
An ode to a beautiful look that belongs back on the field.
Last week, when the Cincinnati Reds visited Fenway Park for a three-game set, Boston decided to make the series a celebration. A celebration of the fabled 1975 American League Champion Red Sox who ultimately fell to Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine in seven games in what many consider to be the greatest World Series ever played. Members of the team threw out first pitches, and replicas of the team’s AL Champions rings were given out to fans. But it was the other fan giveaway, a replica of the jerseys donned by the 1975 Red Sox, that I’m more interested in.

Photo by Focus on Sport via Getty Images
7,500 replicas of these beautiful, magnificent jerseys, worn by the Red Sox from 1974 to 1978 (and once more in 2015), were given away to lucky fans at Fenway Park last week. Unfortunately for everyone else, it seems this is the most action these jerseys are going to get. For some reason, the Red Sox insist on the ‘75 look getting as little face time as possible.
Why, you ask? I have no idea. For a world (and sports world) that is so obsessed with nostalgia of all kinds, it would seem like having one true throwback jersey would be a no-brainer for the Red Sox. And frankly, they don’t really have many other solid options. Most other Boston throwbacks are a little too great-depression to really work as a modern-day jersey, example below.

The ‘75 jerseys work extremely well in a modern context. The red accents pop and are like nothing the Red Sox have worn since. Yeah, the elastic belt makes them a bit dated, but it wouldn’t take a lot of work to swap that out for a regular belt loop.

Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
The main reason, I presume, that the ‘75 jerseys have not returned since 2015 is the Nike 4+1 rule, which the brand has upheld since they took over Major League Baseball’s jersey rights a half decade ago. This rule dictates that all teams are allowed a rotation of four jerseys of their choice, plus their City Connect. The Red Sox have their white home, gray away, red alternate, yellow alternate, and green City Connect. This, unfortunately, leaves no room for our darling ‘75 jerseys.

Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images
So there’s the 4+1 rule. That’s fine. But I gotta ask: Why can’t Nike and MLB make an exception? If the 50th anniversary of the Series isn’t the most perfect opportunity for the Red Sox (and the Reds, for that matter!) to wear a jersey celebrating it, then what is? One-off jerseys should be exempt from that silly rule.
Cool jerseys are one of my favorite aspects of being a baseball fan. I love seeing fun new ideas along with throwbacks honoring the past. The Red Sox have been nailing the “fun new ideas” part of that equation for a while now with their City Connects. I think it’s time they start getting in on the “throwbacks” half.