The Atlanta Braves uniform has become iconic since its introduction, but in 2024, two of the team's jerseys will have modifications to them.
The team has slightly altered the uniform several times since it first debuted the design in 1987, from altering the script to changing its slant, and this year's addition might go unnoticed by the untrained eye.
In 2024, Nike, MLB's uniform supplier, is introducing its new Nike Vapor template. As a result, many teams' uniforms are being altered to fit the template.
The Braves' changes might be minor, but will certainly be noticeable when they take the field if the new replicas are representative of the on-field jerseys.
Let's dig into how the new template changes the Braves' look.
Chest mark break
The first change is not Braves' specific. The new template is slightly more narrow at the placket, which means the script break is slightly different.
For the Braves, it might be a good thing, at least for the home jerseys.
Over the years, the Braves script has moved. When the 1987 jersey was introduced, the script broke right after the A and before the V.
However, as time has passed, that no longer became the case. Whether it's the thicker outline, the slightly different angle, or just the different manufacturer, the break in the script migrated. In 2023, the script broke in the A.
When the new template was released, astute uniform obsessives noticed that the script break for the Dodgers had shifted. Uni-Watch eventually determined that the placket was narrowed, meaning the teams' script break changed.
At first glance on the replica jersey, it appears the Braves script also changed, with the A being obscured.
Huge thanks to @mlbstorenyc @mlbbowman @DOBrienATL @JustinCToscano @UniWatch
— Min Sub (Mitchell) (@MinSub4) January 4, 2024
Can you confirm this will be the on field jersey for the Braves in 2024?
(Note the sleeve cuffs instead of the piping) pic.twitter.com/UOR9aJkcBV
However, this appears to be a holdover from replicas in past years. The Braves script will break at a slightly different spot. My best guess is it will break more cleanly in between the A and the V.
It's also still unknown how the road jersey will split. Here's what it looked like in 1987.
In 2023, it split right in the middle of the A as well. My best guess is that it will split more like it did in 1987 than it did in 2023.
Sleeve piping
This might be the most noticeable difference between the Braves jersey of the past. Since 1987, the Braves home and road jerseys have included triple piping on the sleeves that displays the jersey color below.
That is no more. Both the road and the home jerseys will be affected, although it's yet to be seen how the alternate jerseys are affected.
Because of the new Nike Vapor Template, the Braves triple piping now is a tri-color cuff. They aren't the only casualty of the change. The Orioles are also altering their uniform to fit the template.
@UniWatch It appears the new Nike Template is going to remove any white space for teams with triple sleeve piping like the Orioles and the Braves. pic.twitter.com/dPA5pzIBF1
— Min Sub (Mitchell) (@MinSub4) January 2, 2024
Back of jersey and additional changes
The back of the jersey is slightly changing as well. For whatever reason, Nike decided to move the MLB logo below the headspoon piping, which means that, instead of sitting between the collar and the piping, it now sits between the piping and the player's name.
We don't have a visual on what exactly the Braves jersey will look like, but the changes are standardized around the league.
Here's what the Braves looked like last season.
Here, on San Francisco Giants OF Jung Hoo Lee, the MLB logo sits lower and below where piping would be for the Braves.
Additionally, all numbers and letters will be standardized across the league, according to Paul Lukas of Uni-Watch. Numbers will be perforated and all home whites will technically be off-white.