1849: The first uniforms are crafted by utilizing wool as the primary material – aligning early baseball clubs with organizations of higher status. During this period, cotton is the cheaper fabric of choice but is often associated with the unfashionable working class thread.

1882: This season may win the award for the boldest experiment in baseball uniform history. The written rules of the game state that a different color must denote each position. For instance, first basemen resemble candy canes as they play ball in scarlet-and-white-striped hats and shirts. No matter the team or positions, the rules call for each player to wear a white tie, belt, and pants.

1888: Several 19th-century baseball teams introduce pinstriped uniforms in an attempt to enhance player aesthetic. Although introduced in the late 1870s, laced-front shirts are the style of choice through the 1890s to keep the players’ uniforms on.

1897: Up until this year, a few teams continue to don shield-front uniforms – an 1870s nod to volunteer fire company outfits. The Boston Beaneaters give a final attempt during the 1897 season to revive the shield-front uniforms, but the shields are fully phased out by the turn of the century.

1912: A throwback uniform that is first worn by the Chicago Cubs in 1909 features the use of the soon-to-be favorite “standing” collar, which is worn in a military-style.

1929: The Cleveland Indians are the first major league team to incorporate integers on their uniforms. Some sports fanatics credit the birth of uniform numbers to the then-reigning World Series Champions, the New York Yankees in 1929. Despite speculation, by the mid-1930s, every team playing in the league welcomes numbers onto their uniforms.

1930: Collarless uniforms become the league’s “industry standard.”

1938: Script lettering hits the mainstream as the Brooklyn Dodgers debut uniforms displaying “Dodgers” in script writing across the chest.

1939: For the first time in baseball history, all clubs don the same centennial patch on their uniforms. The patch is introduced to celebrate the sport’s 100th birthday by its supposed founding father – Abner Doubleday. The rectangular patch uses a red, white, and blue color palette reminiscent of the American flag.

1941: The league watches as clubs begin riding the wave of a new fashion trend – the sleeveless uniform. First featured by the Chicago Cubs in 1940, the sleeveless uniforms provide players greater freedom of motion when throwing, catching, or hitting the ball.

1943–1954: The so-called “lipstick league” is created by Chicago Cubs owner Philip K. Wrigley with the goal to keep ballparks buzzing during times of war. Although women athletes in baseball date back to the 1860s, the league’s first tryouts are held in 1943. The ladies of the league wear a one-piece, short-skirt tunic with satin shorts, knee-high socks, and a traditional cap.

1951: For the first time in baseball history, the Springfield Cubs take the field debuting player numbers on the front of their uniforms.

1960: The 1960 season marks the first appearance of names on the back of player uniforms. The Chicago White Sox are the first squad to add names to their uniforms, which is quickly adopted by the rest of the teams in the league – except for the New York Yankees.

1970: The league witnesses a bold change in fashion as the Pittsburgh Pirates adopt brand new uniforms made of a blend consisting of cotton and nylon fabrics. The innovative fits feature a pullover buttonless shirt as well as beltless pants.

1993: The Cincinnati Reds and Florida Marlins ditch the pullover style to revive the loose-fitting sleeveless uniforms.

2001: Major League Baseball helps America heal after the tragic events of 9/11 by mandating that every team wear U.S. flag patches on their hats and uniforms for the remainder of the season.

2016: Today’s on-field uniforms are made fully from polyester fabrics – a durable material that is hydrophobic in nature. Since the uniforms endure harsh climate conditions upon teams facing off in different regions, the decision of utilizing polyester has been a wise one.