New Dodgers Uniforms Strike Out With Fans: ‘Should’ve Been Los Doyers’
The Los Angeles Dodgers organization was expecting a home run with its new “Los Dodgers” jerseys, intended to pay homage to the team’s heavily Latino fanbase. But if you ask some Angelenos, they didn’t even manage to get on base.
The Boys in Blue debuted their new threads on social media Thursday ahead of this weekend’s home games against the New York Mets, along with a splashy promotional video playing up the team’s importance within the local Latino community.
We are Los Angeles, somos Los Dodgers. pic.twitter.com/RP7t5nPLpC
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) August 19, 2021
“The Dodgers sought to celebrate their culture of baseball, which is heavily connected and influenced by Los Angeles’ Latino community,” Nike senior creative director Wil Green told the Los Angeles Times.
However, some fans said the new uniforms are missing a few letters (and a major opportunity). That’s because Latino fans have referred to the team as “Los Doyers,” not “Los Dodgers,” for decades. In fact, “Los Doyers” has graced countless pieces of unlicensed merchandise, and Nike integrating the already-popular phrase into the new uniforms seemed like a no-brainer. Even stranger, according to the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office records, the Dodgers hold the trademark to “Los Doyers.”
The Dodgers and the athletic apparel company have yet to comment thus far.
The uniforms are part of Nike’s “City Connect” initiative, with designs aimed at reflecting a team’s link to its home city. For instance, the San Francisco Giants featured the Golden Gate Bridge and the city’s famous fog on their City Connect uniforms, while the Boston Red Sox dressed in blue and yellow in honor of the Boston Marathon.
Besides the updated text, the new Dodgers designs feature blue jerseys and blue pants, a first in the franchise’s 138-year history, as well as a spray paint splash at the end of each sleeve, a nod to the fan-made murals throughout the city.
Aesthetics (and intentions) aside, fans aren’t thrilled with “Los Dodgers.” Check out some of their reactions below.
Can’t believe they missed the opportunity to do “Los Doyers”. pic.twitter.com/vHTj5n0iPj
— Winning Dog Bet$ (@WinningDogz) August 19, 2021
Can’t believe they missed the opportunity to do “Los Doyers”. Would’ve been the easiest purchase I’ve ever made. https://t.co/Pe07XcJoTQ
— Hedont Missoğlu 🅙 (@Trevor2g) August 19, 2021
I see a lot of ppl wanting the City Connect unis to say "Los Doyers". They did trademark it and Nike has produced merch with "Los Doyers" on it, BUT the iconic "Dodgers" script is a big reason why the Dodgers uniforms is one of the best in all of sports, so I'm cool with it. pic.twitter.com/EBXLR5oDyX
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) August 19, 2021
Should’ve been Los Doyers https://t.co/dgymXKj17s
— Mason (@pechy44) August 19, 2021
It’s Los Doyers, Not Los Dodgers https://t.co/w351l5Vubn
— East L.A. News (@EASTLA_NEWS) August 19, 2021
“Los Doyers” would’ve been cooler tbh
— Denis. (@_MusikTheorist) August 19, 2021
dude I genuinely cannot believe these don’t say Los Doyers https://t.co/C3TVoyFM1g
— Keani ♡ (@keani_yafreak) August 19, 2021
If you’re really trying to “connect with the city,” then you make it “Los Doyers.” These are so lazy.
— Jorge Castillo (@jorgecastillo) August 19, 2021
Even the Narrator at the end pronounces it “Los Doyers” not “Los Dodgers” 😂 https://t.co/Z6mb8utQKJ
— Greg!! (@RockNSportsGREG) August 19, 2021
I see a lot of ppl wanting the City Connect unis to say "Los Doyers". They did trademark it and Nike has produced merch with "Los Doyers" on it, BUT the iconic "Dodgers" script is a big reason why the Dodgers uniforms is one of the best in all of sports, so I'm cool with it. pic.twitter.com/EBXLR5oDyX
— Doug McKain (@DMAC_LA) August 19, 2021
Looks like “Los Doyers” fans will have to get used to those extra letters for the time being. Nike has said the Dodgers and other teams would “keep and wear their City Connect design for several seasons.”
Read original story New Dodgers Uniforms Strike Out With Fans: ‘Should’ve Been Los Doyers’ At TheWrap
