Several people have contributed good info about the College World Series, but I’m gonna save that until tomorrow or Thursday. Today we’re going to look back a bit further than college baseball — all the way back to Little League.
That topic was inspired by a note I got last week from reader Wally Steidley, who said he coached Little League in Wylie, Texas. “My assistant coach and I are huge fans of Uni Watch,” he wrote, “so we took it upon ourselves to spend a little extra and get our boys outfitted like real baseball players. We have some limitations from the league but put together a pretty nice combo, including stirrups and sanitary socks. All the other teams went with the one-color soccer sock, so we really stood out as the finest uni’ed team in the entire league.”
Cool, I thought — teach ‘em young and all that. So when Steidley offered to send me some photos, I said, “Sure, let’s have ‘em.” That’s when I discovered that he’d left out one pertinent detail. He hadn’t just dressed up his team like real ballplayers — he’d dressed them as one of history’s most idiosyncratic teams: the A’s. Here’s Steidley‘s rundown:
We had some challenges getting the kids to wear everything correctly, but it was worth it, as everyone in the league noticed our classic stirrups and gold sanitary socks. We did have to explain the stirrup and how to wear them to the kids, but the parents thought it was a cool look, so they helped us out by requiring that they wear them correctly. You will also note the white cleats, which were difficult to find, but we talked the parents into them.
The gold belts were used because last year we were the Pirates, and the parents didn’t want to have to buy more belts. I gave in because my assistant coach and I had already purchased helmets, with MLB sticker packs, and fronted the money for the socks and stirrups. This is something we’ll be able to fix with next year’s team.
Amazing. So now there’s a bunch of nine-year-olds in Texas who think “real” ballplayers wear yellow sanitaries and white cleats. That should warp their little minds quite nicely. Still, Steidley’s devotion to uniform protocol is admirable. After Jason Giambi arranges to have Bud Selig bumped off, could we maybe get Steidley in line to take over the Commissioner’s chair?
Research Project — Last Call: If anyone wants to tip me wise to any bizarro minor league uniforms, I’m still taking submissions — hit me.
Membership Update: I’ve added about two dozen more rear-card designs to the membership roster and to the card gallery (including, as you can see at right, our first referee-based design). My continued thanks to all who’ve joined.
Remember that members get three bonus entries in this week’s raffle, which is for a copy of the 2001 MLB Style Guide. If you haven’t already entered, send an e-mail to uniraffle at earthlink dot net.
Uni Watch News Ticker: One of the San Diego Union-Tribune columnists wrote a bit of a Padres uniform manifesto yesterday (with thanks to Josh Berliner). … And a St. Looie columnist has weighed in on the suits-on-the-sidelines situation (with thanks to Luke Pellegra). … Good photo here (helpfully provided by Tom Konecny of the Toledo Mud Hens’ uni-laundering scene. The accompanying article isn’t really about uniforms, though. … One last Father’s Day oddity: Ray Durham wore one of those light blue wristbands on his head during BP (with thanks to Bosox blogger Jere). … Ehan Lewis notes that the NFL recently held its annual NFL Softball Challenge event. If you’ve always wanted to see Jeff Lurie swinging a bat (among other sights), a full gallery of pics is available here. … Nice find by Ethan Rowley, who came up with this portrait of Cardinals greats, which functions as a de facto timeline of the team’s uniform. According to … this article (forwarded by Wes Johnson), “[Minnesota] Gophers football coach Tim Brewster made it clear that there will be only one change in the team’s uniforms this fall: the letter ‘M’ on the helmets will be much bigger.” Which means it’ll look even more like an upside-down W than it already does. … Excellent slide-show essay on the history of — and problems with — U.S. soccer uniforms here. … Latest player spotted wearing Oakley Thumps during BP: Bartolo Colon (great shot by Zach Gibson). … Member Eric Bonus has scanned and uploaded an excellent 1987 article about hockey uniform numbers. … More really disturbing Chris Cooley hot pants pics here. … Carlos Delgado went high-cuffed last night, and it was a thing of beauty. Take note, class: His pants didn’t break right at the knees but, rather, just slightly down the shins. This is exactly — exactly — how it should be done. Such a splendid example of the form that I’m willing to overlook the lack of stirrups. … Pitt’s new secondary logo has been leaked. … Michael Maurino works for the single-A Dunedin Blue Jays and recently attended the Florida State League All-Star Game, where the teams wore East and West jerseys that almost make the Pro Bowl look good by comparison — especially when you factor in the number font — yeesh. The guy wearing double-zero in that last photo is Francisco Cervelli of the Tampa Yankees, who normally wears 34, but that was taken by Omar Malave, who managed the West team. Anyone know which other minor leagues use generic all-star unis instead of letting the players wear their regular team attire? … The Angels are giving away an item I’ve never seen before: wristbands with a built-in watch. If you haven’t seen it already, check out the super-cool animated Watch Your Back ad, now running near the top of the right column.
