A rare case in which the pants down might’ve been a better idea: The Red Sox wore green jerseys last night, in memory of Celtics honcho Red Auerbach. A nice idea, but it looked like crap. Other notes from the game: Jason Varitek’s captain’s C was missing; this may have been the first time ever that the Sox wore names on their jerseys at home; and most players had the Virginia Tech logo either on their sleeve or on their cap.
#1 by Tom on 04.21.07 9:38 am |
Continued from yesterday:
Found a picture of Fridge Perry posing with a London Monarchs jersey. Would still love to find an action shot.
#2 by austin on 04.21.07 9:39 am |
Green jerseys on 4/20. Classic.
#3 by The Ol Goaler on 04.21.07 9:42 am |
Red’s leprechauns may have deserted the woeful Celtics, but they must have been in full flower to allow the Sawks to score five in the eighth and beat the Yanks, 7-6! Wonder if they’ll be “a-waerin’ of the green” again today…. (Nahhh…!)
#4 by Brian A on 04.21.07 9:46 am |
And their green caps didn’t have the MLB logo on the back, which I thought was very odd.
#5 by Brian A on 04.21.07 9:48 am |
You can see that at this link
http://sports.espn.g...
#6 by Brandon on 04.21.07 9:50 am |
Speaking of the MLB logo on the back of the caps, I really don’t like how on the new caps the logo sticks out like the team logo on the front. I really wish theyd go back to the smooth streamlike look of the old wool 5950s.
#7 by Brandon on 04.21.07 9:55 am |
As someone whose grandfather was the 1974 Sheep Shearing National Champion (yes there is such a thing and he has a championship ring to go with it) I wish they had stuck with traditional wool altogether.
#8 by Rich on 04.21.07 10:21 am |
Kevin Youkilis passed out Virginia Tech caps to teammates, which came courtesy of Hokies assistant baseball coach Mike Gambino, a former Sox minor leaguer and Boston College captain, and a Youkilis pal. The Sox had permission from Major League Baseball to wear a black VT on their left sleeves last night. The idea, according to team spokesman John Blake, came from Francona and Jason Varitek
That was from the Boston Globe baseball notes.
#9 by Rich on 04.21.07 10:22 am |
Link
#10 by Rich on 04.21.07 10:23 am |
Try it again.
#11 by junkland on 04.21.07 10:36 am |
I think the Sox should have gone all out and wore green sleeves and green sox to go with the green jerseys.
The red and green was just too much. Might make a good X-mas gift, though.
#12 by JJD on 04.21.07 10:45 am |
Dear Bob Kraft,
Since the Red Sox paid tribute to Red Auerbach by making their jerseys green, please DO NOT feel obligated to do the same with the Patriots. Ick.
Thanks,
JJD (and all fans with functional eyesight)
#13 by Carbon Duke on 04.21.07 10:50 am |
Maybe the Sox should wear those unis again on Cinco de Mayo since they look almost exactly like the Mexican National Soccer unis, seen here:
#14 by Christopher on 04.21.07 11:04 am |
Ok, this is what pisses me off about the whole “different color” thing, and its usually green.
Green is replacing the *primary* color in the uni. Therefore, you need to replace ALL of the places the primary color exists.
The White Sox did this well with their old green-on-white home jerseys (1/2 way to St Patrick’s day game). But lately they’ve been wearing some black here and there. Ick!
Worse is red and green. Replace ALL the red with either green or the secondary color (white in this case).
#15 by Tom K on 04.21.07 11:23 am |
Im excited to see the Bulls break the black shoes tonight against Miami, I always considered it a classic tradition
#16 by Chris on 04.21.07 11:25 am |
I thought the green was a cool look for one game. Granted, it would make a terrible third jersey, but for one game I liked it.
#17 by David T on 04.21.07 11:43 am |
There have been a lot of Virginia Tech memorials in the last few days, but most of them have been team-wide (the Red Sox last night, or the Nats a few days ago). But last night, the Angels’ Joe Saunders got special permission to wear a VT cap. Can anyone think of another time when a player in a team sport has been dressed differently from his teammates as a memorial (and gotten it approved in advance)? I’m not talking about a hastily scrawled Sharpie message on shoes or something, but an actual different piece of equipment. Seems pretty rare to me.
