Fascinating bit of info came up on the SABR listserv yesterday. Baseball Hall of Fame curator and Uni Watch pal Tom Shieber had asked a question about the exact dates when certain numbers had been retired, including the Pirates’ retirement of No. 1 for former manager Billy Meyer (who, as you can see, is listed here). That led to the following response from one of the list’s powerhouse researchers, Fr. John Hissrich:
I [too] have tried to track down information on Billy Meyer’s #1 with Pittsburgh — not only when it was retired, but WHY? Meyer had a just a few years as the Pirates manager and had a losing record, meaning that every Pirates manager for the last fifteen years is up for that honor [of number retirement].
In speaking with a woman who used to work for the Pirates, I was told that Meyer was widely remembered as “a nice guy,” but that hardly [merits] such a distinction. The best anyone has been able to suggest to me is that when the Pirates were first compiling a list of retired numbers, someone noticed that nobody had worn the number 1 since Meyer left. That probably had more to do with his successor, Fred Haney, simply taking a different number. In any event, Meyer’s name got on the list, and nobody has really seen any reason to try taking it off.
I don’t mean to pick on Pirates fans, who’ve endured a near-endless stream of indignities in recent years. But if Hissrich’s account is accurate, it means the Buccos have essentially retired a number due to a clerical error. That’s got to be a first.
And Hissrich was actually being kind when he said Meyer “had a losing record.” Meyer’s managerial record was 317-452, for a .412 winning percentage. That’s like going 67-95 over a 162-game season — and doing it over and over and over again. Not only that, but Meyer presided over one of the worst seasons in MLB history: the Pirates’ 1952 campaign, when the team went 42-112.
This raises the question of whether Meyer might be history’s least deserving number retiree (not counting owners and other dubious non-number-wearing sorts). It also makes you wonder why nobody else has questioned his retiree status until now.
Uni Watch News Ticker: The FedEx guy showed up at Uni Watch HQ yesterday afternoon and handed me an envelope. I wasn’t expecting anything, so I looked at the return address and was surprised to see “Joe Skiba, New York Football Giants.” Inside I found this — a few pieces of confetti from the aftermath of the Giants’ post-game celebration in Arizona. Is that cool or what? I have only one other artifact that compares: When the Mets won the NLCS to advance to the World Series in 2000, a sportswriter friend pocketed this champagne cork from the floor of their clubhouse and later gave it to me. Nice. … Speaking of the Mets, this looks pretty damn good to me. The Santana press conference also provided our first photographic view of the new Shea Stadium sleeve patch, as seen here, here, here, and here. … Nike has introduced a new soccer ball for FIFA-sponsored tournaments. Details here (with thanks to Jeremy Brahm). … The Russian army (the actual military, not the Red Army hockey team) has new uniforms (courtesy of Chris Bisbee). … Curt Schilling tells an interesting story about Sean Casey’s jersey here. … Lots of women’s hoops teams will be wearing pink for a 10-day span that begins this Friday. Details here. … Speaking of women’s hoops, Richard Musterer reports that Georgia Tech will be wearing 1979 throwbacks on February 29th. They’ll be modeled on this, and let’s hope that includes the socks. … “I just rented a great movie The Kingdom and noticed Jason Bateman’s character wearing an Orioles road cap for most of his scenes,” writes Jack Krabbe. “But in one scene the film must have been flopped, because the bird was facing the wrong way.” … Brian Flynn, who was quoted in yesterday’s entry about Punt, Pass & Kick, sent along some pics of the cap and pants (complete with Pepsi ad) that he wore during one of his Giants Stadium PP&K appearances. “I couldn’t find the jersey but I remember exactly what it looks like,” he writes. “It’s a regular replica jersey like you’d buy at Modells for your team (in my case, the Jets). But instead of numbers, it has the PP&K logo screened on the front and the team’s logo screened on the back.” … Incidentally, I didn’t realize that there was a PP&K-themed Charlie Brown special that apparently aired in 1994. Details and lots of still images (with some interesting uni details) here (big thanks to Corey Buck). … Nice little video clip here that finds Predators goalies Chris Mason and Dan Ellis discussing their mask designs (as forwarded by Wade D. Harder). … My former ESPN.com colleague Darren Rovell is now at CNBC, where he’s apparently getting ready to deliver a serious knob job to Phil Knight and Nike, in the form of a one-hour documentary set to air next Tuesday. A mercifully short promo clip is available here. … Jonathan Gault reports that England’s national soccer team unveiled their new away jersey in a friendly match with Switzerland on Tuesday. … Another late-’80s NFL jersey patch that I have no memory of: this one, which was worn by the Vikings in 1989. “The ‘40 for 60′ line stood for ‘40 men, 60 minutes,’ a saying by Joe Kapp,” explains Dan Sliwinski, who brought this one to my attention. … Scroll down to the “One Size Doesn’t Fit All” section of this page for some amusing details on how the Shaq trade created an instant headache for Phoenix’s equipment manager (with thanks to Alexander Benezra).
#1 by James Craven on 02.07.08 7:59 am |
I would like to comment anout one of yesterday’s comments on PP&K on the Mozilla Firefox.
It just says that, there’s nothing wrong about a browser that’s safer tha Windows Explorer to say the least.
#2 by KT on 02.07.08 8:25 am |
If it’s possible, Mexico’s jerseys last night were even worse-looking than the US jerseys. At least the US jerseys fit (though the NOBs were arched and for apparently no reason).
Mexico’s jerseys were too tight, the numbers on the back looked like they were drawn on, no NOB, the truncated adidas sleeve stripes, the white blob on the front of the collar…just bad.
#3 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 8:25 am |
Incidentally, I didn’t realize that there was a PP&K-themed Charlie Brown special that apparently aired in 1994. Details and lots of still images (with some interesting uni details) here (big thanks to Corey Buck).
http://search.ebay.c...
#4 by Gazzoo on 02.07.08 8:28 am |
Do they really use the name “New York Football Giants” on their mailing labels?
#5 by ML on 02.07.08 8:29 am |
The Russian army (the actual military, not the Red Army hockey team) has new uniforms (courtesy of Chris Bisbee). …
I want the women’s uniform coat. Seriously.
#6 by Mike Engle on 02.07.08 8:30 am |
So does the confetti gift make up for the Ahmad Bradshaw paint chip that Skiba threw away?
#7 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 8:31 am |
Hard to believe this team could have lost 120 games!
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
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#8 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 8:36 am |
Great UPI wire photo from 1970. Shows the Seattle Pilots “converted” unis as well Thurman Munson with the plainest number style imaginable.
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#9 by Justin PGH on 02.07.08 8:45 am |
Great article. I can’t wait until the Bucs retire Lloyd Mclendon and Jim Tracy’s Jerseys.
/Disgruntled Pirates Fan.
#10 by who cares on 02.07.08 8:52 am |
If you’re looking for body paint body paint you’ll definitely find it in abundance at CAN2008. There is, however, only one Zarla Show Boy. Folks, awesome has just been defined!
#11 by todd krevanchi on 02.07.08 8:52 am |
Justin PGH said:
comment of the day… and its in the body.
this is similar to how milton kept receiving a paycheck at initech, however it wasnt a “clerical error” it was a “glitch in the system”.
#12 by Judd on 02.07.08 8:53 am |
My guess is this:
According to retroSheet.org, Billy Meyers was named Major League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News in 1948…
In 1947, Pittsburgh went 62-92 and in 1948 they went 83 – 71… a pretty big turnaround.
Maybe this is why?
#13 by Robert on 02.07.08 8:53 am |
ML said:
With the use of models to demonstrate the new Russian women’s uniforms, I am reminded of Dan Aykroyd’s love interest in “Spies Like Us.”
#14 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 8:56 am |
todd krevanchi said:
“So we fixed the glitch!”
#15 by Robert on 02.07.08 8:57 am |
todd krevanchi said:
Even though I work at a small law firm, we once “hired” a law clerk to work as an associate upon graduation from law school. It seems that every partner mistakenly thought that some other partner had told her that we did not intend to make her an offer, and when she kept showing up, we felt too bad about it to just let her go.
#16 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 8:59 am |
…and… what was i JUST saying yesterday about the buccos??? ugh! gotta love them though… “gotta believe!” lol!!! my season tickets are in the mail!
p.s.
LOVE the new US soccer jerseys. i wish they would stick with them for, oh, i don’t know… a year or so? is that too much to ask?
#17 by Matt W. on 02.07.08 9:06 am |
“Serious knob job…”? Wow, I though Rovell does pretty good work at CNBC. I thought Paul just railed against the “evils” the Nike perpetrates on sports uniforms, not the entire company. What companies should he report on — LA Gear? K-Swiss?
#18 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 9:08 am |
the knoxville tennessee AA ball park was named after billy meyer, and it opened in 1955, one year after meyer’s number was retired
perhaps his number was retired in exchange for the pirates’ failure to return his stapler
#19 by todd krevanchi on 02.07.08 9:08 am |
interesting how at probably the most satisfying moment in ski’s professional career, when his team has just reached the ultimate goal, and pulled off perhaps one of the top 3 upsets in super bowl history, he had UW in mind and knew it would be a cherished item…
with all that confetti around, can you imagine the ebay value of it for giant fans around the country?
#20 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 02.07.08 9:09 am |
Robert said:
And Aykroyd’s real life wife was Chevy Chase’s love interest in Spies Like Us.
#21 by Brian from Short Island on 02.07.08 9:14 am |
That NIKE ball won’t see nearly as much use as you suggest. adidas has the FIFA and UEFA contracts, and a NIKE ball is only used for UEFA Cup games (not Champions League or Euro), leagues where Nike is the ball sponsor, and for home friendlies of national teams for whom NIKE is the sponsor. The FIFA logo means it meets a rigid specification and has been tested by FIFA, and doesn’t imply endorsement. The specs are here.
#22 by Tim on 02.07.08 9:16 am |
in the flipped film from the kingdom, you can see the steering wheel in the vehicle behind the–its on the wrong side of the car.
