Is Team Mexico jersey in WBC inspired by a popular song? Exploring the tradition behind iconic unofficial anthem

Modified Mar 15, 2023 17:54 GMT

World Baseball Classic Pool C: Great Britain v Mexico — Exploring the meaning behind team Mexico’s white and blue jersey in the WBC

The blue and white Team Mexico jersey worn in their game against Great Britain on Tuesday went viral, making headlines as one of the most controversial uniforms in the World Baseball Classic.

The light blue, white and pink uniforms don’t seem very "Mexican" to some fans' eyes. However, some comments and reactions indicate that there is a deeper meaning to them than what most people think.

According to some Twitter users, the blue details on the Team Mexico jersey represent the sky, alluding to the popular mexican song "Cielito Lindo" or Pretty Sky.

It is a folkloric song that Mexican fans across all sports tend to sing when their national teams and other sports icons take on their rivals. Most notably when Mexico’s soccer national team plays and some stellar boxing matches like Canelo’s.

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Exploring the history behind the blue and white Team Mexico jersey

Ironically, although the song was written by Mexican composer Quirino Mendoza y Cortés in 1882, it talks about the love of the singer towards a woman in Spain (taking place in the Sierra Morena, a mountain range located in the south of the Iberian Penninsula).

Regardless, "Cielito Lindo" has become an iconic Mexican song, often interpreted by mariachi bands and famous Mexican singers.

Teammates Giovanni Gallegos and Alexis Wilson after defeating team Great Britain in the WBC

Team Mexico recently beat their counterparts Great Britain in what was their third game of Pool C in the World Baseball Classic in a close 2-1 game. They will be taking on Canada today at 2pm ET in Phoenix, in a game that will decide if Mexico advances to the tournament’s quarter-finals in Miami.

About the author

Pablo Ricalde has been a baseball journalist at Sportskeeda since 2022. A Communication Studies graduate, he attended journalism courses and specialized in copywriting, further adding to his background as a writer.

After 4 years working in the advertising industry and 2 years in sports journalism, Pablo currently works at a Marketing Consulting firm on top of his role at Sportskeeda. He believed in sourcing information only from reliable sources, and refrains from including any opinionated content in his articles.

Pablo was introduced to baseball as a kid by his grandfather, who even coached him in Little League for a year. A massive Boston Red Sox supporter, he ended up becoming a fan in an attempt to be original (as his parents are Yankees fans). Pablo also supports the Diablos Rojos from the Mexican league, his hometown team.

His favorite players of all time are David Ortiz and Derek Jeter, while his current favorites include Fernando Tatis Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Alex Verdugo and Randy Arozarena. His favorite moment as a baseball fan was when the Boston Red Sox won the 2018 World Series Championship, as he was too young to remember 2004.

A huge sports fan in general, Pablo's non-baseball interests include football, basketball, American football, and motorsports (F1, IndyCar and Nascar), music and cinema.

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Edited by Kanav Seth