#18 by Auric on 04.21.07 11:47 am |
David T said:
From the same article:
Angels starter Joe Saunders. Wearing a Hokie cap thanks to Bud Selig’s blessing, the majors’ lone former Virginia Tech player pitched six scoreless innings for his second win.
I think that explains it.
#19 by DrBear on 04.21.07 11:47 am |
Maybe I’m really missing something, but what was so special about green jerseys on April 20? Because it wasn’t St. Patrick’s Day?
#20 by Drew on 04.21.07 12:08 pm |
Tom said:
Tom…an action shot will be hard to find. Fridge only actually played the first regulation down of the season with the Monarchs, then stood on the sidelines the rest of the year.
#21 by stuby on 04.21.07 12:21 pm |
DrBear said:
4/20 is widely known as a sort of ‘National Pot Smoking Day’ i.e. smokin’ the green.
#22 by jorge on 04.21.07 12:35 pm |
stuby said:
no, they were honoring red aurebach
#23 by Tom on 04.21.07 12:54 pm |
Tom K said:
O yeah, its so rare that NBA teams have any consistent traditions when it comes to unis. The Bulls have done this consistently well over the years. Every time they bust out the black shoes, you know its playoff time!
#24 by MGreen on 04.21.07 1:00 pm |
I’m not a hockey fan, but was checking out the buffaslugs unis last night. The retro look I’m diggin, but can anyone explain to me why you would go with a throwback jersey and throwback socks, but wear the current shorts? I don’t get it.
http://scores.espn.g...
#25 by LES on 04.21.07 1:04 pm |
The Mets are in Pinstripes!
The Mets are in Pinstripes!
The Mets are in Pinstripes!
Ohh My God The Mets are in Pinstripes!
shit Black and blue caps
Bummer
Les
#26 by Mary on 04.21.07 1:09 pm |
Ew, Mets with pinstripes and BLACK hats again! WTF????
#27 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 1:12 pm |
David Wright has his pants UP today, and he’s wearing a new pair of Nike Shox cleats. The announcers said “I guess that what happens when your hit streak ends”.
#28 by ben on 04.21.07 1:18 pm |
MGreen said:
Because those “shorts” are kinda expensive and bulky and not worth having an extra set on hand for when they don’t look that bad anyway.
Another completely random VT tribute last night-The Colorado Eagles of the CHL had VT helmet stickers during their game against the Oklahoma City Blaze.
http://www.centralho...(first picture-couldn’t find a direct link). And check out those OKC jerseys-sweeeet
#29 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 1:19 pm |
Can anyone get a grab of David Wright’s pants and cleats? His cleats sort of look like this….
http://a712.g.akamai...
But they have white laces and are black and orange on the sides.
#30 by stuby on 04.21.07 1:25 pm |
jorge said:
I was responding to post #2 also. Of course they were honoring Red Auerbach, that’s what today’s open thread is about.
#31 by Graf Zeppelin on 04.21.07 1:26 pm |
The Mets have to either stop wearing the road cap at home ALL the time, or admit to MLB and the rest of the world that the two-tone cap is, in fact, the official home cap, that the pinstripes are an alternate uniform and that the blue cap is an alternate cap. I won’t like it, but I would at least have some respect for the organization.
The black is bad enough; it’s been compounded by this bizarre and completely unnecessary dishonesty.
I can only pray that when Citi Field opens in 2009, the team will revert to the uniforms it wore from 1995-97. Maybe that’s what they’re waiting for.
I love the Mets, but enough is enough. Either wear the true Mets uniform, or admit that it’s not the uniform anymore.
#32 by Andrew on 04.21.07 1:44 pm |
While I repsect the Red Sox honoring Red Auerbach, it does feel a bit silly considering he died almost six months ago. I realize that his death didn’t occur during baseball season and that this is one of the earliest opportunities they’ve had, but it’s still riduculous to me.
#33 by Shane on 04.21.07 1:48 pm |
Personally, loved the green.
#34 by Tom on 04.21.07 1:52 pm |
Drew said:
Thanks, Drew. It sounds like it was a publicity stunt of some sort?
#35 by DrBear on 04.21.07 1:59 pm |
Ah, that explains it. I get high on baseball, not drugs!
#36 by junkland on 04.21.07 2:07 pm |
The 1989 film Major League has been a topic of conversation lately with Charlie Sheen’s DirecTV commercial and the Indians playing in Milwaukee this season.