#1 by Mike on 06.19.07 9:02 am |
The President got a drawer full of new jerseys yesterday, ranging from “43″ to “1″..and a huge tennis racket too…
http://www.whitehous...
#2 by Mike on 06.19.07 9:03 am |
Are these the new Capitals uni’s?
#3 by Mike on 06.19.07 9:05 am |
Whoops, lets try that again…
#4 by Mike on 06.19.07 9:06 am |
Hmmm, it isn’t working. well, cut and paste this address and you’ll see what I’m talking about…hopefully
http://www.nhldigest...
#5 by Nolan on 06.19.07 9:09 am |
That wristband watch combo could have saved one of my uncle’s a layer, he always wore a wristband (red,white,blue) under his watch.
#6 by Nolan on 06.19.07 9:13 am |
NO
#7 by redemske on 06.19.07 9:15 am |
You know what’s awesome? Check out that first pic of the little kids. Look at the first baseman — dude’s not even watching. That ball will be delivered in less than a second, and he’s probably looking at rocks or bugs or something. Sweeeet.
#8 by anthony on 06.19.07 9:16 am |
…looking through the uniform card gallery, I think I’m the only one that is identified by the “player” not the “owner”
#15 - Munson.
That’s funny.
#9 by James P. on 06.19.07 9:22 am |
is it me, or does Pujols look like he doesn’t want to be in that lineup?
#10 by Joey Guns on 06.19.07 9:22 am |
That’s a lot of stuff to file away into storage!
#11 by Joey Guns on 06.19.07 9:23 am |
He definitely just squashed a bug or something…
#12 by Dwight on 06.19.07 9:23 am |
Wally Steidley should be named coach of the year based on uniform alone. My 8 year old son was the ONLY kid in his little league who wore stirrups in the season, and many people thought it was a great thing to see.
Is their a stirrup revolution beginning also, based on what were seeing in the CWS?
#13 by Brady on 06.19.07 9:23 am |
I don’t have a pic (it’s on the front page of the Sports Section here in KC, but it’s not on the internet version), but Presdient Bush got a nice set of swim tights from the Auburn girls team (looks like they might fit a child - a small child). Be interesting to see him don those….
#14 by Brendan on 06.19.07 9:23 am |
And the pitcher’s foot is a good three inches off the rubber. At least he’s got a damn fine uniform on.
#15 by Chris on 06.19.07 9:24 am |
What’s up with the watch on those Angels watch/sweatband combos being 90 degrees off?
#16 by Jason on 06.19.07 9:25 am |
That secondary Pitt logo is just awful. What the hell is that thing?
#17 by Joe H on 06.19.07 9:25 am |
This is by far the coolest!
#18 by Mike V on 06.19.07 9:27 am |
Those kids look sharp, if and when I have a kid, i only hope he will be in such a well dressed league, or just team. I say wearing stirrups not only makes the kid/team look great, it gives them an edge because they will have more self confidence because they look so much better than the other team. Just a theory. Maybe the first baseman isn’t looking at bugs or dirt, i think he is admiring his fine looking duds. However, this distraction could blow holes in my theory, meaning, looking so good can draw your attention away from the game because you can’t stop thinking about how sharp you look.
#19 by James P. on 06.19.07 9:30 am |
that almost looks like my high school letter jacket. sweet looking jacket, that’s for sure!
#20 by James P. on 06.19.07 9:31 am |
everything is a little off center out on the West Coast…
#21 by Jon L on 06.19.07 9:34 am |
1. No matter how you feel about Mark McGuire, how can you do a poster of “Cardinal Greats” and not include him?
2. The Pitt logo looks like a rabid pig. I’m an Auburn grad and if the AD tried something like that with Aubie…lets just say torches and pitchforks would be involved!
