MLB retro uniforms: The good, the bad, and the ugly

National Retro Day is Saturday, Feb. 27, and to celebrate, we’re turning our attention to America’s national pastime!

Baseball has long been a source of sweet nostalgia, with all its rich tradition and fanfare. The seventh-inning stretch, the ceremonial first pitch, and mascot races are just a few of the many beloved customs that have become staples of this time-honored sport.

Not everything from the past has stayed the same with this game, though. One aspect, in particular, that has undergone numerous changes is the baseball uniform.

From suffocating wool fabric to breathable polyester, adapted logos, color combos, and brimmed caps, baseball unis have come a long way.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane and look at the good, the bad, and the ugly of MLB’s retro uniforms.

The good: Houston Astros’ 1975 rainbow jersey

In 1975, the Houston Astros introduced an orange, red, and yellow rainbow pattern to spice up a rather simple design worn from the mid-60s to mid-70s.

Complementing the bright, bold stripes of this ensemble was a large navy star planted on the chest, and numbers beneath the belt, on the right pant leg.

Not everyone liked this unique look, at first, including former Astros shortstop Roger Metzger, who said, "I think there were three or four of us who looked at each other and wondered if they (management) were really serious."

Now a popular throwback jersey of the Astros, it turns out this flashy outfit was fashion-forward.

The good: Montreal Expos' baby-blue unis

Nothing embodies "retro" more than a uniform of the now-defunct Montreal Expos, who relocated to D.C. and became the Washington Nationals in 2005.

This Canadian MLB franchise was never that good — only reaching the playoffs once in 36 seasons — but when it came to clothing, the Expos got it right.

These solid baby-blue uniforms are simple, but sharp and distinct. What makes them even more appealing is the giant, old-school Expos logo on the left side of the jersey, and in the center of a red, white, and blue cap.

Other franchises wore a dominant color from head-to-toe, but no one did it better than the Expos.

The bad: The Cleveland Indians’ 1975 all-red top and bottom

Speaking of head-to-toe hues, in 1975, Cleveland's baseball team added an all-red road uniform that was more eyesore than awesome.

The color itself isn't so bad — the overall look is just too much. The jagged font is jarring, especially the giant "C" on the cap, and the black-and-white striped belt doesn't work.

Former Cleveland first baseman Boog Powell once said he was told he looked like "the world's biggest Bloody Mary" when he wore this getup. In Powell's opinion, he looked more like "a giant blood clot."

The bad: The Cincinnati Reds' sleeveless look

In 1956, the Cincinnati Reds brought a number of changes to their classic uniform. In addition to a vest-style jersey, the team temporarily renamed itself the "Redlegs" to distance itself from any association with McCarthyism and the new "Red Scare."

The Mr. Redlegs mascot became the team logo, which appeared on the front of the vest, and was actually pretty cool.

Where it got weird, though, was the way in which Ted Kluszewski opted to wear his top.

While most of his teammates sported red T-shirts underneath their jerseys, "Big Klu" went sleeveless to show off his bulging biceps.

Sure, he appeared intimidating, but there's reason why the look never caught on.

The ugly: The Pittsburgh Pirates' black and yellow monstrosities

Only an apiarist could truly adore these bumble bee-esque Pittsburgh Pirates jerseys.

In 1977, the Bucs went overboard with a uniform overhaul, as they introduced all-yellow and all-black alternates.

The horizontal pinstripe pillbox hat was the icing on the yellow-frosted cake — later enhanced by Stargell Stars in 1979.

The ugly: The Chicago White Sox's 1976 'Hollywood' shorts

Is that a Major League Baseball uniform or an outfit from a beer league?

This eye-popping fashion choice of 1976 was the brainchild of innovative White Sox owner Bill Veeck.

In the same year the Sox moved from a red and powder blue color scheme to navy and white, Veeck concocted a new uniform combination that featured untucked, collared shirts, along with three different pant styles: Clamdiggers, Knickerbockers, and Hollywood shorts.

The latter were perfect for hot weather, but never a popular choice with Sox players.

They didn't make their debut until Aug. 8 of the 1976 season and were promptly retired on Aug. 22 of the same year.

In all, the Sox went 2-1 in their Hollywood shorts, and caught a whole lot of flak because of them for decades to come.