It was on this morning on Comedy Central and I have an issue with the last scene…
Bottom of the 9th inning, 1 out, Willie Mays Hayes on first, Jake Taylor at the plate.
1st pitch- Taylor swings and misses, Hayes steals 2nd.
Taylor calls for a bunt-and-run play and points to the bleachers ala Babe Ruth.
2nd pitch- Brush back pitch, Taylor hits the deck, HAYES IS STILL ON 2ND!!!!
Taylor calls his shot again.
3rd pitch- Hayes takes off for 3rd, Taylor bunts down the 3rd base line and beats the throw while Hayes rounds 3rd and heads for home with the winning run.
This has always bothered me. Why didn’t Hayes steal on the 2nd pitch?
Anybody else?
#37 by Beantown on 04.21.07 2:11 pm |
ben said:
I think their pants (and helmets) look rediculous with those awesome throwbacks. Most teams will wear “shells” when they have alternate uniforms, which are much cheaper than new pants, and require no breaking in. Vancouver wears these when they break out their 3rd unis. NHL teams probably get them for less than $40.00/pair, so there is no reason why they should go on the cheap.
#38 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 2:12 pm |
Joey Guns said:
I guess it’s not working for him like it’s worked for A-Rod. He’s 0-3 with 2 K’s and has 3 guys left on base.
#39 by Sean on 04.21.07 2:14 pm |
Mary said:
My thoughts exactly…
#40 by Buckeye Mike on 04.21.07 2:20 pm |
junkland said:
I think you are missing the most important thing there. As good as they were in the details, with everyone wearing real stir ups, etc, when taylor comes to bat in the 9th, he is wearing his cather’s helmet, not his batting helmet. it has no flaps. Buy willie mays hayes has his hat on under his batting helmet in those shots too!
God I love that movie GO TRIBE
#41 by Chris on 04.21.07 2:24 pm |
David Wright in the high socks and new shoes is looking great, but playing not as well.
#42 by Nate from SRU on 04.21.07 2:26 pm |
junkland said:
I agree, he should have stole 3rd. It was obvious he had the speed and ability. However, to build up the excitement and tension of the movie, they made him stay. It was to get the full effect of the bunt and run play. (remember it was a movie and if it was a real game and he didn’t steal third when he had a chance, and one of them ended up getting out on the play, be sure his ass would be chewed out the second he hit the dugout.)
#43 by junkland on 04.21.07 2:26 pm |
Buckeye Mike said:
Well, flapless batting helmets were fairly common in 1989.
I just wanted to point out a major plot hole.
#44 by Beantown on 04.21.07 2:34 pm |
As for the Sabres uniforms, take a look at this site and tell me that this year’s throwbacks look anywhere near as good as the originals with the non-matching pants and helmets.
If you want to see a team that does the throwback thing the right way, check out these babies that the Canucks roll out. Spend a little money on helmets and shells and the whole thing looks legit.
#45 by JA on 04.21.07 2:34 pm |
The Nets are wearing their alternate red jerseys at the Raptors. Seems odd since the Raptors floor is red, all their fans are in red and their road jerseys are red.
#46 by BA on 04.21.07 2:52 pm |
JA said:
How about the Nets with RED socks? Some players are even wearing them high. Yuck.
#47 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 3:05 pm |
Why aren’t comments updating??? Very annoying…..
#48 by Ryan Petrynka on 04.21.07 3:15 pm |
Beantown said:
Totally agree. I’m not too fond of the Canucks’ throwback look, but at least they spent the cash to get the matching pants and helmets. Buffalo’s throwbacks just look halfassed.
On another note, Buffalo’s original blue and gold home jersey is a thing of beauty and a damn shame they created the Slugs instead of going back to that.
#49 by TD on 04.21.07 3:18 pm |
Just an observation: Is it me, or did Bud Selig see three big gnarly ghosts one night about three weeks ago and convert from thumbscrew-turner to genuinely empathetic tribute-approver?
I (somewhat painfully) applaud the guy for being laid back Do the Right Thing Commish for the past month. That said, what the hell happened to Der Kommissar we all know and hate? Six months ago a player couldn’t stitch his name into his underwear for camp without getting a nastygram from the home office.
#50 by =bg= on 04.21.07 3:19 pm |
He looks like a Christmas tree. Nice gesture, tho.
My favorite Met’s look has to be the white versey with the piping around the colar then running down the front..like the RSox have. Nice look.
#51 by Flick on 04.21.07 3:43 pm |
HO, HO, HO!
