The heartfelt reason the Norfolk Tides will wear 14 different jerseys this season
Virginia’s Minor League baseball team, the Norfolk Tides, will wear up to 14 different jerseys this season. Here’s why.
Partially a reflection of modern-day sports marketing initiatives, the Norfolk Tides will wear as many as 14 various jerseys this season. In an article for The Virginian Pilot, David Hall discussed the meaning behind the switch-up.
The Norfolk Tides 2024 Jersey Shakeup
In addition to their traditional home whites and road grays, the Tides have or will have worn an “ORF” jersey to honor the city, a Marvel jersey to promote comic books and movies, a SEAL jersey to honor local Navy ties, and a Pajaritos (Spanish for “young birds”) jersey to appeal to the Latin American community, among others.
The jerseys mix up the team’s look over the course of the season, giving fans more choices in Harbor Park’s team store.
But of all the alternate identities the team will have taken on this season, none was more thought-provoking than what the Tides wore the night of June 18.
A Nod to Black Players
Norfolk’s players started the weekend against Charlotte dressed as the Norfolk Red Stockings, a historical nod to the city’s entry in the Negro Leagues in the late 19th century.
The gray jerseys with a large, red “N” were topped by gray hats with the same lettering. It was part of a Negro Leagues Tribute Night that included an appearance by Sam Allen, an 88-year-old Norfolk native who played with Willie Mays and Satchel Paige, among others, in the 1950s and ’60s.
Often, the players wearing the alternate jerseys aren’t aware of the significance until they get to the ballpark. Tides manager Buck Britton hopes these jerseys prompted some research.
“When you get into the locker room, that’s the first thing you notice because the jerseys are hanging up every day, is that there’s something unique going on today,” Britton told the news outlet. “It pushes them to go dive into what is actually the meaning behind all of this. And they learn. And we learn. And we get better as we learn, and the game continues to grow and people continue to grow.”
Daniel Johnson, a 28-year-old outfielder from Northern California, is Norfolk’s only remaining African-American player. He said he hoped to someday hear firsthand stories from former Negro Leagues players, as he’s keenly aware of their legacy and what they went through.
“I owe them all the respect because without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Johnson said. “And it goes even further than that for the little kids that are watching us now. We want to keep that going and pave the way for them, too.”
Johnson said he played every sport growing up, finally gravitating to baseball. He’s done a deep dive into the game’s past, learning about the off-the-field difficulties of being a Black player in Allen’s day. According to the MLB, only 6% of players on MLB opening-day rosters this season are African-American (compared to 6.2 in 2023).
“Obviously, it’s years of history, having African-American players segregated at one point,” Johnson said. “Having the Negro Leagues to be where we are now, having them pave the way for us, it’s a special feeling.”
It’s the kind of lesson Britton hoped the uniforms would prompt. By season’s end, the Tides will have donned pink, orange, camo, and green jerseys along with a variety of themed looks.
More about the Norfolk Tides
The Norfolk Tides are a Minor League Baseball team based in Norfolk, Virginia, serving as the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles. They play their home games at Harbor Park, a venue that opened in 1993, following previous stints at High Rock Park, Frank D. Lawrence Stadium, and Met Park. The Tides’ name reflects the city’s nautical heritage and its location on the Chesapeake Bay.
The team began in 1961 as the Portsmouth-Norfolk Tides in the Class A South Atlantic League, later joining the Carolina League and rebranding as the Tidewater Tides. In 1969, they became the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets, a relationship that lasted until 2006, during which they won multiple league championships. They were renamed the Norfolk Tides in 1993.
The Tides have claimed seven league championships, including a recent victory in 2023 under the Orioles’ affiliation. In 2021, they joined the Triple-A East, which was renamed the International League in 2022. The Tides have a rich history of success and community engagement, exemplified by their championship wins and dedicated fan base.
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