Thursday night, on the eve of their annual fan convention, the Cubs unveiled a new alternate uniform for 2025. According to the press release, the new Blues Alternate “pays tribute to the team’s history and Chicago’s contribution to the electric blues movement that shaped music worldwide.” Despite having all of the story elements of a City Connect uniform, this is not that.
The jersey, described as baby blue, features a new logo insignia that “combines details from early Cubs uniforms with typography inspired by blues-era instruments.” The sleeve patch is in the shape of a guitar pick “representing Chicago’s legacy as the birthplace of the electric blues.” The numbers and nameplate take design elements from past Cub designs. The jersey looks to be teamed with white pants. The cap appears to be a darker blue, with a white front panel featuring the same logo as the jersey. The socks feature references to Sweet Home Chicago, along with a six-string guitar stripe.
The Cubs were the first modern team to wear baby (or powder) blue, incorporating it into their road jerseys from 1941-1942. It returned in the late 1970s, as most of baseball switched from plain gray to powder blue on the road. The final full-time appearance was the road pinstripes in 1981.
The number font on the blue jersey gives off very strong Expos vibes, but aside from that, these look pretty good. We won’t have to wait long to see how these look on the field, as the new uniforms will debut Saturday, April 5. After that. they will be worn at home on Fridays during the summer months, which was the same schedule as the old City Connects. Which, again, these are not.