#52 by Flick on 04.21.07 3:55 pm |
As far as the Canuckleheads go, The “Hockey Stick” jersey is the least ridiculous.
#53 by Steve on 04.21.07 4:09 pm |
I believe the Mets have not worn blue socks and sleeves this season. Correct?
#54 by SaraJane on 04.21.07 4:18 pm |
Anybody else watching the Cards and Cubbies? Marquis and Reyes are both pitching in high pants, which is normal for Reyes, of course, but I don’t think I’ve seen Marquis wearing his pants correctly; at least not when he was with STL.
#55 by JJD on 04.21.07 4:23 pm |
junkland said:
I would rationalize this by saying he wasn’t thinking about a steal of third on that play (under the circumstances I can’t believe a manager would risk his guy in scoring position by sending him on a straight steal) so he wasn’t ready to go. If you aren’t thinking “steal” there, chances are you are just standing flat-footed and won’t even try it.
#56 by =bg= on 04.21.07 4:31 pm |
watching the Yankees @ RSox; what classic looks.
#57 by =bg= on 04.21.07 4:39 pm |
..except for Beckett. Is that a snake, a rope, what IS that under his jersey?
#58 by Broker75 on 04.21.07 4:39 pm |
=bg= said:
no doubt eh.
#59 by Broker75 on 04.21.07 4:41 pm |
does Varitek have the “c”
#60 by SaraJane on 04.21.07 4:41 pm |
Sorry for the lo-res shot, but this is what baseball should look like.
#61 by Graf Zeppelin on 04.21.07 4:41 pm |
Steve said:
Correct, Steve. The only team in MLB that wears its road cap at home has not worn blue caps/undersleeves/socks yet this season.
#62 by Broker75 on 04.21.07 4:41 pm |
yup
#63 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 4:41 pm |
Broker75 said:
Yes, the “C” is back!
#64 by SaraJane on 04.21.07 4:48 pm |
Uni-related discussion during the Cubs/Cardinals game… Fox showed a Sounds of the Game clip from the 1st inning of umpire Angel Herndandez telling Cubs’ centerfielder Felix Pie to change or cover his white sweatbands/tape on his wrists with blue, so they don’t mistake them for the ball and call a trapped ball a no-catch. But, he hadn’t changed it in the 3rd inning.
#65 by Broker75 on 04.21.07 4:52 pm |
Flames Red Wings, good combo of uni’s.
#66 by Krycek on 04.21.07 4:56 pm |
Beckett removed his under shirt between the inning. Maybe he was sleeveless in his other starts?
#67 by schuby on 04.21.07 5:02 pm |
SaraJane said:
Without the Taco Bell ad.
#68 by alex on 04.21.07 5:15 pm |
Broker75 said:
as long as calgary is not wearing the ‘horse’ sweater.
#69 by BJ Lanier on 04.21.07 5:18 pm |
Oregon State to change logo:
New Beavers Logo
#70 by SaraJane on 04.21.07 5:18 pm |
schuby said:
Too true. And the Cardinals should be winning.
#71 by RaoulDuke on 04.21.07 5:20 pm |
Ah, that explains it. I get high on baseball, not drugs!
They compliment each other beautifully, it doesnt have to be an either or thing.
#72 by Kyle O. on 04.21.07 5:28 pm |
This afternoon Notre Dame had 4 colors being worn at their spring game. Blue and White for each team, Red for the QB’s and Green for the offensive live. Have any other spring games used so much color?
#73 by Jeag on 04.21.07 5:48 pm |
BA said:
I think the Nets break out the red socks every year for the playoffs.
Looks like Vince Carter was playing in tights, though he tried to hide them with the kneepads and socks. I still hope he gets fined.
#74 by Ed from Dallas on 04.21.07 5:55 pm |
The way the Red Sox who wore high pants and red undersleeves was perfect cuz it brings out the color that is used the least on the top.
#75 by Go Cyclones on 04.21.07 6:06 pm |
SaraJane said:
My thoughts exactly. Another shot from Cedeno, it’s gonna be a lonnnnnng year
#76 by TD on 04.21.07 6:08 pm |
SaraJane said:
Caught the end of Reyes’ appearance – he had the pants cuffed too high. He was rather close to venturing into biker shorts territory..