#22 by Jason on 06.19.07 9:38 am |
Notes (but unfortunately no pics) from last nights Brewer game:
Giants’ Luis Figueroa (called up yesterday) pinch-hit and had no name on his jersey.
There were game-worn jerseys for sale in the Fan Zone and I noticed that the home white and road gray had names directly sewn on, but the navy alts had name plates. From internet photos I could find it’s kind of tough to tell.
Polish Sausage was wearing faux stirrups for the Sausage Race. Next time I’ll bring my camera.
#23 by Sage Confucius on 06.19.07 9:41 am |
I hope the the Berkley water polo team gave him the ball and not a Speedo.
#24 by Jaye on 06.19.07 9:45 am |
Gee, thanks for that image. I might not be able to work today.
#25 by Joe H on 06.19.07 9:52 am |
If McGwire (or MC GWIRE according to the back of his jersey) was so great, his fans would know how to spell his name! hehe
#26 by Mike on 06.19.07 9:52 am |
Bush does look particularly amused by that gift.
#27 by Joe H on 06.19.07 9:54 am |
Great shirt here says it all!
#28 by Mike on 06.19.07 10:08 am |
The batting picture is nice for a couple of things: The catchers mitt looks to be a few sizes too large…maybe he will grow into it. Also, I like the catchers eyes closed, head flinching technique. I caught when I played little league and I know that look all too well.
#29 by Joey Guns on 06.19.07 10:13 am |
I was a catcher also. I can totally relate.
Interesting batter, no batting gloves, and he’s got the eye black on……
#30 by Chi Wei Hu on 06.19.07 10:13 am |
What kind of self-respecting Cardinals greats poster DOESN’T have Enos Slaughter? Pretty major omission there.
#31 by Anthony Verna on 06.19.07 10:14 am |
On his radio show yesterday, Tony Kornheiser mentioned the Chris Cooley short shorts and was aghast.
#32 by Brendan on 06.19.07 10:14 am |
Since when do the Mets wear grey cleats on the road?
#33 by Anthony Verna on 06.19.07 10:22 am |
Sales Clerk: This bat was made for Slaughter.
Costello: Haven’t you got one that was made for baseball?
#34 by todd krevanchi on 06.19.07 10:25 am |
i thought it was quite interesting how, of all the pictures of pujols to copy and draw onto that,
“greats of st louis” picture, they chose one of him the day they wore the special world series champion, gold outline cardinal unis…
#35 by The Ol Goaler on 06.19.07 10:32 am |
Artist’s license… others that easily could have been included are “Pepper” Martin of the “Gas House Gang”, Hall of Famer Enos Slaughter (shown scoring on his “Mad Dash” against the BoSox in the World Series), retired-number honoree Ken Boyer (shown in the rare Cards’ jersey without the “Birds On The Bat”), former MVP/batting champ Joe Torre, and former MVP/batting champ Willie McGee…
The Cardinals’ colorful history also includes players Leo Durocher, Johnny Mize, Orlando Cepeda, Ted Simmons, Mike Shannon, and Joaquin Andujar… where does one stop?
#36 by My name is not Earl on 06.19.07 10:32 am |
One problem with that Cardinals Greats photo: Bob Gibson is smiling. That never happened in real life.
And at the College World Series, it was nice to see that Oregon State hasn’t done with its home uniforms what it did with its road uniforms. Last year, the Beavers wore the same uniform design (”Beavers” in the oldish-looking font that you see everywhere) on all three jerseys (white, gray, and the third jersey, which I don’t remember if it was black or orange). For some reason, the Beavers have foolishly jettisoned the classic-looking jersey on the road. At least they retained the old whites.
#37 by Matt B on 06.19.07 10:36 am |
Heehee, W getting visits from Madison and Berkeley delegations on the same day. How much tongue-biting was going on?
From today’s Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel
As a tribute to [rookie pitcher] Gallardo’s Mexican heritage, equipment manager Tony Migliaccio issued him uniform No. 49, worn with distinction by Teddy Higuera in the late 1980s. Gallardo never met Higuera but had spoken with him on the telephone, and appreciated the gesture.