#23 by Duckstyle on 02.07.08 9:17 am |
KT said:
Those Mexico jerseys were pretty bad, and lathough I liked the US jerseys in pcitures, I don’t think they looked very good on the field. The red stripes were completly lost unless there was a closeup, and the socks were way to plain. I dunno, not terrible, but the last home uni was definitly better. Can Nike take a mulligan on that one?
#24 by Stuby on 02.07.08 9:17 am |
Rick White in Cedar Park, TX said:
Yep. She was Sonny on “Bosom Buddies” with Tom Hanks.
#25 by Lee on 02.07.08 9:28 am |
Brian from Short Island said:
so EPL, la liga, and serie a. the three biggest leagues in the world will be using it. thats quite a bit of use.
#26 by Adios el-Kabong on 02.07.08 9:30 am |
On Meyer – His retired number is questionable, but understandable. Meyer was highly regarded as a manager in the Yankees’ system for many years. He was once passed over for the Yanks mgr job, and then took Pgh and made them (immediately and briefly) respectable in 1948, contending for pennant into August and finishing 4th. The Yanks then wanted to make Meyer mgr – Pgh refused – so they turned to Stengel. It was well understood that the Pirates’ return to horribleness after 1948 wasn’t Meyer’s fault at all, but the fault of a broken organization (echoes of today’s Pirates, sadly). In 1950 the new Pirate majority owner John Galbreath hired Branch Rickey to turn the organization around. This took years, but in the latter half of the 50s the Bucs got better and better (2d in 58, WS in 60, and thirty years of mostly excellent baseball thereafter). Rickey eventually got the guys he wanted in the mgr job (Fred Haney and Bobby Bragan, before new GM Joe L. Brown turned to Danny Murtaugh), but there was a great affection for Meyer in Pgh and apparently great respect for him throughout baseball. Plus he died very soon after he left as Pirate mgr, and sentiment over his untimely death also had something to do with it.
The least deserving retired number of all time is #7 of your Washington Capitals, the great Yvon Labre. Beat that one.
#27 by Vyacheslav on 02.07.08 9:35 am |
I wonder where they got the idea for the Shea Stadium Patch?
http://www.logoserve...
#28 by Kim on 02.07.08 9:37 am |
ryan c #40 said:
Soccer jerseys are on a two year cycle. It’s been that way for the US National Team for quite a while. Expect new jerseys on each even numbered year. One set for World Cup Qualifying (this year), one set for the World Cup.
#29 by JBees on 02.07.08 9:37 am |
Wait, Shaq got traded to the Suns? Where have I been?
#30 by Slim and Slam on 02.07.08 9:38 am |
Re the Pirates retiring Meyer’s #1 despite his terrible record as manager:
Maybe they decided that the number was cursed, and retired it as a matter of self-preservation.
Based on their record since 1993, it didn’t work.
#31 by mg12 on 02.07.08 9:45 am |
I know there has been a decent amount of talk regarding Chivas’ sponosor Bimbo. It would’ve been nice to have seen this Bimbo sponsor follow with the Chivas US team, but everyone mentioned that this sponsor would not translate to the US market.
I thought it was interesting that even though last night’s freindly between US and Mexico was in Houston, Texas, Bimbo sponsorship was proudly displayed on the side and end boards.
The only picture I could find that illustrated this was featured in this article. Look at the back wall.
http://www.mlsnet.co...
#32 by Casey on 02.07.08 9:47 am |
The Portland Trail Blazers have some pretty pitiful retired numbers, too. They essentially started retiring most of the main players from the 1977 championship team, and ended up with guys like Dave Twardzik hanging from the rafters. He played only 4 seasons for Portland, averaging about 9 points, 2 rebounds, and 3 assists per game.
Larry Steele’s stats aren’t much better, but at least he played about 10 years for the Blazers.
Unfortunately, because they’ve retired so many numbers of undeserving past players, the Blazers now seem hesitant to retire the numbers of deserving, more recent players (see: Terry Porter).
#33 by Txhunter on 02.07.08 9:48 am |
The heck with the coat…I want the Russian woman soldier wearing that coat…
#34 by Fez Whatley on 02.07.08 9:57 am |
Santana wearing a white dress shirt for his press conference actually is one of the better jersey over dress shirt looks I can remember.
As Paul has documented, sometimes the player looks so silly.
#35 by Joe H on 02.07.08 10:00 am |
Adios el-Kabong said:
I can’t disagree more!!! Retired numbers do not have to 100% deal with stats! Yvon’s contributions were far reaching off the ice to an area that was new to the NHL. Hockey didn’t exist in DC before Yvon, and he was part of the reason it flourished.
From wiki: “Although he was never one to put up big offensive numbers, Labre’s value was noted in being a hard-nosed defensive defenseman on the ice and an active member of community programs and youth hockey programs off it. Such dedication to a team in a location not known for rich hockey history made him one of the Capitals’ most popular players during his time there.
Labre served as team captain from 1976 to 1978. He remained in the Capitals organization after his playing career ended. At various times since his retirement, he has served as an assistant coach, a color commentator, a scout and the director of community relations for the Capitals.”
#36 by ScottyJ in WV on 02.07.08 10:08 am |
mg12 said:
Wait, are you talking about this Bimbo??? ;0)
#37 by Kim on 02.07.08 10:09 am |
Joe H said:
It’s great that Yvon’s family put that on there. I’m sure he’s a great guy. But the Caps retired his number just to retire a number. They were a desperate team in the mid-80’s and having a sense of history may have helped them out.
Ask Ted Leonsis about hockey flourishing here in the Nation’s Capital.
#38 by Chance on 02.07.08 10:11 am |
Gazzoo said:
I’m pretty sure that they do. That’s also how the receptionists answer the phone.
I for one love it. A charming throwback from a very classy organization.
#39 by Jason on 02.07.08 10:16 am |
I don’t believe Bobby Phills deserved the honor of having his number retired by the (then Charlotte) Hornets. He averaged about 12 points/game in 3 seasons, and was killed basically drag racing with a teammate. It’s always a tragedy when a life is cut short in it’s prime, but he was already in his 9th or 10th season and was certainly not going to be worthy of such a distinction.
Of course the Hornets have also retired Pete Maravich’s #7 and he didn’t play a single minute during the franchise’s existence. (I do see the connection, b/w Maravich and N.O., btw)
#40 by Perry on 02.07.08 10:18 am |
KT said:
Nasty color, too, not nearly as nice as their usual shade of green. I liked the US jerseys in action better than I thought I would from photos. Good game, too. Well, except for the back 4 — I think Tim Howard was ready to deck one of them.
Are you sure that’s England’s away jersey Rooney is wearing? I know they generally wear white at home, but that game was at Wembley.
#41 by Paul Griebel on 02.07.08 10:21 am |
…the anti Nike stuff is wearing me out……
#42 by MIKE on 02.07.08 10:23 am |
Looks like the mets are going with a different blue cap, with a with button on top instead of an orange one, unless it was the lights at the press conference.
#43 by tim on 02.07.08 10:23 am |
Txhunter said:
I came in here to say the same thing. Holy jiminy jeez, that woman is beautiful. I’ve never been to Russia, so maybe they only export their top prospects… are all women over there unspeakably beautiful?
Interesting that the Russian army uniform redesign seems to bring the dress scheme very close to the NATO standard colors/organization.
#44 by Mike Edgerly on 02.07.08 10:24 am |
Chance said:
Isn’t that their Official Company name? Didn’t they incorporate with “Football Giants” way back in the ’20s because to distinguish from the “Baseball” Giants?
On the other hand I still call the Arizona NFL team the “Football Cardinals” although they left StL 20 years ago…
#45 by Griff on 02.07.08 10:24 am |
That Shea Stadium patch looks a lot like the Tiger Stadium memorial patch from ‘99.
#46 by Kim on 02.07.08 10:25 am |
Perry said:
Yeah, that’s their new away(red) shirt. They unveiled it this week and that game was the debut. Can you think of another way to boost sales?
#47 by Ben on 02.07.08 10:33 am |
Are the pinstripes on Santana’s jersey a lighter shade of blue than usual? In some of those pictures it looks like Carolina blue.
#48 by Mark in Shiga on 02.07.08 10:36 am |
Retired numbers are a pox on the game.
By purporting to show respect to the players whose numbers are being taken out of circulation, they’re showing disrespect to the future of the franchise and the sport.
These teams are confident that they’ll still be in existence a century or two from now, don’t they? The Yankees have retired 16 numbers in 78 years. Had baseball been in existence (and with numbers on uniforms) since American independence, 48 numbers would be gone at that rate, and had baseball begun with the Mayflower settlement, available Yankee numbers would begin at around 83.
It was a great gesture to retire Lou Gehrig’s number 4 back in 1939 before his untimely death, when jersey numbers had only been around for a decade and could have been just a passing fad, but now they’re here to stay.
I like the way the Toronto Maple Leafs do it — hand up the jerseys of the all-time greats, but don’t forbid new players from having the numbers. Give those highly-touted rookies a number with some weight and watch them try to live up to it!
Maybe they could compromise and leave just one number out every year. If the Pirates want to honor Billy Meyer, make #1 unavailable. Then it stays out of circulation until the next great Pirate retires and assumes the mantle. Right about now that Pirate would probably be Willie Stargell, whose #8 would have been hanging up for over two decades. Then you could really gauge how great a player was — by how long it took to unseat him as the team’s only retired number.
#49 by Duckstyle on 02.07.08 10:36 am |
tim said:
No way, I want that Flock of Seagulls haircut the designer has!
#50 by Mark in Shiga on 02.07.08 10:37 am |
Uh oh, I broke the italics.
Paul, if you could be so kind, please change that sentence to:
“These teams are confident that they’ll still be in existence a century or two from now, aren’t they?”
#51 by Joe H on 02.07.08 10:39 am |
Kim said:
The point is that stats alone do not have to be the sole factor in retiring a number. The fans in Baltimore are clamoring to have Ellie Hendricks’ number retired because of his dedication to, and love for, the Orioles, and he deserves it. He’s a .220 career hitter, but nobody cares. He meant more to the game than that.