#77 by Korryn on 04.21.07 6:15 pm |
On the DirecTV commercial with Charlie Sheen: Has anyone else noticed that the jersey isn’t consistent throughout the ad. When it is using frames from the movie the jersey is white, has the indians logo on the left sleeve. In the commercial specific frames, Sheen’s jersey has a matching stripe going from each sleeve up to the collar of the jersey, i.e. the same stripe used on the pants goes from shoulders down the mid portion of the sleeve. Really bugging me each time I see it; well that and the batter changes sides of the plate on the two pitches he throws.
#78 by Broker75 on 04.21.07 6:17 pm |
so I was watching Saturday afternoon television,.. we got the playoffs in the NBA, NHL and the Yankees playing the Red Sox-as well as other divisional rivalrys [Cubs-Cardinals/Mets-Braves/Sox-Tigers] and I was flicking through the guide during commercials and Space Jam was on, with all this uni-watch to watch–who would watch space jam
#79 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 6:24 pm |
Penn State spelled out “VT” in the student section of their annual blue/white spring game today. They had a record 71,000 spectators.
http://www.gopsuspor...
#80 by Todd on 04.21.07 6:34 pm |
Korryn said:
This was mentioned a few times over the last few weeks. Indeed, the jerseys he’s wearing in the movie and the 2007 shots are different. One has stripes around the sleeves, and the other has stripes down the sleeves and down the pants. As far as the batters go, a few people have pointed out that it was ball 4 to the first batter, so the next shot shows the next batter with a count of 0-0.
#81 by TD on 04.21.07 6:48 pm |
Michael Barrett wearing his catchers no-flap helmet under the headphones for the FOX postgame interview. About as goofy-looking as possible.
#82 by Brandon Davis on 04.21.07 7:06 pm |
I may have missed it in the comments section or it may have been mentioned from when he was in Japan, but Hideki Okajima uses a red glove.
Hard to tell here, but Coco Crisp wears his stocking cap backwards. It was clear during the highlights of SportsCenter last night with the green jerseys (which were CoolBase by the way).
#83 by Dear Lord Stanley on 04.21.07 7:16 pm |
Beantown said:
The Canucks look sharp as hell in their throwbacks. On a related note, I wish the Blackhawks would bust out the “Barber Poll” look again.
#84 by MGreen on 04.21.07 7:36 pm |
I think those Sox jerseys were all mesh…not CoolBase.
#85 by Mark in Shiga on 04.21.07 7:37 pm |
Brandon Davis said:
The red tint looks pretty mild to me; I never noticed it before, and over here in Japan there’s no shortage of shots of Matsuzaka and Okajima.
The green jerseys are nice but the mesh is ugly and the names on the backs are even uglier. Were they on the road on St. Patrick’s Day this year? Is that why there are names on the green jerseys?
#86 by Tape on 04.21.07 7:43 pm |
Ed from Dallas said:
I ‘m glad that I wasn’t the only person who picked up on that.
I kind of like the look, actually. It’s just fine to break out once or twice a year – they’ve been doing this for a long time for the spring training St. Patrick’s Day game. And maybe if they do it exactly one time during the regular season, it could be alright.
They SHOULD, however, stop wearing the red alts immediately and forever. They should have a navy alt, if anything – but, of course, no team should have alts!
#87 by Buckeye Mike on 04.21.07 7:58 pm |
Don’t think it’s been said, but in the OSU spring game, the Buckeyes had a VT logo on the left side of their helmets. Coach Tressel asked Frank Beamer for his blessing, which Coach Beamer allowed. it’s a weird look, but very classy none the less. take a look here!
#88 by Greg Riffenburgh on 04.21.07 8:04 pm |
I was wathching the Yanks and Sox today and noticed that Kyle Farnsworth was weargin some untinted glasses. This photo isn’t from tonight, but that’s the same silver frame that he wore.
#89 by Neil M on 04.21.07 8:08 pm |
Drew said:
Wrong. I saw the Monarchs play at Stamford Bridge that season and he played defensive tackle for short spells throughout the game. Apologies if someone already picked this up.
He was terrible for London by the way.
