rests on the inner collar.
Photos: Cardinals unveil City Connect jerseys
City Connect merchandise is available now at the Cardinals team store and online. The team store will be open for additional hours this week, and the team will have a pop-up shop in the stadium through the rest of the team's ongoing homestand.
The Cardinals will host a pair of launch parties at Ballpark Village this week to celebrate the release of the uniforms.
On Monday, music producer and St. Louis native Metro Boomin and other local DJs will perform a live, outdoor music set starting at about 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, Nike and Fanatics will also host a City Connect pregame celebration at the same spot from noon to 6 p.m. that will feature live music, interactive entertainment and giveaways.
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