Also, every MLB doesn’t have #42 retired because of Jackie Robinson’s stats. Sometimes you look beyond them and see what that individual meant to the sport and the community.
#52 by Rick on 02.07.08 10:44 am |
Even though it is not a retired number, the Baltimore Ravens do have a Ring of Honor in the stadium and the first ever inductee was the undeserving Earnest Byner. I know Art Modell put him in there as a homage to his work for the then Browns (minus the fumble), but as a Raven he played for only two years and put up a whopping 947 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Hardly an effort worthy of a name in the Ring of Honor.
#53 by Ben on 02.07.08 10:44 am |
“The ‘40 for 60′ line stood for ‘40 men, 60 minutes,’ a saying by Joe Kapp,”
I think that phrase came out of the attempt to give Kapp the team MVP award. He refused the award saying somthing like “There’s no such thing as Santa Claus, there ain’t no Easter Bunny and there sure as hell ain’t a single MVP on this team”
#54 by Nicole on 02.07.08 10:47 am |
KT said:
Both jerseys were just plain awful. The Mexico long sleeves looked like green fabric that was sewn to the short sleeves.
The NOB of the USA jerseys looked horrible over the top of the red horizontal pin stripes.
Just plain painful to watch!
#55 by KT on 02.07.08 10:50 am |
Mark in Shiga said:
You’re overthinking.
It’s rare that any trend that starts out hot continues at its same pace. We have seen a slowdown in retired numbers (that’s just a guess, I know the number of teams has expanded over time, but it seems like the outliers like the Yankees and the Bears are the exceptions and nobody is retiring numbers at that pace) in recent years.
Retired numbers were a good idea, and I love the ceremony and the whole deal when a really deserving player gets to experience all that with the fans.
I do see your point that there are too many retired numbers and it’s become diluted.
But disrespecting the future of the franchise and the sport? I think that’s an overreaction.
#56 by Excalabur on 02.07.08 10:59 am |
Re: Football (soccer) Jerseys
Football doesn’t work with strict “home” and “away” jerseys. Most teams have a primary jersey and an alternate one for use when their primary jersey clashes with the other team’s kit.
The Dutch, as a famous example, wear their orange kit almost all the time, simply because it rarely conflicts with the other team’s choice, while their change kit (which has varied in colour over the years) mostly hangs in the closet.
The English don’t wear their reds all that often, so may have chosen to wear them last night just to show them off in a game that doesn’t count. As the home team, they get first choice, though as the Swiss usually wear red the whole thing was a bit backwards.
#57 by tBone on 02.07.08 10:59 am |
Georgia Tech’s women’s hoops team was called the Jackettes? Do they still use that name in any women’s sport? Does that appear on a uniform or in any other official capacity, or is it a nickname of a nickname?
#58 by The Ol Goaler on 02.07.08 11:03 am |
ScottyJ in WV said:
No, they’re talking about this “Bimbo” (hugging Betty Boop!)
Errr… maybe not!
#59 by Joe Morano on 02.07.08 11:14 am |
Re : Santana Press Conference
So, is there any way you can ask/confirm the Mets if really this means that they plan to wear the home pinstripes and blue caps more them in the last year at Shea? Ditch the Black!
#60 by Philly Bill on 02.07.08 11:18 am |
Not to speak ill of a man who died so young, but Barry Ashbee, whose #4 is retired by the Flyers, was a far less relevant pro athlete than Yvon Labre.
After toiling in the minors for years and recovering from a severe back injury, Ashbee played four years for the Flyers as a second- or third-pair defenseman, sustained a horrific eye injury in the ‘74 playoffs and had to retire, got hired as an assistant coach, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia shortly thereafter, and died a month later at age 37.
Hard-luck cases like this help define Philly sports.
Read glowing PR copy about him here: http://flyers.nhl.co...
PS – I hope Rovell reports from a sweatshop in Malaysia for that Nike special.
#61 by dm00n [Doug] on 02.07.08 11:30 am |
It was a good year for the confetti people, those colors would have worked for either team. (Unless they use red-white-blue every year as an NFL corporate thing, I am sure we have a confetti archivist here to weigh in).
#62 by Christopher on 02.07.08 11:47 am |
dm00n [Doug] said:
See this photo:
http://media.canada....
That’s Pittsburgh’s celebration over Seattle. All Red, White and Blue streamers.
I assume that is the protocol.
I will say this: when LSU won this year, the streamers were yellow and purple. Of course, that could have been because those were 2/3 of New Orleans colors, I don’t know.
#63 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 11:48 am |
best facepaint yet at afcup games
#64 by Oakdale Panther on 02.07.08 11:54 am |
Re: Billy Meyer’s retired number 1
I concur with Fr. John’s explanation that Ol’ Billy was considered a good guy, and so somehow his number was retired by the Pirates. I’ve read or heard the same story on more than one occasion. Maybe Meyer was quick to pick up the dinner tab! Sure looks like a mistake by the team — but you’d have to pin this one on the longtime (previous) owners of the Pirates — the Galbreaths. For all of its sins, the current ownership had Nutting to do with it.
Prior to the 1970s, the Pirates had only two retired numbers — Meyer’s 1 and Honus Wagner’s 33 (which he actually wore as a Bucco coach, since players in his day did not have uni numbers).
Beginning with the retiring of Roberto Clemente’s number 21 (in 1973), the Pirates have gone on a somewhat of a mothballing spree: No. 4 (Ralph Kiner), No. 8 (Willie Stargell), No. 9 (Bill Mazeroski), No. 20 (Pie Traynor), No. 40 (Danny Murtaugh have been retired, and Paul Waner’s No. 11 joined the club last season. All of these Pirates were worthy of this respect.
However undeserved the honor may be for Meyer’s No. 1, unretiring it would be bad form, and possibly bad karma. As a Pirates’ fan, I would not want this wretched franchise to bring any more bad luck upon itself. The Curse of Francisco Cabrera is doing fine on its own.
#65 by Jeff on 02.07.08 11:54 am |
Has this ever been talked about before:
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
#66 by Kerry P on 02.07.08 11:57 am |
Christopher said:
Uh, purple and gold are not 2/3 of New Orleans’ color. The city’s FLAG is a red, white and blue tri-color with yellow fleur-de-lis on it. And the city’s SEAL doesn’t have purple or gold.
Purple and gold are 2/3 of the MARDI GRAS colors.
#67 by Kerry P on 02.07.08 11:58 am |
Can someone please restore the comment I just made. The Spam filter got it.
#68 by Joe H on 02.07.08 12:03 pm |
Am I the only one that misses the days when MLB jerseys actually had arch to their names?
I mean, how cool is that!
#69 by My Name is not Earl on 02.07.08 12:14 pm |
tBone said:
I doubt it. There was a time when a lot of schools did cute little things like that with their women’s teams’ names. For instance, I grew up in New Orleans, so I can remember when LSU’s teams were the Ben-Gals and the University of New Orleans’ teams were the Buc-ettes. Now, lots of schools have done away with even “Lady” designations (La Tech and Tennessee not withstanding). I even think USC is phasing out “Women of Troy” in favor of just plain “Trojans.”
#70 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 12:22 pm |
Jeff said:
Wow, I haven’t seen those since my Little League days (1972). We used them running the bases. After batting we’d flip off the helmet and put these on.
#71 by Marty Met on 02.07.08 12:23 pm |
Santana’s uniform would be perfect if they got rid of the black drop shadows.
#72 by Jeff on 02.07.08 12:24 pm |
Billy Meyer’s baseball card makes him look like Sloth from The Goonies
#73 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 12:26 pm |
i know we’ve talked about this before, and it’s pretty apparent the yankees will retire #2…someday
but…how about #6?
that’s a pretty impressive resume mr. torre tabulated in his time with the yanks
the last to wear their numbers?
#74 by Dave in VA on 02.07.08 12:27 pm |
Philly Bill said:
I remember as a youngster watching Barry Ashbee play for the Flyers; he was a great defenseman who never got the accolades. Seeing him take a puck to the face against the Rangers in ‘74 is one of the few things I still remember vividly from that season (game was on NBC on a Sunday afternoon). Not sure if he warrants his jersey being retired, but he was MUCH MORE relevant than Yvon Labre, IMO.
#75 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 12:28 pm |
Marty Met said:
but then it would be boring
#76 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 12:29 pm |
Joe H said:
Arch is nice, but vertical arch rules!
http://i256.photobuc...
#77 by Mets Fan AZ on 02.07.08 12:30 pm |
lwiedy said:
I think that’s what the “other team” was wearing in the movie Sandlot.
#78 by Hank on 02.07.08 12:37 pm |
dm00n [Doug] said:
Philly Bill said:
Speaking of the Flyers, I attended last night’s game where they inducted Ron Hextall into their Hall of Fame. Which is a good way to honor a key player without retiring the number. While watching the video tribute to Hexy, I focused on the various masks he wore throughout his career with the Flyers from his bland birdcage, to the arrow, Liberty Bell, to the Philly skyline.
Love him or loathe him, Hexy changed the way goalies play the game.
#79 by Dane on 02.07.08 12:41 pm |
Joe H said:
This has been an ongoing argument on some NY Rangers discussion boards – does Adam Graves really deserve to have his number retired? It’s been a two-fisted attack. (1) Other than one really great season and one Cup, do his career numbers merit this honor? Graves’ defenders say that his post-playing contributions to the Rangers organization far outweigh his on-ice performance. (Ken Daneyko of the NJ Devils has also been mentioned in these arguments.) (2) If you’re going to retire number 9, you better include Andy Bathgate on that banner.
Personally, I think retiring a number should be for playing/coaching performance only. I never saw Bathgate play, but his numbers suggest that he is just as deserving as Graves.
(I actually have a significantly negative opinion of Adam Graves, but I have tried to set that aside for the sake of a civilized discussion.)
This argument will accomplish nothing, of course. Dolan has made his decision, and the banner goes up next season whether anyone likes it or not.
#80 by Joe H on 02.07.08 12:42 pm |
LI Phil said:
boring…really?
