Why Mariners are wearing different jersey for Sunday games in 2026 MLB season

The Seattle Mariners have a different look when they play on Sunday.

For the 2026 MLB season, they're breaking out a special jersey every time they play on Sunday at home. That starts on Sunday Night Baseball on March 29 against the Cleveland Guardians, and it will continue the whole year.

The look is a bit simpler. It lacks the signature teal of the Mariners.

But the reason is a great one.

MORE: Yankees break franchise record set by 1908 New York Highlanders

Why are the Mariners wearing different jerseys?

The Mariners are wearing a special jersey each home Sunday this season to pay tribute to the Seattle Steelheads.

The Steelheads were a Negro League team that played in Seattle in 1946.

"We're proud to invest in the future with the Steelheads Community Fund and a $500,000 commitment to support local Black-led baseball and softball organizations and community initiatives," the Mariners wrote in a press release.

The Steelheads played in the West Coast Negro Baseball Association.

The league folded after only two months, which brought an end to the Steelheads. 

The Steelheads played at Sick's Stadium. The roster included Cannonball Berry, Nap Gulley, Zell Miles, Rogers Pierre, Herb Simpson and Fay Washington.

The Mariners first honored the Steelheads in a 1995 home game in which the opposing Kansas City Royals wore Kansas City Monarchs uniforms.

This will be the first time the Mariners have a consistent presence of Steelheads jerseys for an entire season.

More MLB news:

• Wrigley Field wind impacted potential HR by more than 100 feet
• Aaron Judge ties Dodgers legend on MLB all-time record list
• Roman Anthony joins feat of 9 Hall of Famers
• Reds make umpire CB Bucknor look bad with ABS challenges
• Paul Skenes trade rumors involving Yankees are back
• The Mets already have a Bo Bichette problem