#90 by Mr. Met on 04.21.07 8:37 pm |
Graf Zeppelin said:
The Mets tend to wear blue caps/ undershirts/ socks on Sunday games. Someone in a previous column claimed that it was because the equipment manager has already packed all the black shirts and black/blue caps for the next game (I suppose working on the assumption that they will be on the road on Monday or Tuesday). Don’t know how accurate that is, but the Mets will be hosting Colorado on Monday, so it will be interesting to see if they bust out the blues tomorrow for the first time this year, or if they stick with the black/blue caps and black undershirts……
#91 by Mr. Met on 04.21.07 8:41 pm |
Chris said:
I wouldn’t expect him to go back to the look again for a while. Last year, he did it (on a day when the Mets were wearing their blue caps/ undershirts/ socks, no less) and had a horrible game, going 0-for-the day with an error, I believe. He stated that he would retire the look because of thre bad game he had.
Based on today’s final performance, I think he’s going to be done with the high pants look maybe permanently.
#92 by Chad G on 04.21.07 8:51 pm |
anyone know of a MEts email address where we could email them and request they do a fan poll for favorite uniform?
#93 by Dave A on 04.21.07 9:33 pm |
Brandon Davis said:
Doesn’t look red to me…looks like a normal glove.
#94 by Johnny O on 04.21.07 9:42 pm |
What league were the Youngstown Pride in?
#95 by Brad on 04.21.07 10:09 pm |
Darn, someone beat me to the “Ohio State wears VT logo on left side of helmet during Scarlet and Gray Game” post.
Anyway, I think our announced attendance was 75,000. Which is pretty sweet.
Interesting uniform notes:
1) QBs wore regular jersies just like everybody else and were full contact throughout the game, just ask Rob Schoencroft (I think) who got rocked blindside in a devastating sack.
2) Schoencroft and Antonio Henton (Sophomore QBs) played for both teams and changed uniforms at the half.
#96 by Brandon on 04.21.07 10:36 pm |
SaraJane said:
Actually last season Marquis copied it from Reyes for a game and actually had one of his very few decent outings and remarked that he thought the high socks helped him pitch better. Marquis was then shelled in his very next start.
#97 by Zac on 04.21.07 10:47 pm |
Jeag said:
Looks too rubbery to be stockings to me, it’s probably a knee sleeve/brace with a pad over it.
As for the red jerseys, they’re starting to grow on me. I kind of liked how they went with the Red and the Raptors have that “See red” deal going on like the Heat with their white-out’s last year.
#98 by Graf Zeppelin on 04.21.07 10:47 pm |
The Mets, being the only team in MLB that wears its road cap at home, don’t care what the fans think or want, they only care what sells. They think black sells, so they wear black. They may be right.
About 20 years ago, when sports merchandising really took off, the team that sold the most merchandise and apparel was the L.A. Raiders, whose primary color is black. They even marketed a “Real Men Wear Black” t-shirt. Consequently, a great many pro sports franchises either jumped on the bandwagon to add black to their color scheme, or change their primary color to black, beginning with the L.A. Kings who basically adopted Raider colors around 1987 or 88, as did the Chicago White Sox a couple of years later. Teams that didn’t add or change to black wound up darkening their primary colors, such as by changing royal blue to navy.
The Mets were about 10 years late to this party, but the franchise’s peripheral involvement in the film “Men in Black” (one shot of Bernard Gilkey getting conked with a ball while staring up at a flying saucer) coupled with the failure of the 1997 white alternate cap, gave someone the idea for “Mets in Black,” hence the black alternate jersey added in 1998. For some reason, they decided to keep the plain-white alternates, to which, along with the road greys, a black drop-shadow was added. A year later, the black trim was on the pinstripes as well.
The black/blue two-tone cap is essentially the 1997 white “ice cream” cap changed to black (blue logo with orange outline, blue bill); this was intended to be paired with the black jersey in ‘98 but they liked it so much they started wearing it with the other uniforms as well, particularly the road greys. The road black alternate and all-black cap debuted in 1999; both black jerseys from then on were only worn with the all-black cap, whose logo matches the script. The black/blue cap, which was really no longer needed, unfortunately remained and was paired exclusively with the road greys (becoming the official road cap in 2001), and almost exclusively with the plain whites. The blue cap was worn very rarely, only at home, and has been ever since.
Somehow, the blue cap remains the official home cap according to the MLB style guide. It was also the official road cap through 2000, even though it was never worn on the road after 1997 (or maybe early 1998; can anyone confirm this?) The reality, though, is that the black/blue cap has been the official Mets cap since 1998; they wear this cap in 9 out of every 10 games, home and away.