#81 by MikeR on 02.07.08 12:42 pm |
Interesting note on retired numbers — Washington State University (inadvertently?) retired the wrong number for an old football player.
The school retired Mel Hein’s (the HOF NY Giants lineman from the 1930s) #7, but the problem was, he didn’t wear #7 while he was at WSU (or, WSC at the time). He wore #8 for the Cougars. Apparently the school chose to retire the number that he was more famous for wearing. Either that or they just screwed up.
#82 by Denis on 02.07.08 12:49 pm |
Oakdale Panther said:
I actually heard that one of the reasons Meyer’s number got retired was becasue he was married to the owner’s daughter. I heard it on Mark Madden’s show last summer. I am 95% positive that was the case. Believe it or not his love life got his number retired. I think thats a great tactic.
What about a UniWatch party in Pittsburgh???
#83 by Nuk on 02.07.08 12:53 pm |
My favourite retired uniform story goes to the BC Lions of the CFL.
Kapp had his number retired after he left the Lions for the Vikings in the late 60’s. In 1990 he returned to become GM of the Lions. His big signing was Doug Flutie – and considered it such a big deal that he “unretired” his number 22 to give to Flutie.
The problem was that Kapp, and his coach Larry Kuharich – didn’t bring anybody else. The team was godawful – and Kapp was fired 11 games into the season. Flutie left two years later – but for the next few years – they left 22 unretired as Kapp’s GMimg left such a sour taste. Jon Volpe wore 22 for awhile, and the number lost a little of its luster.
Fortunately time heals all wounds and Kapp’s number was quietly re-retired a few years ago.
Is there any other history of a player’s number being “un-retired” for various reasons?
#84 by Joey Guns on 02.07.08 12:53 pm |
Jeff said:
I was thinking Rodney Dangerfield……
http://www.rodney.co...
#85 by AK on 02.07.08 12:57 pm |
Why would the Vikes wear that 20th Anniversery patch?!? Basically, it could’ve just said “Sucking ass for the past 20 years!”
#86 by GoTerriers on 02.07.08 12:58 pm |
Nuk said:
The White Sox retired #3 for Harold Bained while he was still an active player. He later came back to finish his career with the Pale Hose and wore his own “retired” number . . . does that count?
#87 by GoTerriers on 02.07.08 1:00 pm |
GoTerriers said:
I of course meant Harold BAINES. Not sure who this “Harold Bained” character is . . .
: )
#88 by Chance on 02.07.08 1:03 pm |
My Name is not Earl said:
There’s a Catholic high school in my native Milwaukee which uses “Popes” as its mascot. The girls’ teams are, I kid you not, Lady Popes.
#89 by who cares on 02.07.08 1:06 pm |
University of Florida’s football team retired 11 for Steve Spurrier and 74 for Jack Youngblood. When Spurrier took over the reigns as coach he unretired both numbers. Now 11 and 74 sit alongside 22 (Smith), 7 (Wuerffel), and 88 (Marshall) in the Ring of Honor but no numbers are off limits.
Speaking of Emmit’s #22, I picked up a replica in orange when Nike released a few unnamed throwbacks to celebrate the team’s 100th Anniversary. Nothing against Emmit, but one of my all time favorite Gators when I was but a lad was John L. Williams. I want to get a name put on the back of the jersey but my 8 and 9-year old mind wasn’t savvy enough to store the format of his NOB in my long-term memory. Does anyone here remember if it was J. L. Williams or John L. Williams?
#90 by Jeff on 02.07.08 1:07 pm |
The Lions did the unretire deal to sign Pat Swilling:
http://en.wikipedia....
http://en.wikipedia....
#91 by Robin on 02.07.08 1:12 pm |
Glad you cleared that up Kerry. If you hadn’t, I was about to.
I’m sure there was some crimson and grey confetti up there somewhere that thankfully never saw the light of day.
Go Tigers!
#92 by GoTerriers on 02.07.08 1:16 pm |
Joe H said:
Along these same lines, consider if you will, the case of Travis Roy, the former Boston University hockey player who, in 1995, was paralyzed on the ice just 11 seconds into his first collegiate shift.
Travis has worked tirelessly to assit others who suffer from paralysis, has established the Travis Roy Foundation and continues to serve as a beacon of hope and inspiration to disabled people and the Boston University Hockey community.
In 1999, before what would have been the start of his senior season as a Terrier, the BU Athletic Department made the decision to retire the number 24 that Travis wore for those 11 seconds. The number had previously been worn by BU captains (Mike Sullivan and Jacques Joubert) as well as by players who eventually left BU to NHL stardom (Keith Tkachuk) and others.
In the long tradition of BU Hockey, with the countless players who have gone on to NHL success, Travis’ number 24 remains the ONLY number the administration has taken out of active use.
The numbers don’t mean everything.
#93 by Juan Grande on 02.07.08 1:18 pm |
Jason said:
I was living in Charlotte at that time and never understood why the Hornets made such a big deal about that. It was like saying “Congratulations for being an idiot and managing to kill yourself. Let’s honor that by retiring your number.”
I would not be surprised if the Redskins retire Sean Taylor’s #21. I know the only officially retired Skins number is #33 for “Slingin’ Sammy” Baugh. The have unofficially retired #7, #28, #44, and #81 for Thiesmann, Darryl Green, Riggins, and Art Monk.
#94 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 1:19 pm |
speaking of retired numbers…
how long before this one is retired?
#95 by Chance on 02.07.08 1:20 pm |
LI Phil said:
It will never be issued again. After Joe retires from the game, the Yankees will hang the number in Monument Park.
The Yanks ran out of single-digits a decade ago.
#96 by GoTerriers on 02.07.08 1:20 pm |
LI Phil said:
If that’s a Yankees grey road jersey with Joe Torre’s number 6 on it, then probably sometime after he retires. They wouldn’t dare do it while he is still working for the Dodgers.
#97 by Mike on 02.07.08 1:23 pm |
Where does NFL clothing proclaiming a Patriots championship go?
#98 by DZ on 02.07.08 1:23 pm |
Jeff said:
I could be mistaken but I believe the Lions also unretired Eddie Murray’s #3 for Joey Harrington.
#99 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 1:25 pm |
Is there any other history of a player’s number being “un-retired” for various reasons?
barry bonds and willie mays. right?
#100 by DZ on 02.07.08 1:26 pm |
Whoops. Looks like I’m wrong about Lions #3. I swore I heard that story at the time. Sorry about the misinformation.
#101 by GoTerriers on 02.07.08 1:27 pm |
ryan c #40 said:
Nope . . .Bonds wore 25 with the Giants, not his godfather’s 24
#102 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 1:27 pm |
What about a UniWatch party in Pittsburgh???
guess we’d just have to throw a huge “smasher” one night here just to show paul how many interested people there are in pittsburgh! lol.
#103 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 1:28 pm |
Speaking of the Flyers, I attended last night’s game where they inducted Ron Hextall into their Hall of Fame. Which is a good way to honor a key player without retiring the number. While watching the video tribute to Hexy, I focused on the various masks he wore throughout his career with the Flyers from his bland birdcage, to the arrow, Liberty Bell, to the Philly skyline.
Love him or loathe him, Hexy changed the way goalies play the game
…you do mean, by chasing robbie brown around the ice after a goal right? haha. kidding, hextall was good enough… lol
#104 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 1:29 pm |
Mike said:
a quote from the article:
LI Phil said:
–sounds like my ex-wife
#105 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 1:31 pm |
LI Phil said:
mike, gotta close them taggers, buddy
#106 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 1:32 pm |
…lemieux and jordan both “un-retired” their own numbers… then retired them again. funny thing about lemieux’s though. the first time it was retired, it was done so on a white banner that looked like the home uni’s (at the time). the second time it was retired, it looked like the home black uni’s with the upside down, vegas-gold/white “V” on the sides. (pre-edge jersey). has THAT ever happened before???
…brings up another point… if a current player retires now… say for example selanne… will his banner be lighter, faster, and waterproof?
*sorry, rbk edge joke*
#107 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 1:35 pm |
Is there any other history of a player’s number being “un-retired” for various reasons?
barry bonds and willie mays. right?
Nope . . .Bonds wore 25 with the Giants, not his godfather’s 24
oh yeah, thanks… stupid me!!! i think he (mays) offered though…
#108 by Jeremy Brahm on 02.07.08 1:35 pm |
Seahawks with Steve Largent’s approval unretired 80 for Jerry Rice when he played for them.
#109 by LynchMob on 02.07.08 1:37 pm |
I my contribution to the nominations for “least deserving retired number of all time” is #6 for the San Diego Padres … Steve Garvey. Yo, that guy was a *Dodger* … it was bad enough to sign him as a FA, but now I’ve got to look at his number on the Petco OF wall … makes my blood boil. Hey, I was at his momentous Game 4 of the NLCS … and it was a great moment in Padre history … but a jersey number just can *not* be retired for one moment, no matter how magical …
It’s a dream of mine to figure out a way to get it un-retired … I gotta believe it can be done …
#110 by Chance on 02.07.08 1:39 pm |
LI Phil said:
An oldie, but a goodie.
#111 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 1:42 pm |
any true baseball fan knows these three numbers:
660…714…755
when #25 (of the giants) retires, will we even know or care what number goes ahead of #755?
lets say he never plays another game…does anyone even know what number he was at when 2007 ended?
#112 by Joe Drennan on 02.07.08 1:45 pm |
Nuk said:
The Phoenix Cyotes unretired Bobby Hulls #9 (They retired the number back when the team was still north of the boarder) so that Brett could wear it. It only lasted a few games as Brett retired shortly after. I don’t know if they hung the number back up or not.
#113 by Fez Whatley on 02.07.08 1:45 pm |
Fez Whatley said:
Great point.
But with the free agency and the way players change teams like underwear, retired numbers will soon be far and few between.
I only see Jeter and Bonds as the only active players today worthy of retired numbers in baseball. Maybe Griffey Jr?
A-Rod could hit a 1000 homeruns and I don’t see any of his teams retiring his number.
