Major League Baseball’s City Connect 2.0 uniforms are gradually being leaked. A few have been officially unveiled by teams—the Astros and Nationals. But we haven’t seen much on the official Rawlings ROMLB-CC on-field game balls. Which teams will use a commemorative City Connect baseballs this season? And which 2024 City Connect specially stamped Rawlings logo balls will get a second season of life in MLB ballparks?
Without further delay, here’s the lineup of freshly stamped baseballs to be used this season. These include original artwork files that we’ve mocked up, followed by donated images of game-used baseballs, and additional information we can share with confidence about other upcoming baseballs. We’ll close it out with some unconfirmed prognostication and rumors. And maybe a bonus sneak peek or two will be added later.
Making their Major League Debuts: Marlins, SF Giants, LA Angels, Astros, Mariners, & SD Padres 2025 City Connect Baseballs
I will let the fans judge. I’ll only say, there’s been a pattern here for the CC genre: simplicity. Of course there are a few outliers. We’ll update this post with real product images once we’ve received these baseballs. We’re waiting on delivery for most of these now and we’ll also feature game-used version as teams’ new jerseys get worn and these baseballs get put into play.
UPDATE: NEW ADDITION April 8th! The San Francisco Giants are using City Connect “SF” logo official baseballs tonight (Tuesday, April 8th) to match their new CC uniforms which also debuted today. This makes them the only team besides the Padres with multiple commemorative game balls on the young season. Product mockup and retail cubed images have been added to the gallery above (Credit: Rawlings Sporting Goods & OfficialGameBalls.com).
UPDATE: NEW ADDITION May 3rd! Miami Marlins “305” City Connect Nike jerseys, New Era 59Fifty fitted hats, and Rawlings commemorative special logo MLB baseballs have just been unveiled. These baseballs were used in Saturday’s game in Florida! I don’t want to sway opinions, but it’s my fave ’25 City Connect. This wasn’t included in the latest update we received from league sources, so it’s a very pleasant surprise, but has me wondering what else might sneak through the production line this season without us getting a heads up…
A game-used, MLB authenticated Rawlings Miami Marlins City Connect baseball (thank you, @eleshegeo). The commemorative logo is the same design as those used on the new caps, part of the 2025 Marlins ‘Retrowave’ City Connect 2.0 Uniforms.
“This marks the first time in MLB history a club will be rocking the city’s area code on the hat. And while the “305” is highlighted, it is meant to symbolize that the heart of Miami beats through its diverse people — from the “954’ in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and beyond.” –Christina De Nicola, MLB.com.
Does this mean it’s also the first time a city’s area code was rocked on an ROMLB game ball? I’ll tentatively say ‘yes’ for now, but I’ll need to consult the original and only dependable, official source that can answer that question for us.
You can find previous seasons’ CC game balls in the Museum of Baseballs ➡️ MLB ➡️ Team Milestones, Anniversaries & Celebrations Gallery.
Some know the Padres have already used their CC2025 ball. They made the cut and took the field in the team’s second game of the season. It’s likely they’ll use them during all Friday home games in which they’ll sport their CC uniforms.
Did you know, the Padres also used team-branded MLB Opening Day game balls the night before, and they were only team to get that privilege? You knew if you’ve been following our 2025 Live Tracker updates or our Instagram. To close out their opening series with the Atlanta Braves, whom they swept, San Diego then debuted Military Appreciation Day official gamers, which are purportedly planned for game-use every Sunday Military Appreciation home game, plus Memorial Day. I found that schedule from the official team website, but this does not confirm these baseballs will be available and used in every game. It’s just an educated guess.
- March 30 vs. Braves: Military Opening Day
- April 27 vs. Rays: Military Salute to Military Medicine
- Monday, May 26 vs. Marlins: Memorial Day Military Salute
- June 1 vs. Pirates: Military Salute to the U.S. Navy
- June 22 vs. Royals: Military Salute to Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465 (HMH-465)
- July 6 vs. Rangers: Military Salute to the USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757)
- Aug. 3 vs. Cardinals: Military Salute to Veterans/POW/MIA
- Sept. 14 vs. Rockies: Military Salute to the Marine Corps
How about some real-world images of the three new Padres baseballs?
Here are game-used examples from helpful Padres fans and a shot from the official team shop. And we’ve now added our own San Diego 2025 Military Appreciation gamer below:
I mentioned 2024 City Connect baseballs will also return this season. The following list is dependable, but not guaranteed and not final. We expect each of these to be used in at least one game this season. A few teams will probably use their City Connect baseballs in multiple games.
- Philadelphia Phillies “L🔔VE” City Connect Rawlings Baseballs (confirmed by team source)
- St. Louis Cardinals “The Lou” City Connect Rawlings Baseballs (No evidence yet)
- Tampa Bay Rays Pelican & Palm Trees City Connect Rawlings Baseballs (‘confirmed’ by MLB auctions)
- Toronto Blue Jays Maple-Leafed T City Connect Rawlings Baseballs (‘confirmed’ by MLB auctions)
Which was your favorite from last season? I prefer the Cardinals; they’ve always had sweet logos and uniforms. The pair of redbirds on a bat is a classic look. It also helps that this ball was only used in one game last year, so I’ve heard, making it scarcer and perhaps a bit more desirable for collectors favoring MLB Authenticated, game-used specimens. (I’ve just realized I never added The Lou City Connect ball to the MLB Teams page in the Museum. Yikes! I’ll take care of that ASAP.)
No word on the Mets CC ball from last season, by the way. If you’ve heard they’re going to use them again, please let us know in the comments or via email/IG message. Since it wasn’t on the latest dealer order list for this season, we’ll consider it to be retired for the time being. Reminder, the 2022-2024 Astros is obviously replaced with the 2025 we unveiled earlier. And lastly, we’re still expecting 1-2 more. There was a Minnesota Twins City Connect sample ball rumored last season that was ultimately canceled. We’d like to think they fixed the flaws and got it done for this year—but no promises. Also, any word from the Dodgers yet? They’re missing great opportunities for valuable commemorative game balls in the Shohei Ohtani era!