Wow. Teddy Higuera.
#38 by My name is not Earl on 06.19.07 10:38 am |
There’s an advertisement in this past week’s Sports Illustrated (and thankfully, the Mets didn’t wear black on the cover) profiling the history of Tommy John surgery. There’s a picture of Tommy from what looks like the early part of his stint with the Yankees. I can’t tell if those stirrups are real or fake. I think they’re fake, but I can’t say for sure. What’s everyone’s take? And if this has been covered already, Paul, please delete!
#39 by todd krevanchi on 06.19.07 10:38 am |
last night in watching the CWS
i saw games featuring the beavers, the eaters and a color man named orel…
all while watching erin andrews patrol the seats.
had to laugh…
#40 by Jaye on 06.19.07 10:47 am |
RE: Yesterday’s debate on printing out tickets on the home computer. If you have to do so, print them on high-quality photo paper. That makes them more durable and scrapbook-worthy. Just be sure to let the ink set (which really shouldn’t be a problem). I hope this isn’t a repeat. My search function locks up my computer and I don’t feel like wading through yesterday’s comments.
#41 by Stuby on 06.19.07 10:55 am |
As a Giants fan, I would say the greatest Cardinal of all time is Jose Oquendo. He ripped my heart out in the ‘87 playoffs.
#42 by voteprime on 06.19.07 11:04 am |
2 things:
1. re: Printing out tickets at home. At least with that you have something to save in a scrap book. What do you do about sending tickets to your cell phone?
2. Have you seen the Sports Spud Mr. Potato Head available for all MLB teams, and even in 2007 All Star gear? Unfortunately, he has no legs, so we can’t comment on his hosiery. I’m sure he would be wearing stirrups if he could.
#43 by todd krevanchi on 06.19.07 11:05 am |
as a cardinal fan since the templeton for smith deal prior to the 82 season, i can say that tom lawless, hero of game 4 of the 87 series, should be on that list.
#44 by Anthony Verna on 06.19.07 11:12 am |
They’ve ditched the black!
http://shop.mlb.com/...
#45 by Graham on 06.19.07 11:14 am |
Does anyone have a schedule/countdown to the new NHL jerseys being introduced? The Caps on on Friday, right? Anyone know about the Canucks? Are there any other confirmed changes this summer (other than RBK Edge)?
#46 by Stuby on 06.19.07 11:15 am |
The potato head mustache kind of reminds me of this. He just needs the shades.
#47 by schuby on 06.19.07 11:17 am |
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NOOOO PLEASE NO ONE ELSE TRY TO ASK THIS!!! PLEEEEEEEEAAAAAASEEEEE!!!!!
#48 by Mike on 06.19.07 11:24 am |
Bruins are Thursday night…..
#49 by Mike on 06.19.07 11:26 am |
I was just rereading this and it occured to me, something seemed odd:
The gold belts were used because last year we were the Pirates, and the parents didn’t want to have to buy more belts
What were the Pirates uni colorscheme last year? Black jersey, white pants, gold belt?
#50 by Kenny on 06.19.07 11:31 am |
Looks like a pissed off sea otter
#51 by Norton on 06.19.07 11:36 am |
Making the little leaguers all wear the white shoes is absurd. Maybe they live in some sort of lily white surburb of affluence, but making parents buy new cleats for their kids because their coach wants to make them look like the real thing, give me a break.
#52 by Jason on 06.19.07 11:42 am |
I think you might be onto something there.
#53 by Stuby on 06.19.07 11:43 am |
It kind of reminds me of this guy.
#54 by jesse on 06.19.07 11:44 am |
I was at Pitt from 2000 to 2003, when I got there they were just finishing changing the over to Notre Dame’s colors. Just think of all of the thing at your college or high school that were painted the school colors, and try to imagine repainting them. It’s a massive (and expensive) undertaking. They had to repain all the trucks, and the pool, the street signs had to be changed. Pretty much every thing had to be repainted, and it took them about five years to get it all done.
Now everybody wants to switch back. Somebody at the office of physical plant is going to cry.
The new logo looks similar to the 1966-1972 logo that you can see on Chris Creamers logo page, the links to the page never work. Why is that?
