New Royals uniforms enhance 'KC' logo

KANSAS CITY -- The Royals' classic "KC" logo is getting bigger. Much bigger.

For the first time in franchise history, the familiar "KC" seen on the team's cap is moving to a regular-season uniform jersey. But just for certain games away from home.

It will appear in white on the Royals' alternate road royal blue jerseys, unveiled on Monday. The jersey is also trimmed in white with powder blue piping, with the numeral and player name in white with a powder blue outline. The design incorporates several elements from the team's various blue batting practice jerseys worn through the years.

"The KC logo continues to be extremely popular with our fan base and is synonymous with Kansas City," said Kevin Uhlich, Royals senior vice president-business operations. "With that in mind, the Royals are excited to incorporate the logo into our uniform collection for the 2014 season."

The new jersey was introduced in time for the Christmas shopping season and is being offered exclusively through next Monday at the Royals Majestic Team Store, located at Gate C at Kauffman Stadium.

The store has special holiday hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT, Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. CT on Sundays through Dec. 23. The store will be closed this Thursday for Thanksgiving but will have extended hours on Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CT.

There haven't been many radical changes for the Kansas City Royals uniforms through the years.

One major change that pleased a large segment of fans was the return of the powder blue jerseys in 2008. They are still worn as an alternate jersey, with white pants, for day games at Kauffman Stadium.

A cap with a powder blue crown that arrived with the jerseys was discontinued in 2011 in favor of the traditional all royal blue cap.

The original powder blue uniform was a road version first worn by the Royals in 1973. The color became synonymous with the successful clubs of the late 1970s and early 1980s. It was retired in 1992 in favor of the traditional gray road uniform.

A drastic change occurred in 2002, when the Royals added a black jersey that was worn as an alternate look for both home and away games along with a gray, sleeveless road jersey with a black undershirt. Part of the scheme was a cap with a black crown and a blue bill.

The black look faded away after three years.

Through the years, the Royals have worn special uniforms as a one-time event, such as various Kansas City Monarchs uniforms to honor the Negro Leagues heritage. For a 2012 game at Minnesota, they wore replicas of the Kansas City Blues' 1951 uniforms as the Twins dressed as the Minneapolis Millers in a bit of Minor League nostalgia.

Then there was the original "Turn Ahead the Clock" game featuring futuristic uniforms during the 1998 season at Seattle. The Royals, to humor the Mariners, dressed in hideous yellow jerseys trimmed in blue. And they lost the game, too, 8-5.

The next season, all but eight Major League clubs participated in a futuristic uniforms promotion. The Royals wore a less gaudy blue outfit although it featured a huge white "KC" that took up the entire front of the jersey.