#114 by MPowers1634 on 02.07.08 1:47 pm |
who cares said:
From Pop Warner trough three of the four years that I played in college, I was a fullback. There were two players whom I tried to fashion my game after, John L. Williams of the Seahawks and this guy from the 49ers.
#115 by Seth H on 02.07.08 1:47 pm |
After toiling in the minors for years and recovering from a severe back injury, Ashbee played four years for the Flyers as a second- or third-pair defenseman, sustained a horrific eye injury in the ‘74 playoffs and had to retire, got hired as an assistant coach, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia shortly thereafter, and died a month later at age 37.
I was a 10-year old at the Garden the Sunday afternoon Ashbee got hit in the eye with the puck. Our seats were right in the corner (8th Ave & 31st street) where it happened. To this day, I remember all the blood all over the ice. A woman near us fainted. When they finally got Ashbee off the ice, the blood had become semi frozen and they had to scrape it off the ice.
#116 by dm00n [Doug] on 02.07.08 1:48 pm |
I was looking for something unrelated in the Time magazine archives and came across this from Monday, Feb. 11, 1929:
dm00n [Doug] said:
I am kind of surprised that there don’t seem to be any further details available on the internet. The stock market didn’t crash til October, so it isn’t likely to be related to that.
#117 by Mets/Jets Fan in Chicagoland on 02.07.08 1:51 pm |
GoTerriers said:
If and when they do retire it, does Joe get to “share” it with Roy White? A pretty darn good ballplayer for some pretty crappy Yankee teams, or do honors like that only go for Yogi and Elston?
#118 by anthony on 02.07.08 1:52 pm |
Maybe they retired Meyer’s number because he was such a token of ‘bad luck’ or futility. Almost like the way truck drivers place children’s dolls on the grills of their 18-wheeler trucks to counter against ‘accidents’ or spurned girlfriends burn love letters after a breakup.
…just a thought.
#119 by Mark in Shiga on 02.07.08 1:52 pm |
The Yankees had better not retire #6 for Torre. How often did we even get to see his number? He had his jacket on all the time.
#120 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 1:53 pm |
Mets/Jets Fan in Chicagoland said:
i had that topps pre-photoshop bb card of roy white…i loved how his batting stance was, shall we say, pigeon-toed…and i remember him being a pretty damn good little baseball player for the yanks…
but joe and joe alone will get #6
#121 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 1:55 pm |
But with the free agency and the way players change teams like underwear, retired numbers will soon be far and few between.
I only see Jeter and Bonds as the only active players today worthy of retired numbers in baseball. Maybe Griffey Jr?
A-Rod could hit a 1000 homeruns and I don’t see any of his teams retiring his number.
there are quite a few nhl’ers playing now that deserve to have their numbers retired!
#122 by Seth H on 02.07.08 1:55 pm |
I don’t believe Bobby Phills deserved the honor of having his number retired by the (then Charlotte) Hornets. He averaged about 12 points/game in 3 seasons, and was killed basically drag racing with a teammate. It’s always a tragedy when a life is cut short in it’s prime, but he was already in his 9th or 10th season and was certainly not going to be worthy of such a distinction.
The Nets did a somewhat similar thing with Drazen Petrovic. When he was killed in a car accident, the guy had only played 2 1/2 years in NJ (4 overall in the NBA). His last season was excellent, but his career as a Net did not seem worthy of a special honor. He had also indicated that he did not want to continue playing for the Nets. Nevertheless, the Nets retired his #3.
#123 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 1:55 pm |
anthony said:
would the cubs have any numbers left if that were a criterion?
#124 by Kevin M. on 02.07.08 1:57 pm |
LI Phil said:
762
#125 by Shaftman on 02.07.08 1:58 pm |
While we’re on the topic of retiring numbers…
I attended Syracuse back when they had Orangemen and not just fruit.
As many of you know, Jim Brown (note the lucite face guard) and Ernie Davis both wore 44 for the ‘cuse and after them the university started the tradition of only handing the number out to players that they thought were deserving of it for both being a good athlete and a good person. (Obviously the got it wrong at times).
A few years ago they retired the number and I think that people will eventually forget why the number was special in the first place. By making it a big deal every year of who would be assigned the number, incoming freshman would eventually ask “why it’s a big deal?” and the history of the number would be honored.
#126 by hott rodd on 02.07.08 1:58 pm |
Nuk said:
Grant Hill currently wears 33, which is in the suns Ring of Honor and retired for Alvan Adams. The story is with Hill having worn 33 since his days in college, Adams made the decision to pass on his 33 without much hesitation.
“To me it’s not my number, it’s Jerry Colangelo’s,” Adams said. “He’s the one who made the decision to retire my number and I think of 33 as belonging more to him, the fans and Suns history. The past is great, but the most important thing is this franchise winning a championship. The best chapter in our history will be the day we win the championship and if I can make a small contribution by making Hill’s transition to Phoenix a smooth one, then I’m all for it.”
#127 by Kevin M. on 02.07.08 2:02 pm |
hott rodd said:
I can’t beileve noone has mentioned Michael Jordan yet. He wore his new number 45 for a few games and then went back to his 23 that had already been retired.
#128 by Kevin M. on 02.07.08 2:02 pm |
hott rodd said:
I can’t beileve noone has mentioned Michael Jordan yet. He wore his new number 45 for a few games and then went back to his 23 that had already been retired.
#129 by GoTerriers on 02.07.08 2:04 pm |
Mets/Jets Fan in Chicagoland said:
Actually thy retired 32 for Elston Howard. 8 is retired for Yogi and Bill Dickey.
Roy White was a great ballplayer, but I don’t know that he belongs out in Momument Park (I hold that feeling even about some people that are already out there!)
#130 by Kenny on 02.07.08 2:10 pm |
Mike said:
I never want to go to Zambia now
#131 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 2:11 pm |
Kevin M. said:
thanks
#132 by Gazzoo on 02.07.08 2:13 pm |
Fascinating that the Bills never got around to retiring OJ’s #32. I wonder why it wasn’t done before you-know-what…
#133 by lwiedy on 02.07.08 2:13 pm |
Juan Grande said:
Also numbers 9 (Jurgensen), 42 (Charlie Taylor), and 43 (Larry Brown). Oddly, 49 (Bobby Mitchell) was out of commission from 1968 until 2002 when it was given to Leonard Stephens.
#134 by Mets/Jets Fan in Chicagoland on 02.07.08 2:16 pm |
GoTerriers said:
Correction duly noted – and I agree with your sentiment about who “belongs out in Monument Park” – and this from an avowed “Yankee Hater” (I even have the hat!)
#135 by Kenny on 02.07.08 2:19 pm |
Where does NFL clothing proclaiming a Patriots championship go?
I never want to go to Zambia now
Not that I had plans to go before this article
#136 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 2:27 pm |
Mets/Jets Fan in Chicagoland said:
that is just so wrong
fckn hilarious…but wrong ;)
#137 by Jim on 02.07.08 2:29 pm |
The FedEx guy showed up at Uni Watch HQ yesterday afternoon and handed me an envelope.
Where is Uni Watch HQ exactly? Or is it like the Batcave and no one really knows…..
#138 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 02.07.08 2:33 pm |
Fez Whatley said:
if he remains injury free for the remainder of his career he will most certainly challenge that number.
#139 by MPowers1634 on 02.07.08 2:34 pm |
Kevin M. said:
What’s more interesting is the sneaker end of that story. When MJ returned and was wearing #45, he was also wearing the Air Jordan XI at the time, widely regarded as the greatest of all. On the back of the heel, the number 23 is embroidered in a font very similar to the numbering on Stanford’s basketball jerseys. Nike decided to produce an extremely small number of those shoes with the number 45 embroidered on the back, truly a collector’s item.
#140 by Adam on 02.07.08 2:41 pm |
It bears mentioning the strangest retired number in sports: The Miami Heat retiring Jordan’s number 23.
http://answers.yahoo...
#141 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 02.07.08 2:43 pm |
there is no way in hell that if my play during my career warranted my number being retired that i would EVER, for ANY reason allow the organization to un-retire it.
in fact, if i were to be presented with the honor i think i would have an attorney draft an agreement stating as such for the organization to sign.
i view it as an honor that i EARNED. and taking that honor back is no different than asking me to pay them money back that i EARNED during my career to appease a current player.
#142 by Randy Williams on 02.07.08 2:48 pm |
LI Phil said:
I like to include.406 in w/ those beauties.
#143 by My Name is not Earl on 02.07.08 2:49 pm |
Gazzoo said:
I seem to remember an old NFL Follies video showing Simpson and Jack Kemp riding around in a convertible on the field before a game at Rich Stadium. Strangely, though it appears that this footage indicates the team had some sort of big “Kemp and Simpson Day” the team didn’t retire their numbers
#144 by Jim on 02.07.08 3:00 pm |
“I like the way the Toronto Maple Leafs do it — hand up the jerseys of the all-time greats, but don’t forbid new players from having the numbers. Give those highly-touted rookies a number with some weight and watch them try to live up to it!”
Are you kidding me? Yeah it was disgusting to see the #27 worn by Frank Mahovolich and Darryl Sittler parade into the penalty box when it was worn by meatheads John Kordic, Dave Semenko and Shayne Corson. The Leafs should be ashamed.
#145 by Minna H. on 02.07.08 3:01 pm |
Paul, you couldn’t give me a friendly heads’ up to skip today’s entry????
My goal is to make it through the entire baseball season by pretending that Johan is still here. Torii Hunter, too.
Nothing will EVER look as good as this:
Come back, Johan–EVER!
By the way, this pink thing has to stop. Seriously.
#146 by todd krevanchi (krvanch) on 02.07.08 3:04 pm |
MPowers1634 said:
and even further… since it was the playoffs and the bulls approved playoff uniforms included black shoes, jordan was fined for wearing a predominantly white shoe in games 1 and 2. since the aj xi had just been released, there was no black colorway in existance.
in game 3, in chicago, jordan complied and wore a black pair of air flight 1’s (penny hardaway’s first signature shoe).
for the remained of the series, jordan wore a pair of the same white and black patent aj xi’s however the upper was dyed black.
this combination (created by accident and necessity) was worn by mj in the movie space jam, and to this day, that colorway of the aj xi’s are known as space jams.
