Chicago — The city of Chicago is well-known for a variety of things all around the world. Day games at Wrigley Field undoubtedly make the list, as does the strong blues culture and its role in music history and progression. This summer, the Cubs intend to merge their traditions with a reference to the blues by bringing a new alternate uniform into their rotation. The Cubs are bringing back a baby blue jersey as part of their on-field uniform for the first time since 1981, according to an announcement made Thursday night ahead of Cubs Convention.
The Cubs were the first contemporary Major League team to wear a baby blue jersey, during the 1941 season. The color returned briefly in the 1970s, but vanished after 1981 until a throwback was presented in 2014 as part of Wrigley Field’s 100th anniversary celebration. The new jersey will make its debut on April 5 against the Padres in the team’s second home game of the season. After that, it will be a Friday-day game feature during the summer, replacing the “Wrigleyville” alternate outfit of previous seasons. And the new style has layers of meaning.
The Cubs’ insignia on the left breast of the jersey and helmet (a red “C” with a star at its midway, with blue letters to complete the team name) is a throwback to the franchise’s logos from the early to mid 1900s. The designers were also inspired by firms that produced electric guitars, amplifiers, and microphones around the same time period. The Cubs intended to honor not only their club’s history, but also the Chicago blues movement of the early twentieth century. The jersey’s sleeve patch depicts the city’s name in the shape of a guitar pick, complete with an electric bolt to symbolize the electrification of the blues.
The designers also solicited feedback from players on the outfit, which will feature on-field socks with “Sweet Home Chicago” and a six-string guitar stripe. The hat has a blue brim and back, a white front, and a red button at the top. The players’ names and numbers resemble blues-era lettering, an homage to the past music and baseball scene.
The Cubs want to officially unveil the jerseys this weekend at Cubs Convention, which starts on Friday evening and extends through Sunday at the Sheraton Grand Chicago downtown. Starting Friday, the jerseys will be available at both Cubs Con and the team’s store on Gallagher Way, just outside Wrigley Field.
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