#55 by Kenny on 06.19.07 11:46 am |
What does everyone think? Worth it or no?
#56 by voteprime on 06.19.07 11:53 am |
I have to say, it looks better than their previous alternate, which with the jagged shading hardly resembled anything. At least this looks like some kind of animal. Eventually, they may even create a logo that looks like a panther! Baby steps.
But who am I to talk when when my team’s mascot is a fuzzy orange ball in a hat.
#57 by todd krevanchi on 06.19.07 11:55 am |
i actually thought of that right away…
when i was in little league, teams were designated by the color stirrups, not shirts. it was less expensive for the league to buy 15 pairs of 4 different color stirrups that could be reused year after year, than to buy different t shirts on a yearly basis.
every player wore white pants and a brown shirt with the name of the jr baseball association on the front. no numbers.
you had the option to get a new shirt every year, and some did, however my parents philosophy was, you have the shirt already, if you want a new one, you can buy one with youre own money.
i can only imagine what they would have said about the shoes. they would have let me be the only kid with black shoes on a team full of white, im sure…
#58 by Cathy on 06.19.07 11:58 am |
YES! That is a cheap price for one of those.
#59 by Anthony Verna on 06.19.07 12:00 pm |
I don’t know. I’m just wary of buying something in THIS industry from eBay.
#60 by jesse on 06.19.07 12:00 pm |
That is a Majestic jersey, so it is not the actual maker of the original. I’ve seen other players in this style, their attention to detail is a little suspect; they put a name on the back of the Clemente version of that product, and the colors were off. So I would check the jersey from the season this purports to “throwback to before I bought it. However, the jersey material is close, and everything is swen on, but not with nearly the quality or attention to detail of a Mitchel & Ness throwback.
It looks alright, most people won’t know the difference, but for my $129, I would get something else.
#61 by simonsdaddy on 06.19.07 12:01 pm |
“I gave in because my assistant coach and I had already purchased helmets, with MLB sticker packs, and fronted the money for the socks and stirrups.”
In case you didn’t read the whole thing, nothing absurd when you fronted the cost of other items…
#62 by Dwight on 06.19.07 12:01 pm |
Absolutely!
#63 by Dwight on 06.19.07 12:01 pm |
ok, close quote
#64 by jesse on 06.19.07 12:02 pm |
No way, that is full retail price.
#65 by Dwight on 06.19.07 12:02 pm |
Agreed, as a Cardinals fan, Jose Oquendo and Tommy Herr were gods. BTW, no one, and I mean NO ONE pulled off the baby blues like the Cardinals
#66 by Gary on 06.19.07 12:06 pm |
For the most part, kids need new cleats each year anyway. Their feet have a tendency to grow. So new cleats shouldnt be an issue. Finding white ones these days is another story.
#67 by tivonia on 06.19.07 12:07 pm |
Back in the 1980’s the Phillies used to give away a wristband-watch combo. The wristband was made of some sort of cheap nylon and the watch battery barely lasted the ride home. To change the watch battery you had to basically destroy the wristband. Still, as a kid, it was pretty cool to wear one of those to school.
#68 by Kenny on 06.19.07 12:08 pm |
That’s what I was thinking at first…but the only one I saw at the Cardinals Team Store was some crap Nike one…not even the right color blue
I am also having a terrible time finding a Willie McGee jersey that’s of good quality
#69 by jesse on 06.19.07 12:09 pm |
Compare it to the Mitchel & Ness version of the same jersey. The white shading around the cardinals logo gives it away.
It does appear to be cheaper than what you would pay from the Cardinals website, but I think that is still pretty close to full retail. The Cardinals listed it as a “replica throwback”
#70 by Kenny on 06.19.07 12:13 pm |
touche…guess I’m gonna keep looking
#71 by Pflava on 06.19.07 12:14 pm |
Wally Steidley’s little league team looks fantastic. I can appreciate what he did even more after attending my nephew’s little league game and seeing every single player clad in pajama pants.
#72 by jesse on 06.19.07 12:14 pm |
That may be your only choice if your married to a blue Willie McGee jersey. I think that the price is comperable to what you pay for it at the mall, assumin you could find it.