Maybe black sells, and maybe a lot of people like it. I can understand that. What I can’t understand is the franchise’s absurd and needless dishonesty concerning its home uniform. Why keep telling MLB and the public that your home uniform is one thing when it’s really something else?
Could anyone imagine the Cardinals wearing their navy cap at home? Or the Athletics wearing their solid-green-gold-logo cap at home? The Tigers wearing their orange-logo cap at home? The Cubs wearing their red-billed cap at home?
The Mets are the only MLB team that wears its road cap at home; the only MLB team whose official uniform is actually an alternate and vice-versa; the only MLB team whose batting helmets don’t match its caps.
As long as black sells, the Mets will continue to wear black, and there’s nothing we as fans can do about it. Nothing.
The Mets colors, blue and orange, the logo and uniforms were all chosen and designed for a reason, to honor New York’s rich baseball history: Dodger blue, Giants orange and “NY” crest, and Yankee pinstripes. The black and its associated accoutrements were also chosen for a reason: to capitalize on merchandising profits.
#99 by Zac on 04.21.07 10:48 pm |
Joey Guns said:
Now THAT is really cool, was it orchestrated by the students or was it something planned out by the school officials?
#100 by Minna H. on 04.21.07 10:51 pm |
Um, no. The Green Sox look terrible. The only red and green unis should be, well, you know.
I liked the Cubs/Cards matchup, especially the pitchers, but they had to ruin it by unbuttoning the top button of their jerseys. Both pitchers! Sloppy.
Miami/Chicago playoff basketball game. Dwayne Wade was wearing an arm sleeve and compression shorts. I say, he should go all the way and just wear this. Might as well!
#101 by Failos2002 on 04.21.07 11:01 pm |
Not true. We can bitch.
And bitch we shall.
DITCH THE BLACK!
#102 by Failos2002 on 04.21.07 11:03 pm |
Test…I’m new here…101 was supposed to be in response to 98.
#103 by Joey Guns on 04.21.07 11:13 pm |
Zac said:
It was thought up mostly the students. Penn State said they would provide, free of charge, 800 orange and maroon shirts to the first 800 students that sat in that section.
#104 by Steve on 04.21.07 11:18 pm |
graf,
Love your take. When it comes to understanding their history the Mets, under Wilpon and his fortunate son, have always been a day late and a dollar short.
Unfortunately, not only have they refused to embrace their rich history, they are a shallow and simple ownership who have repeatedly take notice of things only after they have jumped the shark.
When it comes to matters of taste they are so sadly predictable. Yes, Black is out, perhaps that’s whey they wear it more than ever.
Someone also forgot to read the memo that says only the Red Sox should be playing Sweet Caroline before the top of the ninth.
#105 by Minna H. on 04.21.07 11:21 pm |
Joey Guns said:
Now THAT is the way to do a memorial. Well-planned and student driven. Nice touch by Penn State to provide free shirts. Way to go, Penn State!
#106 by Tom on 04.21.07 11:24 pm |
I think one person has mentioned how when merchandise took off in the late ’80s the popularity of the Raider’s black unis convinced a lot of teams to go with black including my team the White Sox. Just to clarify, the Sox (only the White Sox should be called Sox since they’re the only team with Sox on the cap and jersey) changed their unis to celebrate the opening of New Comisky in 1991. Part of the reason for black was indeed the popularity of the Raiders. It was also that the 1950s Sox unis were also black, which have been identified as the most popular Sox unis to that point. But I agree that theres no reason for the Mets to wear black other than merchandising.
#107 by marlowe on 04.21.07 11:24 pm |
quoting Graf Zeppelin
… jumped on the bandwagon to add black to their color scheme, or change their primary color to black……as did the Chicago White Sox…
As long as black sells, the Mets will continue to wear black, and there’s nothing we as fans can do about it. Nothing.
The Mets colors, blue and orange, the logo and uniforms were all chosen and designed for a reason, to honor New York’s rich baseball history: Dodger blue, Giants orange and “NY” crest, and Yankee pinstripes.reason:
————————–
The White Sox have along history with black, and even longer with very dark blue (100 years plus) -that is nothing new for them.
And actually the NY Giants have a significant “black” history, and even wore all black in 2 World Series. You are being pretty arbitrary in you historical selection.
