Cardinals ‘City Connect’ uniforms: All you need to know, from new details to Nelly's role (2024)

From Allie to Nelly.

The iconic Cardinals uniform— with the eternally perched birds on the bat— was inspired in 1921 by a St. Louisan named Allie May Schmidt. For a gathering, she painted red cardboard Cardinals and put them upon brown twine. This stirred the mind of attendee Branch Rickey, a Cardinals executive.

And now, 103 years later, the latest incarnation of the Cardinal uniform was inspired by a St. Louisan named Cornell Haynes Jr.

Or perhaps you know him as Nelly.

On Monday, the Cardinals officially unveiled their City Connect uniforms— a modernized design that pays homage to an MLB team’s city. Across the chest, the birds will remain on the bat. But instead of the chain-stitched lettering of “Cardinals,” the City Connect jerseys will say “The Lou.”

The acclaimed hip-hop artist Nelly, who hails from University City, famously rapped “I’m from The Lou and I’m proud” in 2000’s “Country Grammar.”

“That quote,” Cardinals president Bill DeWitt III said, “kind of says it all.”

The red jersey/white pants combination will debut on Saturday at Busch Stadium in a game against the Cubs. The Cardinals will wear their “City Connects” in 11 other games, all at home.

Officially called the Nike MLB City Connect Series, these uniforms have been both popular and controversial, notably for the risks taken with color and flair. City Connect began in 2021. The Cardinals are the 26th team to launch their City Connect uniforms and merchandise.

“We did a bunch of iterations,” DeWitt said from his Busch Stadium office Saturday in an interview with a Post-Dispatch reporter and an MLB.com reporter. “Nike was pushing us to think outside the box, which is partly what this is all about, but not entirely. And so, (that was) including the birds off. And all sorts of crazy things. I think they would probably admit to pushing teams further outside their comfort zone than perhaps many wanted to go. And we see that in certain franchises, where they let (the uniforms) be a complete departure. I just didn't feel like this franchise, given its special place and kind of the hierarchy of uniforms, needed to do that. …

“At the end of the day, I just held firm, saying: ‘It's got to have the birds on the bat.’”

The Cardinals’ City Connect red hat has the letters “STL” horizontally and not interlocked. The font is from the team’s 1920 and 1921 jersey lettering, the two seasons prior to the birth of the birds on the bat.

The jersey also has faint pinstripes that are wavy. This is to pay homage to St. Louis’ role as a “river city,” as home tothe confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri.

A circle arm patch on the left sleeve features the Gateway Arch and a fleur-de-lis.

And the year 1882 is on the inside collar— this commemorates the official birth of the franchise as the American Association’s St. Louis Brown Stockings.

The City Connect uniform marks the first time in franchise history that a red jersey has been produced for regular-season play. For a lone game — August 28, 1999— the Cardinals did wear a red jersey, but it was part of a “Shirt Off Their Backs” promotion with the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

“So in a kind of nice sort of way,” DeWitt said, “we could be different in something we've never done, yet not be so radical or that it doesn't feel like it's part of the family. … A couple of (the Cardinals players) wanted all red, including the pants, too. It was tempting actually, because that would have been a bold move. But there are a couple of college teams that wear all red, so I Googled those to print for the guys that wanted to see that. And I was like, ‘It’s kind of like pajamas.’”

The overall creation process took about 2 ½ years, DeWitt shared. He pointed out that “the retail revenue line is a part of the overall big picture. It's an important one. And this year, we're hoping to be up in that category because of this.”

The other home games the Cards will wear the City Connects?

Friday, June 7 vs. Colorado; Sunday, June 23 vs. San Francisco; Friday, June 28 vs. Cincinnati; Tuesday, July 9 vs. Kansas City; Friday, July 12 vs. Chicago Cubs; Sunday, July 28 vs. Washington; Wednesday, August 7 vs. Tampa Bay; Friday, August 16 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers; Saturday, August 17 vs. Los Angeles Dodgers; Sunday, September 8 vs. Seattle; Friday, September 20 vs. Cleveland.

As for different suggested versions of the jersey, DeWitt said one featured a “big STL.” Regarding the usage of the Gateway Arch, he debated how to go about that, because “it’s so ubiquitous in St. Louis … so I didn't want to overdo it. But I didn't also want to not have it there.”

They settled on the circular patch, which will also be available for sale on hats.

Some teams have been audacious with their City Connects. San Diego, for instance, featured the colors pink, yellow and mint green. The Red Sox uniforms didn’t have any red; instead the colors were yellow and powder blue. The Rockies just had a huge image of … the Rockies. DeWitt said he particularly appreciated the Nationals’ jerseys with the Washington, D.C. cherry blossoms, as well as the White Sox’s black uniform with the word “Southside” across the chest.