#73 by Shaftman on 06.19.07 12:15 pm |
But at least SU listens to the students. When I was there in ‘97 there was an attempt to change Otto to a 3-d version. There were 3 new designs and the original, the students voted and Otto remained the same.
#74 by Tom on 06.19.07 12:15 pm |
#75 by Johnny O on 06.19.07 12:20 pm |
I am gonna have to say the Brew Crew gave the Cards a run for their money in this department.
True Blue Brew Crew
#76 by Stuby on 06.19.07 12:22 pm |
No way. The Royals had the best, with the white numbers and script.
#77 by Johnny O on 06.19.07 12:23 pm |
Nike has been making those wristband watches for a while. They are pretty sweet when you go running.
Nike wristband watch
#78 by susan on 06.19.07 12:23 pm |
My favorite is the Women’s Hockey - and probably the only one he would ever wear. What do you suppose he does do with all those jerseys he gets?
#79 by Mark in Shiga on 06.19.07 12:29 pm |
Also, aren’t these kids only nine or so? If it’s their first year in baseball, and they’re definitely going to need new cleats the next season, I guess convincing the people who don’t already have shoes to get white ones isn’t that bad. I’m assuming that if a kid played last year with black shoes he could keep them, right?
And Todd, every team’s shirts were the same color!? And no numbers on the back? Saving money is good, but you need to know who’s on what team. Did you at least have different-colored caps?
My first year in little league, they gave us T-shirts (to keep) with no numbers on the backs; instead there was an ad for a bank. It looked ridiculous. Fortunately the next year they put numbers on the back, and perhaps as a cost-saving measure, had nothing at all on the front. I’d much rather have a blank T-shirt front than a shirt with a bank ad where the number belongs!
#80 by Mets Fan in Chicago on 06.19.07 12:32 pm |
Scoping out the MLB.com store, and spotted this - please note the discrepancy between the “authentic Nolan Ryan 1969 road jersey” and the “authentic Tom Seaver 1969 road jersey” - does this mean that Ryan didn’t deserve the piping and Seaver did? The HOF seems to side with the Seaver jersey (as does my memory). Way out of character for Mitchell & Ness
#81 by Andy from KC on 06.19.07 12:34 pm |
AMEN. I can’t believe the discussion made it that far.
#82 by Mike on 06.19.07 12:37 pm |
Agreed
#83 by susan on 06.19.07 12:39 pm |
That was kind of harsh… I like this one! Keep in mind that while McGwire is still guilty, it was before this was all made public. I feel fairly confident that if it was him in Bonds’ shoes now, he would NOT be chasing the record!
#84 by Oakdale Panther on 06.19.07 12:40 pm |
The University of Pittsburgh just sent an email to Panther Club members confirming what Paul noted in today’s notes, above.
A new, stylized panther-head logo replaces the jaggedy-edged “Dino-Cat” mark introduced in 1997.
I snapped up a tee shirt with this logo about two months ago at a Target store. I think it’s a great improvement over the previous one. Still…. wish we had something that really looked like a “felis concolor”, as they have at BYU, Houston, and that cow college in Central Pa.
#85 by Mike Engle on 06.19.07 12:41 pm |
I’d hate to be picky, but check out the batting helmet of the little league Athletics team featured in the article (the link with the word “classic.”) The helmet is off. With the white ‘A’s,’ the green helmet should have had its brim painted yellow, or the solid green helmets should have the yellow decal. Overall, a great effort.
#86 by jesse on 06.19.07 12:43 pm |
48-14
#87 by Dwight on 06.19.07 12:47 pm |
You are all crazy - Maroon and Baby Blue - ugly, Blue and yellow on Baby Blue - average, Blue on Baby Blue - bland, BTW, are all you KC fans still paying Don Denkinger?
#88 by Stuby on 06.19.07 12:51 pm |
Don Denkinger didn’t cause Joaquin Andujar to completely lose his mind in game 7. Sour grapes, my man.
#89 by Dwight on 06.19.07 12:53 pm |
Yup - but there never should have been a Game 7!!! Admit it - you stole it!
#90 by Joey Guns on 06.19.07 12:53 pm |
Geeze. Plus, they’re charging like $40 extra for the piping!
#91 by todd krevanchi on 06.19.07 12:55 pm |
molitor KILLED in that series…
5 hits in game 1 .355 for the series…