#108 by Tom on 04.21.07 11:38 pm |
marlowe said:
Yeah but the Giants are a different team. I get that the initial selection of blue and orange was based on the Giants and the Dodgers, but the Mets quickly established their own history and identity without black. Personally I think the Mets went with black so they could look tougher. After all they have the Imperial Storm Troopers on the other side of town. Otherwise they’d look just as wimpy as the Cubs, but they Cubs get away with it since they’re soo cuuute.
#109 by Todd on 04.21.07 11:44 pm |
Every year, when the Mets host the Yankees for a 3 game series, they have a “hat swap” where you can trade in a hat for a Mets hat.
Make your trade! Bring an old baseball cap to Shea for the Subway Series, May 18th through May 20th. The first 5,000 fans to show up to each game with an old cap, can trade it in for a new Mets cap, courtesy of Chevrolet.
Look at the ugly Mets hat that you get!
http://newyork.mets....
#110 by Minna H. on 04.21.07 11:59 pm |
Todd said:
Um, yeah. I want one of those. What the? They couldn’t even make it blue and orange????
#111 by Todd on 04.22.07 12:03 am |
Minna H. said:
Here’s the hat they’re giving away on June 2nd. Wow, I’m shocked its black……..not
http://newyork.mets....
#112 by Minna H. on 04.22.07 12:10 am |
Todd said:
Ok. I totally support the “Ditch the B****” Campaign (in the case of the Mets), but I would take this hat over the other one any day, even if black weren’t my favorite color.
Todd, are they EVER giving away an orange and blue cap? Ever? Any time? I mean, they are the home colors, right?
#113 by Minna H. on 04.22.07 12:14 am |
What does this say?
HOME CAP (with other mumbo jumbo).
What color is it?
ORANGE AND BLUE!
I rest my case.
#114 by marlowe on 04.22.07 12:20 am |
Tom said:
Hey Tom – the Cubs “ditched the black” 98 years ago and haven’t won a WS since.
#115 by Tom on 04.22.07 1:09 am |
marlowe said:
The Cubs still manage to sell a tremendous amount of merchandise in spite of being one of crappiest teams around. Which upsets me as a Sox fan since the Flubs don’t have to do squat to be popular.
#116 by Mr. Met on 04.22.07 1:14 am |
As long as they wear the blue caps/ undershirts/ socks at home as part of the official home uniform, they can wear as much black as they want on the road……
Hell, at this point I don’t care if they use the snow whites at home more than the pinstripes; let’s just see some blue!
#117 by Mr. Met on 04.22.07 1:15 am |
Minna H. said:
Totally agree with you, Minna!
#118 by Judd on 04.22.07 3:03 am |
Minna H. said:
Except the Wild technically use Forest Green and Iron Range Red (also Harvest Gold and Minnesota Wheat)… which are slightly different from what the Red Sox were using.
#119 by vard on 04.22.07 3:04 am |
I was hoping the Sox’ green jerseys were for Earth Day! oh well.
#120 by Chad G on 04.22.07 3:17 am |
go here and request the Mets to go back to using blue and get rid of the black!
#121 by LES on 04.22.07 5:58 am |
Id be happy if the Mets would so this.
Monday to Thursday home ,snow whites blue caps day games black blue night games.
Friday home ,Black Alt & black Caps
Sat&Sun Home pinstripe blue caps
Road unis as they are but wear blue caps on grays on Sundays
#122 by Mike Miller on 04.22.07 6:16 am |
Buckeye Mike said:
Remember, Taylor was an old grizzled vet who probably started his career in the late 70s in the movie, so he would have been grandfathered in on the no earflap helmet. I don’t think earflaps were mandatory until 1982 or so.
#123 by Graf Zeppelin on 04.22.07 8:27 am |
LES said:
This is essentially what they do already. How often do we see a day game Monday through Thursday? This proposal still relegates the blue cap to an only-occasionally-worn alternate, instead of the official Mets cap which it has been since 1962, but only nominally since 1998.
No more nonsense. Pinstriped uniforms, blue caps as the standard home uniform for all games. Plain-whites with blue caps as an occasional Saturday alternate, black jerseys with all-black caps as an occasional Sunday alternate. That’t it.
If they do that, I can deal with pairing the two-tone cap with the road greys, even though the blue cap would be better.
And the two-tone batting helmets have to go, or at least be made to match the two-tone cap.
#124 by Jack H. on 04.23.07 2:40 pm |
The thing is, green and red aren’t BAD colors to put together, but whenever someone does it it simply makes the wearer look like an elf because of all the connotations that come with the colors together.