Why are the Red Sox wearing green? Explaining Boston's MLB City Connect uniforms for 2025

Colin Capece

Why are the Red Sox wearing green? Explaining Boston's MLB City Connect uniforms for 2025 image

For the first time in the franchise's storied history, the Red Sox are wearing green.

That's right, Boston released a new City Connect jersey in 2025 that has only a bit of red in it, with the primary color base something fans have never seen the team don before. 

There is a reason the team has adopted the new look and incorporated it into its jersey rotation, however, which has a lot to do with one of baseball's longest standing traditions.

Here's what to know about the Red Sox's green City Connect jerseys and what they represent.

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Why are the Red Sox wearing green?

The Red Sox are wearing green jerseys as part of the team's City Connect uniform series. Each MLB team has at least one alternate jersey available to wear throughout the season with a design that pays homage to the city and region in which it plays.

The Red Sox worked with Nike to design their second City Connect jersey. They decided that the uniforms would be green to represent a famous part of the franchise's history. The team also has a yellow-and-blue City Connect jersey as a nod to the Boston Marathon, one of the city's most important sporting traditions.

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Red Sox City Connect jerseys, explained

The Red Sox's City Connect jerseys pay tribute to the Green Monster, the iconic, 37-foot wall in left field at Fenway Park. It is one of the most recognizable structures in baseball and has been synonymous with the team for more than 100 years.

The jersey includes many smaller details that also reflect the Green Monster and the ball park. The "Red Sox" lettering on the front is in the wall's signature font. Player numbers are in yellow on the front — a tip of the cap to the Fisk and Pesky poles in left and right field, respectively — and in white on the back. A replica of the Green Monster's classic ball, strike, and out indicator appears as a small design on the lower left of the jersey.

"The original Nike City Connect uniforms were a bold departure for the team, rooted in the spirit of the Marathon more than the club's traditional identity," said Troup Parkinson, Chief Marketing and Partnerships Officer for the Boston Red Sox. "This time, we started with a clear design thesis to create something lasting - drawn directly from Fenway Park itself. Every element has meaning and reflects a place that has defined Red Sox baseball for over a century."

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Why is '1912' on inside of Red Sox jersey?

Inside the collar of the new City Connect jersey, "1912" is stitched onto a concrete, heather pattern. This symbolizes the interior structure of the left field wall (there are attendants who operate the Green Monster's scoreboard by hand) and the year Fenway Park opened.

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Green Monster connection

The Green Monster is one of the most identifiable stadium features in MLB and has been a part of Red Sox lore since it was first constructed in 1912.

The wall was originally built as a wooden structure, but it took on its current form after much of Fenway Park was destroyed by a fire in 1933. It was rebuilt in 1934 out of wood and tin with a concrete base and included the manually-operated scoreboard still in use today. In 1936, A 23-foot-tall net was added above the wall, to prevent home runs from damaging businesses on Lansdowne Street behind it.

In 1947, the wall was painted green, giving rise to the “Green Monster” nickname. In 2003, seats were installed atop the wall, giving it the look fans see today.

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How to buy Red Sox green City Connect jerseys

Red Sox City Connect jerseys can be purchased in a number of ways. Fans can visit the MLB Shop official online store or other major retailers like DICK'S Sporting Goods. The City Connect collection includes jerseys, hats, and other apparel inspired by the Green Monster and Fenway Park.

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Colin Capece

Colin Capece is an editorial intern for The Sporting News. He previously wrote The Dallas Morning News, USA Today and The Arizona Republic. Colin earned his master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and loves to talk baseball and basketball.