#147 by Kevin M. on 02.07.08 3:05 pm |
Just found out the Gwinnett Gladiators will be having a pink rink this weekend.
#148 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 02.07.08 3:06 pm |
Adam said:
Well that’s just stupid!
#149 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 3:08 pm |
Minna H. said:
but minna you got back Carlos Gomez and right-handers Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey and Deolis Guerra…
surely you remember the sweet music trade?
give it 4-5 years before we can call it a fleecing
#150 by Pat on 02.07.08 3:23 pm |
MPowers1634 said:
I completely agree. Those are the greatest Jordans of all time.
I think the greatest retired anything is at the very bottom of this page.
And maybe Johnny Most’s mic. I can’t find a picture of it, but they put it “High above courtside” in the old Garden.
By the way, if you google “Johnny Most’s microphone” this comes up. Gotta love Google image search sometimes.
#151 by Juan Grande on 02.07.08 3:26 pm |
For all of you Giants fans, or any fan except for Pats fans, check this out. This guy BUILT HIS OWN MINI-STADIUM!!! in his backyard to honor the Super Bowl. That’s cool!
http://www.collegehu...
#152 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 3:27 pm |
Fascinating that the Bills never got around to retiring OJ’s #32. I wonder why it wasn’t done before you-know-what…
i thought o.j. was in buffalo’s version of the ring of fame??? isn’t that what they do up there to honor the has-been bills???
#153 by Minna H. on 02.07.08 3:28 pm |
LI Phil said:
Come on. I have been watching the Twins for a long time. By the time any of the prospects mature into anything good, they will be gone. We are a ’small market’ team, LI Phil, and the two championships in the eighties and nineties were flukes.
Everything in sports is based on snap judgements, anyway, and the need to win now, so why shouldn’t I have the same expectations?
Besides, the Twins’ uni is better than the Mets’. However, I will be rooting for the Mets this year AND they have black in their unis. Yeah, yeah, I know, ditch the black and all that, but I LIKE black. I don’t like orange so much…
#154 by Jake on 02.07.08 3:42 pm |
Not totally uni-related, but check out this cool logo-related story.
http://www.neatorama...
#155 by Joe Drennan on 02.07.08 3:43 pm |
Minna, how can you be a Minnesotan and say you’re not fond of orange. Blaze orange is an unofficial state color don’t-cha-know!
#156 by Chance on 02.07.08 3:44 pm |
While we’re on the subject, I’m amazed that the Twins settled for so little.
At that point, I’d have been tempted to just keep him around for one more season, knowing that he was on the way out in October.
#157 by Mets/Jets Fan in Chicagoland on 02.07.08 3:44 pm |
LI Phil said:
thx…..BTW – it really looks good when paired with a Red Sox home jersey. Confuses the hell out of the Midwesterners
#158 by Adam on 02.07.08 3:46 pm |
Fez Whatley said:
Without a doubt Frank Thomas for the White Sox after he retires – 16 years, and probably the best White Sox player ever. Griffey Jr would be hard, since he’s been on two teams for a while and changed his number.
#159 by Joey Guns on 02.07.08 3:56 pm |
Jim said:
Go figure, the company with the negative space arrow and spoon is the one that delivers the confetti to Paul….
http://web-design-bo...
#160 by Jordan on 02.07.08 4:01 pm |
Does anyone know a way to contact Mr. Skiba? I’ve been following the equipped videos all year and had a couple of questions.
Thanks!
#161 by ryan c #40 on 02.07.08 4:04 pm |
#159 by Joey Guns on 02.07.08 3:56 pm | Quote
The FedEx guy showed up at Uni Watch HQ yesterday afternoon and handed me an envelope.
Where is Uni Watch HQ exactly? Or is it like the Batcave and no one really knows…..
Go figure, the company with the negative space arrow and spoon is the one that delivers the confetti to Paul….
http://web-design-bo...
spoon?
#162 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 4:08 pm |
Minna H. said:
minna
since my mets last won the world series, 21 years and 20 world series ago, your twins have won TWO…and we made only made the post-season in 88, 99, 00 & 06…period
you’re getting a beautiful new park, and you’ve got some damn fine talent now…don’t blame the small market, blame carl pohlad & your GM…they COULD have made johan an offer he couldn’t refuse
only the yanks (with 4) have more WS wins, and the blue jays (2), marlins (2) & red sox (2) are equal
sorry, but i can’t say a LOT of teams and fans wouldn’t trade places with ya
#163 by Judd on 02.07.08 4:13 pm |
I wonder how people feel about Wayne Gretzky’s number being retired across the NHL. Not trying to be a pill or anything, but I imagine there are a lot of NHL fans that didn’t actually like Gretzky.
Seeing his number retired for their team might tweak them a bit.
#164 by Chance on 02.07.08 4:13 pm |
LI Phil said:
True enough.
Pohlad takes the revenue sharing and lines his pockets. Then he weeps and cries poor. Steinbrenner, for all his faults, pours every single penny back into the club instead of doling it out to his investors.
Pohlad is a cancer on the game.
#165 by Joe Drennan on 02.07.08 4:16 pm |
LI Phil said:
One would think the Twins could have kept him, but many things I’ve read said he wanted out no matter what and wanted to be on the east coast, playing for a team that has spring training in Florida. The Cubs even asked about him, but they are A) in the Midwest and B) have spring training in Arizona so they couldn’t even present an offer.
It’s clear, no matter what the Twins did, Johan was leaving so they were smart to get something – anything for him.
#166 by Draft King on 02.07.08 4:31 pm |
The whole process of retiring numbers is something that really annoys me. I’m a much bigger fan of the University of Florida style of having a ring of honor but no retired numbers.
#167 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 4:32 pm |
LI Phil said:
i agree that from what i’ve heard, he did want out…but that’s NOT the mets fault and that’s not even minnie’s fault
he EARNED the right to decide his own fate when he negotiated the no trade clause in his last contract…sure the mets are paying him new big bucks (but he’s a FAR FAR better pitcher than zito, brown or hampton EVER was — and wait till you see what CC gets)
just don’t cry the “we’re a small market” bullshit (not you minna, im talking naysayers in general) in THIS case
it’s easy to say ‘well we couldn’t keep him so we had to trade hm for SOMETHING’…and im quite sure the twins would have preferred the packages including jon lester or phil hughes to the one they ultimately ’settled’ for
/bring back the interlocking tc full time and i’ll like your unis
#168 by Pat on 02.07.08 4:41 pm |
ryan c #40 said:
Yea, apparently somebody on here thought to mention that the inset of the lowercase ‘e’ looked like a spoon a while ago. Which really shouldn’t be mentioned in the logo’s design.
The “spoon” is just the shape of the ‘e’ happening. The arrow is intentional. They had to mess the with x-height of the ‘x’ (weird) to make it look like an arrow.
#169 by Joe H on 02.07.08 4:43 pm |
Juan Grande said:
That may be the biggest waste of time I have ever seen. Maybe if he had put in a big screen to watch the game with it would have been worth it, but from what the video shows…not really.
#170 by jimmykim on 02.07.08 4:43 pm |
Kevin M. said:
not only will the ice be pink, so will their jerseys which will be auctioned off…
#171 by KT on 02.07.08 4:45 pm |
Nuk said:
Brett Hull wore his father’s retired #9, but (a) it was for a different team (same franchise, but different team) and (b) he only wore it for five games before retiring. I think a father-son thing is not a bad reason to do this at all.
Contrast that with the Jerry Rice/Steve Largent thing. I have the utmost respect for Jerry Rice the player. Unbelievable player. Best WR ever. Work ethic second to none. My God what a player.
But the whole “Can I wear #80 thing?” was a bit too much. Classily, Largent didn’t object. But I’d hate to be put in that situation myself. Unlikely, since the only thing they’re going to retire pertaining to me is me.
I liked the way Montana did it when he went to Kansas City, taking another number that was meaningful to him without putting Len Dawson in an awkward position.
#172 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 4:46 pm |
ryan c #40 said:
yeah…everyone knows about the arrow…but look at the “e” in “Fed”…the negative space looks like a spoon (some even say a butter knife)
#173 by KT on 02.07.08 4:48 pm |
who cares said:
I was there when he played, and I can’t remember if it was J.L. Williams or what. I THINK it was. I think. But don’t quote me on that.
I do have a 1984 orange game-worn Brett Weichmann jersey that I picked up at the campus bookstore. #20.
#174 by KT on 02.07.08 4:50 pm |
GoTerriers said:
But they DID originally SAY they were going to unretire #24 for him, didn’t they? Seems like I remember it that way. And then they (way way WAY fortunately, as it turned out) didn’t do it.
#175 by jimmykim on 02.07.08 4:51 pm |
#176 by KT on 02.07.08 4:53 pm |
Joe Drennan said:
I was there earlier in the season and believe it’s back up there. I’ll check my photos from that game, almost certain I took one of the retired numbers (which are all from Winnipeg, IIRC).
#177 by KT on 02.07.08 4:58 pm |
Seth H said:
Petrovic wasn’t killed because he was stupid. :)
If you notice, we do have a tendency to go overboard sometimes when an athlete dies (Michel Briere, for example). I don’t know if we’ve ever discussed that around here or not.
I wonder if anyone wanted to wear Drazen Petrovic’s number three in the NBA All-Star Game and was turned down.
#178 by KT on 02.07.08 5:01 pm |
Kevin M. said:
It was mentioned above.
Jordan wore 45 for 22 games.
#179 by KT on 02.07.08 5:04 pm |
todd krevanchi (krvanch) said:
I guess there really is an i in team.
Huh. How ’bout that?
(I personally would prefer that it not happen to me, either, but I would take the high road like Steve Largent and not get all militant about it.)
#180 by Stephen on 02.07.08 5:04 pm |
OK, so being a suburban Atlanta resident, and Braves fan, I read the AJC beat writer’s blog fairly regularly. Nothing too fancy, just a writer letting the fans know what he knows.
