Pirates pay homage to City of Champions era with unveiling of City Connect uniforms

The Pittsburgh Pirates paid homage to the City of Champions era in City Connect uniforms featuring design elements that borrow from the City of Pittsburgh flag and its bridges, steel industry and three rivers.

A history filled with pride, and a story of re-invention. pic.twitter.com/OlZRFxwAim

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 22, 2023

Featuring gold hats with black brims, gold jerseys with “PGH” in black capital letters across the front and black pants, the Pirates will wear their City Connect uniforms, made in partnership with Nike, for the first time against the San Diego Padres on June 27 at PNC Park. The uniforms have a resemblance to those popularized by Hall of Famer Willie Stargell and the 1979 World Series champions.

No matter how much we’ve evolved, what’s in our blood has always been true.

In this city, we bleed Black and Gold. pic.twitter.com/RBEVd72fOM

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 22, 2023

The Pirates unveiled the uniforms in a video narrated by hip-hop star Wiz Khalifa, an Allderdice graduate who opened by saying that the foundation of the city and its people is described by its connection to steel.

“We earned our name: The City of Champions, where you’re always welcomed home,” Khalifa said, “because Pops told us, ‘We Family.’ And Roberto showed that MVP is so much bigger than the game. And Maz let us know that we’re one hit away from achieving our dreams. The mills may be gone, but we’re still standing, creating, innovating but with the same old work ethic. Maybe it’s in the water of those three rivers. Or maybe it’s in the DNA of the city, of the people, of the colors. It’s in our veins. We bleed black and gold. Behold, the new steel.”

Hard work, dedication, craft, and resilience.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 22, 2023

The gold jerseys feature elements honoring checks from the checkerboard in the city flag, astroids from the steel industry, a Y representing the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers into the Ohio and a pattern from the circular grates built into the bridges.

“We believe this uniform collaboration with Nike represents what being from Pittsburgh is all about,” Pirates president Travis Williams said in a statement. “From a distance, a Pittsburgher is strong, sturdy, quiet, friendly and never showy or overstated. However, get to know someone from the city, and you learn that there’s more to them than meets the eye, but you would never guess until you get close to them.

“Pittsburghers are made in the detail, so is this jersey. It pays homage to the uniforms in the ‘70s, yet when you get close, there is more to it than meets the eye. We are excited to share in this celebration of our great city with our fans beginning June 27.”