MLB: Power ranking the best uniforms for 2015

Jun 10, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder David Lough (9) celebrates with teammates on the field after defeating Boston Red Sox 5-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 10, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles left fielder David Lough (9) celebrates with teammates on the field after defeating Boston Red Sox 5-2 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
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Aug 8, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (left center) and second baseman Neil Walker (18) greet starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (47) after Liriano hit a three run home run and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (L) reacts during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli (left center) and second baseman Neil Walker (18) greet starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (47) after Liriano hit a three run home run and Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis (L) reacts during the second inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

11. Pittsburgh Pirates

A few of the next teams are alternate-happy squads. The Pittsburgh Pirates are about as guilty as any team in baseball. They wear their black top home and away at least 75 percent of the time, but that’s because, like many other teams, they allow their starting pitcher to select the jersey and many prefer the black top.

Aug 1, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Joe Blanton throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 1, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Joe Blanton throws against the Cincinnati Reds in the seventh inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Gerrit Cole, however, is the exception. He always wears the white or gray top, except for Sunday home games—when every Pirates pitcher is rid of the choice and must wear the throwback no-button jersey with old school pants.

They were wearing these on Sunday Night Baseball when they had their ridiculous nine-run seventh inning to overcome a 5-3 deficit and sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Aug 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier (16) steals second base as Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang (27) takes the throw during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 9, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Andre Ethier (16) steals second base as Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Jung Ho Kang (27) takes the throw during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

The reality is all four jerseys the Pirates have at their discretion are amazing. It would be nice to see them sport the white and gray tops more often, because both are as good as they get for modern jerseys. But the black tops with the Old English P—the same logo on the Pirates’ straight black cap—also look good.

It’s hard to be critical. Baseball is a game of superstition. If pitchers feel the black tops are their lucky jersey, who am I to judge? But for rankings purposes they do get bumped down a notch for their overuse of them.

Next: Final NL team