However, it has been a bit special the past two days, as Chipper Jones himself has been posting on the blog, unsolicited, answering questions, and just generally hanging out. The writer confirmed it was indeed Chipper posting.
The uni angle? Someone asked which authentic Chipper jersey they should get. His response:
“Get the sunday home jerseys. Those things are sweet lookin. I hear we are gonna break out some blue ones this year.”
I am anxious to see some blue Braves alts. Any word on this Paul?
FYI, anybody interested in checking out what Chipper is saying, he is posting under the name “U Kno Who.”
Braves Beat Blog
Chipper’s Post with the Jersey info (2nd Paragraph)
#181 by Stephen on 02.07.08 5:06 pm |
Also, The Gwinnett Gladiators are going pink this weekend.
~E~
#182 by KT on 02.07.08 5:06 pm |
Judd said:
Maybe.
Not like anyone’s really tried or wanted to wear #99 for most teams.
I thought he was generally well-liked (except for the Devils’ fans after the “Mickey Mouse” affair, but they should have at least been happy that they got some attention for what was then a woebegone team).
I would hope that, whether you liked him or not, you recognized his greatness and you’d get over the fact that no one on the Tampa Bay Lightning can wear #99.
#183 by MikeR on 02.07.08 5:09 pm |
Adam said:
Griffey’s #24 will almost certainly be retired by the Mariners after he retires. Nobody in the Northwest has forgotten the way he singlehandedly put Seattle on the map (as evidenced by his reception last June at Safeco). He’s still the biggest star the city has ever seen.
#184 by TOG on 02.07.08 5:10 pm |
“Serious knob job…”? Wow, I though Rovell does pretty good work at CNBC. I thought Paul just railed against the “evils” the Nike perpetrates on sports uniforms, not the entire company. What companies should he report on — LA Gear? K-Swiss?
Darren’s a great reporter…It’s refreshing to see a story that will take Nike to task…but hey, Phil Knight won’t loose any sleep over it.
#185 by KT on 02.07.08 5:12 pm |
Joe H said:
That’s hilarious coming from anyone who spends time at Uni Watch.
Just hilarious.
People’s hobbies are people’s hobbies. I admire that guy’s creativity and perseverance. I can’t make anything more complicated than a block house with Legos before I give up.
#186 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 5:15 pm |
KT said:
i never liked gretz, but i think he is, bar none, the GREATEST to ever lace up the skates, and certainly the reason cities that have never seen a frozen pond yet alone a legitimate snowfall boast professional hockey
if MLB can retire ‘42′ then the NHL can certainly retire 99
both men who wore those respective numbers were tremendous ambassadors for the game…jackie more so, but the great one certainly did enough on and off the ice to warrant such acclaim
#187 by Paul Lukas on 02.07.08 5:23 pm |
Chance said:
I know relatively little about Pohlad. And it’s true that Steinbrenner spends lots of money. I just want to point out that just because management isn’t spending heavily on payroll, that doesn’t mean they’re “lining their pockets.” Spending on payroll doesn’t mean much if you haven’t first invested heavily — HEAVILY — in scouting (on several continents) and minor league development (ditto). Don’t judge ownership solely on the basis of payroll expenditures.
Again, I’m not saying that this analysis applies directly to Pohlad or Steinbrenner. I’m just saying that a small to medium payroll doesn’t necessarily mean an owner is “pocketing” the revenue sharing money.
#188 by KT on 02.07.08 5:26 pm |
Would you say Jackie was really an ambassador for the game? I mean, surely, a flag-carrier and a cause celebre, but in the 16 years he lived after his retirement, didn’t he kind of keep to himself? I’m asking, because I don’t know, I just get that sense. I don’t think he was a Buck O’Neill ambassador type, going to everything, commenting on everything, shining a light on everything. He had some personal tragedies and ill health, which surely would have contributed to it (I’m not denigrating him at all if he did kind of keep to himself – the man put up with enough as it was). I just didn’t get the impression that he was Mr. Baseball after his retirement and before his death.
But I was too young, so y’all tell me.
#189 by Ian K on 02.07.08 5:26 pm |
Eric Hinske signs minor league contract with Tampa Bay. Read the last line of the article. He won the Rookie of the Year with what team? Who are the Blue Rays?
Moderately funny typo.
#190 by Perry on 02.07.08 5:27 pm |
Adam said:
Too soon to talk about Pujols? Probably.
I think Todd Helton will be the last Rockie to wear #17.
Mays did offer to have 24 unretired for Barry, but Barry wisely and graciously declined, possibly the last wise and gracious thing he’s ever done.
The Reds have never officially retired 14, but nobody since Rose has worn it — except Pete Jr., in his month with the team in ‘97. So that was a sort of “unretirement.”
#191 by Paul Lukas on 02.07.08 5:29 pm |
Stephen said:
No blue alternate, according to my info. Just the red alt (which looks like total shit — Chipper just slipped yet another notch in my esteem [although his stock had already plummeted after he stopped hiking up his cuffs a few yrs back]).
#192 by Zurk on 02.07.08 5:30 pm |
LI Phil said:
They could have made an offer he couldn’t refuse but a small market team can’t afford to tie all their money up in one guy. What happens if he gets hurt? Can’t afford to do anything. I have been a Twinks fan since Killebrew and Carew. At least the Twins play with heart and when they win a championship they earned it – not bought it.
#193 by KT on 02.07.08 5:34 pm |
Perry said:
Oddly enough, could Pete Rose even attend his own jersey retirement ceremony? Is he even allowed to attend anything in an official capacity other than as a fan? I’m asking, I can’t recall. I thought he was prohibited from that sort of thing.
Which would be odd.
Plus, until the whole thing is cleared up once and for all, I don’t know if the Reds will be retiring #14. All part of the great debate on Pete, I guess.
#194 by KT on 02.07.08 5:38 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
But knocking up a Hooter’s waitress was okay with you?
JUST KIDDING! IT’S A JOKE, RELAX!
#195 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 5:39 pm |
LI Phil said:
if mastercard paid MLB enough, then im sure he could
#196 by Hank on 02.07.08 5:50 pm |
ryan c #40 said:
Of course. That was included in the video highlights they ran on the scoreboard. As well as: his 2-hander on Kent Nilsson, cross-check on Chelios, the fight with Felix Potvin, plus his 2 goals and fabulous saves.
#197 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 6:01 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
just google “carl pohlad cheapskate” or “carl pohlad tightwad” and you’ll hit the motherlode
but this article is recent, and speaks to the recent santana trade…it doesn’t NEARLY delve into the depths that pohlad sank to
(remember how willing he was to contract the twinkies … thankfully the minnesota legislature stopped him-that’s barely mentioned)…ask a loyal twins fan about that
#198 by Stephen on 02.07.08 6:09 pm |
Paul Lukas said:
Well, keep us abreast if you hear any different. Personally, I love the red alternate, but I hated it until I saw it in person on the field. TV doesn’t do it justice.
~E~
#199 by Perry on 02.07.08 6:11 pm |
KT said:
I think that’s exactly it. They won’t retire it till he’s reinstated or dead.
#200 by Dom on 02.07.08 6:14 pm |
Why is Cade throwing up? These could be Oregon’s best unis.
http://sportsillustr...
#201 by Teebz on 02.07.08 6:25 pm |
You know, in regards to Gretzky’s #99 being retired across the NHL…
I’m not a huge Gretzky fan, but no one has ever done more for the game, both on and off the ice, like Wayne has. Yeah, his stop in St. Louis was brief and uneventful, but his trade to Los Angeles opened up the sunbelt for expansion (and that’s a touchy subject). The point is that he made hockey trendy and exciting in a place where hockey was an after-thought. He promoted the growth of the game, and made hockey better whenever he stepped on the ice.
Overall, the NHL owes a lot to Wayne Gretzky, and, while he’ll never say it, the league-wide retirement was suitable for a guy who basically changed the face of the NHL both on and off the ice.
#202 by todd krevanchi on 02.07.08 6:25 pm |
KT said:
if i had a career worthy enough that a franchise thought enough of me to retire my jersey, so no player would ever wear it again, that is not me being selfish. it would have been their request.
however i would be selfish when it came to a request to unretire my number, the number i represented during my career, the number which identified ME to millions in the city and nation.
i would have busted my ass in the weight room, on the training grounds, and in the off season just so i wouldnt disrespect #___ of franchise ___.
for my team then to approach me after retirement, to disregard all of that work put in to making #___ a special number for that franchise simply for the sake of getting a free agent or to massage the ego of a prima donna…
no thank you. i’ll be as selfish as i wanna be then.
#203 by cole on 02.07.08 6:45 pm |
we will…not retire the wrong number
#204 by Johnny O on 02.07.08 6:47 pm |
LI Phil said:
Ummmmm being a Brewers fan, I would trade places with almost anyone. We have one World Series appearance (1982) and have not even made it to the post season since that year. That is the second longest streak with the Expos/Nats taking the longest streak only by one year I believe. So, I don’t want anyone complaining about ONLY winning a FEW World Series in the last 20 years. After the Crew make the playoffs this year, I will stop my bitching, but until then, not a whole lot of ball clubs can compare to the disappointment of Milwaukee in the last 25 years.
Hell, you all remember we celebrated losing the World Series this past year with a silver anniversary patch. (I know, I know it was to commemorate their only AL Championship) But when a ball club is doing that, you know there is not a lot to cheer about.
#205 by Bill T. on 02.07.08 6:48 pm |
So when Kobe Bryant ends his career, will the Lakers retire both 8 and 24?
And if so, has any single player had two numbers retired by the same team? I’m not certain that Jordan’s 45 is officially retired by the Bulls.
#206 by aram on 02.07.08 6:54 pm |
Christopher said:
At the 2007 Rose Bowl, the confetti was red, blue, and yellow, covering all their bases in case Michigan or USC won. I thought that was pretty hilarious.
