What's in a uniform?

I grew up in the 70s and early 80s, when Major League Baseball teams had two uniforms: a home uniform and a road uniform. And that was pretty much it. Some teams might have a third alternate uniform they would wear on occasion, but not every team had one.

Nowadays it is much different. Teams still have the normal home/road jersey splits, but most teams have third and fourth or more choices now. There are more hat and logo variations, "special occasion" jerseys for St. Patrick's Day and July 4th and Memorial Day and Negro League days and throwback days and spring training uniforms and batting practice uniforms.

My assumption is that with baseball in good financial condition, teams have larger uniform budgets than they used to, plus the more different uniform and hat sets you have, the more souvenirs you can sell. Collect them all!

Personally I have a liking to throwback uniforms from the gaudy 70s, Oakland gold, Astros orange, etc. There's also something to be said for a good pinstripe outfit with a 60s or 50s feel.

The Twins have new uniforms this year, ditching the home pinstripes they have been using since 1987, and adding some gold highlights as modeled for us by Joe Mauer.

Joe Mauer, photo by Steve Mitchell

I don't hate it. I don't love it either. At least they are keeping the classic dark blue TC hats. I love the TC hats.

They need to get rid of the snowcone spring training/workout version though:

Kim Klement

Yuck.

They still have the alternating blue and gray jerseys for road use.

Not terrible, but again, I don't love either one.

I do love this, the 1960s home pinstripe uniform that they will pop out a few times a year:

Bruce Kluckhohn, USA Today

They need to use those more often.

But God help me, my favorites are the 70s/pre-87 road blues:

Benny Sieu, USA Today

And the home version:

Getty Images

In some alternate universe where I am filthy rich and bought the Twins, I would have 60s and 70s and 80s throwback uniforms in addition to standard home and road uniforms and alternates. Except the snowcone hats. Ditch those.

What about your favorite team? Do you like their current uniform setup? What would you change if you could?