“I would say there were definitely some that I looked at as what we didn't want to do, which was the ones that go way off color,” DeWitt said. “And I think every team has its own reasons. And if I were involved in another team that didn't have this kind of history and tradition, I would probably be fine with that, too.”

The City Connect apparel, DeWitt said, is supposed to appeal to a younger generation.

“Nike,” he shared, “was saying that all day long. ‘Remember, we know you have a great fan base that has been loyal for many, many years. This isn't necessarily for them. It’s for somebody that's kind of looking to show their hometown pride and maybe they're doing things a little bit different.’”

DeWitt pointed out that with the City Connects, the Cardinals have three new logos: the words “The Lou” with the birds on the bat; the “STL” old-timey font from the hat; the circular patch logo with the Arch and a fleur-de-lis.

“At one point,” DeWitt said, “there was a bunch of sort of color changes (being suggested), and I’m like, ‘Guys, we've got three new logos. Let's get those out there. And then let's go with the derivative stuff later. You know, there's a sequence to this. You can have a million different colors in your thing, but you also have to just have the basic 'STL' red cap, right? Let's start with that and then go from there. So there's a bit of a retail strategy to this, as well.”

DeWitt implied, though didn't confirm, that the Cardinals could do City Connect uniforms again in the future.

On Monday, the City Connect uniforms and merchandise will be available at the Official Team Store at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals Authentic Shop at Ballpark Village, the City Connect Merchandise Trailer (outside the stadium near Gate 5 along Clark Avenue) and at a City Connect Pop-Up Store in the ballpark at Cunningham Corner on Level 2.

Interestingly, having the “1882” on the inside collar is the latest way the Cards have tried to promote that part of their history. For a while, the year 1892 was considered the Cardinals’ true first season, since it was their first year in the National League (fans might remember the 100-year anniversary hullaballoo from the team in 1992).

But 1882 was the team’s first professional season — the St. Louis Brown Stockings. They won a total of 780 games in their 10 seasons played. The won the World Series in 1886 and tied for the World Series title in 1885 (3-3-1 in a series against the Chicago White Stockings). Of course, the Cards don’t claim either of those titles. The Cardinals state they have won 11 World Series championships, the first coming in 1926.

Asked if the franchise started in 1882 or 1892, DeWitt said: “I don't think there needs to be like a definitive statement on high from that. I think that it's easy to trace the beginnings of the franchise to 1882. There was continuity from an ownership standpoint, as it transitioned into the National League in 1892. I think from a official records standpoint, it probably makes sense to start in 1892. I think there might be some cynicism if we added another banner up there.

“I just think it is what it is. I mean we added (Brown Stockings player) Charles Comiskey to the Hall of Fame last year. And it seemed appropriate after thinking about the fact that these are the precursor teams that morphed into the National League team in 1892. …

“We have great stuff in our museum, from this early decade (of 1882 to 1891). We bought one of those little championship pendants that the team was given when they won. And if we don't celebrate that cool history, who's going to? That's kind of how I look at it.”

On Monday, the Cardinals plan to bookend the day with two of city’s most-famous artists.

The acclaimed producer Metro Boomin (along with other local DJs) is scheduled to perform an outdoor music set at Ballpark Village. It’s a free event, which should start at 4:30 p.m. DeWitt said he plans for Metro Boomin to, yes, wear the City Connect jersey.

At 8 a.m., the Cardinals launched the City Connect uniforms in a reveal video on social media.

Nelly, naturally, read the voiceover:

You know where you can find me? You can find me in The Gateway City.

Where we welcome you, to a monumental view, of our hometown.

Expressive. Creative. Innovative.

A town teeming with music.

Surrounded by soul, generated by jazz and blues.

A home for hip hop, with rock & roll roots.

A culinary hotspot, with slices squared, custard concrete and ravioli toasted.

A city built to brew and destined to deliver.

Where aspiration stays afloat and Spirit flies forever.

Where the grammar is a little bit street, and a little bit country.

5 or 105 degrees, we check the score of the game more than the weather.

Sports centric, with unparalleled passion.

You know where you can find me? You can find me in St. Louis.

In baseball heaven.

With more rings than you can fit on 2 hands.

So, what does it take to be number one?

It takes a connection.

Chain-stitching the Birds on the bat and the city together.

Never forgetting our history, and wearing your heart on your sleeve.

It’s a river flowing to the only place mightier than the Mississippi.

The Lou.

You see, we brought something new to The Lou.

Rich in tradition, and immersed in Cardinals red.

Representing the 314 with a fresh look.

Threads for those who are St. Louis Material.

Doesn’t matter if you started here, or just arrived.

When you're part of Cardinals Nation, you're from here.

So say it loud, I’m from The Lou and I’m proud.