#207 by Jorge on 02.07.08 7:23 pm |
Looks like West Virginia didn’t wait until the Big East tournament to break out the new uni’s. The gold they are wearing tonight actually looks pretty sharp in my opinion.
#208 by Jorge on 02.07.08 7:32 pm |
Huggins, however, looks like a chump in that windbreaker.
#209 by Corey on 02.07.08 8:01 pm |
ryan c #40 said:
I’d drive to da burgh to be there.
#210 by Original Jim on 02.07.08 8:38 pm |
So the other day it was mentioned that the U. of Minnesota football team was getting Virginia Tech-inspired uniforms next season. I don’t know if they’ve been released yet, nor have I seen news about it.
So I worked up an idea of how I think they’re going to look, compared to the current versions.
http://img.photobuck...
#211 by Derek on 02.07.08 8:52 pm |
http://museumoffligh...
Boeing is doing a a new feature on the history of flight attendant uniforms.
#212 by Jeff on 02.07.08 8:57 pm |
To earlier mentions of the Blazers and Hornets retiring numbers for no apparent reason, I’ll add the Bucks.
I can understand Jon McGlocklin, who was just an average player but has been there since Day One, but not Brian Winters. Never have.
Not when the numbers of Bob Dandridge, Marques Johnson and Terry Cummings are still in use.
I know, I know. No one cares about this but me.
#213 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 9:15 pm |
LI Phil said:
well you know those minnesotans…they got spoiled after all those super bowl victories
/at least the poor africans think they won ‘em ;)
#214 by Mike Engle on 02.07.08 9:16 pm |
KT said:
The most interesting instance of this, in my mind, is Karl Malone. After a long career as #32 for the Utah Jazz, he was introduced at his Lakers press conference with a #32 jersey. (Also present was Gary Payton with his #20 jersey.)
Shortly after, he was the first guest on the ESPN show Rome is Burning, where he talked about his new jersey. Something like this:
“Magic Johnson offered to let me wear his #32, but I didn’t want to take #32 down from the rafters. So I wanted to show you my real jersey this year. (Holds up his yellow jersey.) #11. Isn’t it such a smooth number? I love it. Besides, #11 was my Dream Team number, so I’ve won with it before.”
#215 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 9:39 pm |
Mike Engle said:
karl’s press conference w/magic’s 32
#216 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 10:09 pm |
Jorge said:
here
#217 by KT on 02.07.08 10:31 pm |
todd krevanchi said:
I don’t begrudge you the desire to keep a retired number retired (even though there are tons of players who bust their asses in weight rooms, do all the right things and STILL don’t get their numbers retired, so it’s not all about you).
What I object to is the lengths to which you’d go to to keep it that way. You’d pitch a fit, require a legal document and, I’m guessing, whine quite publicly.
You say NEVER, for ANY reason. What if your son wanted to wear it? If you were blessed with a son who had big-time abilities and was fortunate enough to play on the same team that you played for, would that be okay? Or would that fall under the NEVER, for ANY reason clause in the legal agreement? “Sorry, son, I love you, but this is Dad’s moment. I’m pissed that you’d even ask, you little punk.”
So I’m guessing you’d never demand to renegotiate a contract, never go free agent and take the highest deal, sign every autograph, grant every interview, be gracious to all you met?
Retired numbers are supposed to be for giants. Holding your breath until you turn blue and INSISTING that they not do it and having a lawyer draw up an agreement and yelling in CAPITAL LETTERS about how you EARNED having your number retired doesn’t make you look like a giant. It makes you look small.
#218 by Ben on 02.07.08 10:37 pm |
tBone said:
today they’re known as the Lady Jackets, and on Sunday they will be wearing pink against UNC
#219 by KT on 02.07.08 10:39 pm |
And just to complete the thought from above, yes, the #9 of Bobby Hull was back (if it ever left) on the facade inside the Jobing.com Arena as of December 7, along with the 25 of Thomas Steen and the 10 of Dale Howerchuk.
#220 by David Murphy on 02.07.08 10:41 pm |
Hey! That girl pictured in the Georgia Tech throwback uni…she was in some of my classes at Tech! Off the top of my head, I think her name was Jamie Posey.
Great PP&K article…and not just because Paul quoted me! I remember that 1969 booklet well.
#221 by Trevor K on 02.07.08 10:56 pm |
AK said:
I’m trying to figure out why they would have a patch celebrating them gettting killed by my Chiefs in Super Bowl IV.
#222 by BA on 02.07.08 11:20 pm |
Here’s a bit on he history of Adidas:
http://www.youtube.c...
#223 by Ryan on 02.07.08 11:27 pm |
Fez Whatley said:
I doubt we will see a Met wearing #31 again and i doubt #5 is far behind
#224 by LI Phil on 02.07.08 11:33 pm |
Ryan said:
i could see them retiring piazza, but then again, we thought 16 & 18 were sure things too…i would like to see 17 and 8 retired, but if they haven’t already, it aint happenin…and what about 36? and if we one day do retire 5, what about 7?
#225 by KT on 02.07.08 11:35 pm |
Trevor K said:
Fair enough.I think they’re more celebrating the last NFL champs before the merger and a special bunch of guys who won the city’s first NFL championship in their ninth season.
Same reason Boston fans gave Bill Buckner an ovation on opening day in 1987. Same reason Bills fans cheered for Scott Norwood the day after Super Bowl 25.
#226 by KT on 02.07.08 11:44 pm |
Bill T. said:
Not that I can find. We’ve had numbers retired for more than one person, but not more than one number retired for one person. We’ve had the same number retired for the same person by more than one team. We’ve had numbers retired for people who didn’t play for that team, numbers retired for non-players and honors for people who didn’t wear numbers at all.
BTW, this site says Meyer’s #1 was retired by the Pirates in 1954, two years after they fired him and six years after he was NL Manager of the Year.
KT said:
It’s not. In fact, Paul Shirley wore it in the 2003-2004 season.
#227 by Ryan on 02.07.08 11:58 pm |
LI Phil said:
16 and 18 shot themselves in the foot with the off-the-field stuff…i love 17, but he didn’t spend his prime with the team (won the MVP in ‘79). I’d love to see 8, but my sense is that their MO is only retiring guys who get elected to the HOF as Mets. I think the next 7 years will tell us a lot about 5 & 7. you gotta think at least one of them will be, right? maybe their criteria are just a bit too high
#228 by Patrick on 02.08.08 12:26 am |
It was 80’s night tonight at Joe Louis Arena in detroit. Alas, the visiting LA Kings did not wear this throwback…http://dsp.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pG01-2368417p275w.jpg
#229 by Mike Engle on 02.08.08 12:27 am |
KT said:
Also two different numbers by two different people for one person. (Reggie Jackson and Carlton Fisk)
#230 by Mike Engle on 02.08.08 12:35 am |
Ryan said:
How did you get that one? I don’t think Casey is in the Hall as a Met, and I don’t think Gil Hodges is in the Hall at all. Your logic appears flawed.
#231 by LI Phil on 02.08.08 12:37 am |
LI Phil said:
one of the great travesties of the hall…no offense to the veterans committee, but if they could put the scooter in, then gil certainly deserves that honor…
#232 by » Blog Archive » Numerology on 02.08.08 12:50 am |
[...] So, we were discussing retired numbers over at Uni Watch and I finally got around to something I’ve been meaning to do. I’ve seen the lists of numbers retired by Major League Baseball teams (who, near as we can tell, started the practice in 1939 with Lou Gehrig), sorted by team or by number. But I’d never seen a chronological list of retired numbers, which would tell us when these ceremonies took place. Thanks to baseball-almanac.com, I was able to find the bulk of those dates and create this list: [...]
#233 by LI Phil on 02.08.08 12:59 am |
» Blog Archive » Numerology said:
AWESOME list
ktkenn! imo have to bookmark that ;)#234 by KT on 02.08.08 1:06 am |
In fact, it looks like Billy Meyer might have been only the sixth guy in Major League history to have his number retired (and first by a team outside New York).
I’m searching old Sporting Newses now. Surely if they actually retired his number in 1954, the Sporting News would have mentioned it.
#235 by KT on 02.08.08 1:27 am |
Billy Meyer’s obituary in The Sporting News does not mention the Pirates retiring his number.
It’s entirely possible that the theory above is true, and that they never did retire the number, but it somehow was accepted that it had been and it’s too late now.
A buddy of mine was a longtime Pittsburgh radio guy and he would know, but he died several years back.
#236 by LI Phil on 02.08.08 1:31 am |
no mention of it on baseball almanac either
#237 by KT on 02.08.08 1:35 am |
I did find some great stuff from when he resigned at the end of the 1952 season, players saying he was (Bania) the best! The best, Jerry!(/Bania). He might have been very well-liked.
#238 by MPowers1634 on 02.08.08 8:23 am |
Original Jim said:
Great work , Jim!
#239 by JW on 02.08.08 8:43 am |
I live in Knoxville and recall many summer nights at Bill Meyer Stadium watching the likes of Cecil Fielder, Jesse Barfield, Carlos Delgado. I even saw Jose Conseco’s twin brother play there when he was with Huntsville. Below is a link about the old stadium and the rededication of the field that Bill Meyer stadium used to sit around.
#240 by JW on 02.08.08 8:44 am |
Forget the link, Sorry
http://www.cityofkno...
#241 by Adios el-Kabong on 02.08.08 8:59 am |
On the great Yvon Labre – agree with Joe (51). But perhaps the guy who suggested Barry Ashbee is right.
On Washington hockey, a good friend and well known Washington sports guy says “the good news about the Caps is that they have 17000 rabid fans. The bad news is that they have 17000 rabid fans.” Washington hockey flourishing. You can’t be serious, not when Leonsis has to ban ticket purchases from Pittsburgh fans in the playoffs. LOL
#242 by John Zajac on 02.08.08 9:00 am |
LI Phil said:
Did he at least get a piece of cake? At the last ceremony he did not receive a piece of cake.
#243 by Zack Bennett on 02.08.08 9:06 am |
Yeah, the film is flopped in that Bateman scene. The steering wheel is on the passenger side of the car in the background.