It’s been a while since I’ve run a selection of uni-related items up for auction at Leland’s. Their current auction, which runs through June 6th, is divided up into two separate catalogs — one devoted to objects and another devoted to photographs — and there’s a ton of great stuff in both categories, so I’m going to divide my coverage into two entries. Today I’ll look at physical objects; a subsequent entry (maybe as soon as tomorrow, maybe next week) will look at the photos. I assure you both entries will feature enough material to stand on their own.
• Here’s another one of those experimental satin uniforms, which several teams used for night games. Details and additional photos here.
• I never saw a game at Three Rivers Stadium, so I never saw this sign (details here). You know what part of the illustration I like best.
• I’ve written before about World Series press pins. Here are some gorgeous examples from the 1920s (details here). And there’s a whole separate category: World Series clubhouse passes — hadn’t seen those before. Love the die-cut shape (details here).
• Love this beautiful batch of 1933 hockey cards (details here). And these 1961 basketball cards are even nicer (details here).
• I’ve always loved the simplicity of this NHL All-Star Game uniform. Look at those grommets! (Details and additional pics here.)
• Really interesting batch of European and Russian hockey jerseys here (with details and additional pics here).
• It’s always weird to see cowboy imagery mixed with hockey. Cases in point: the Calgary Cowboys (details here) and the Denver Spurs (details here, and here’s the road version).
• Check out this old Montreal Canadiens portrait (details here). I especially like the coaches’ sweaters.
• This painting of Jack Dempsey (details here) is interesting. Instead of the usual elasticized waistband on the trunks, it appears that he had a belt or sash running through real belt loops.
• Speaking of boxing, remember when fighters wore tights, instead of trunks? Then check out these figurines (details here).
• Lots to like in this 1938 Detroit Lions jersey: the long sleeves, the huge uni number, and check out all those buttons on the crotch tab. Great label, too. Details here.
• You have got to be kidding me.
More to come soon.
Wanna Be a Designer?: Reader T.J. Leibowitz has an interesting proposition for you all:
My high school is getting new lacrosse uniforms next year, and our coach has asked the players to design the uniforms. This should really be a dream come true for me. Frankly, though, I’m tapped for ideas, so I thought I’d throw it out here and see if any Uni Watch readers can contribute a good design for us. This would be good for me (hopefully a good enough design from the Uni Watch faithful will mean no “mustang” design; I really would rather not be the Denver Broncos of high school lacrosse) and good for Uni Watch (the site would be having an actual impact on uniform design, if only at the high school level).
Here’s the web site for Z-Wear, our uniform supplier, and their lacrosse uniform creator. However, a sales rep for Z-Wear told us that they can also use the football patterns and scale them for lacrosse jerseys, so you can play around with the football uni creator if you prefer the styles there.
I’m trying to find exactly what our league uniform rules are (I’ve downloaded every PDF on the THSLL site, but to no avail), but I’m pretty sure most number/font choices can be scaled to fit.
I originally posted all of this in the comments, and I got some great suggestions, but many of them involved trim colors that our athletic department simply will not allow. So please note that our school colors are green and white, and that they can NOT be tinkered with. Additionally, we have an athletic department standard for font (it’s not available on the uni creator and I’m not quite sure what it is, but I’ll deal with it later). Aside from that, you’re free to roam.
If you come up with something, please e-mail me. Either a screen shot or plain text listing of what your choices are is fine.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Interesting note from Pat Duffy, who writes: “A site I write for will be running a contest over the next two weeks to find people who have rare Buffalo Bills jerseys, stories, and weird memorabilia. We’re going to display the pictures of the coolest stuff we get all week, including things from other teams, and there will be a Bills-themed prize (looks like a either a jersey, or a pair of tickets to the VIP night practice at Bills training camp). We have some photos of rare Bills jerseys and memorabilia posted now, which might interest Uni Watch readers.” … Speaking of contests, the University of Florida is holding a competition for students to design next season’s student section T-shirt. Details here (with thanks to Evan Goldfarb). … Add the 1980 Tacoma Tigers to the list of all-time ugly uniforms (with thanks to John English). … AS Saint Etienne is outfitted by Adidas. And, as Jeremy Brahm notes, their logo has three stripes. Coincidence? … The Orioles stirrups that I wore the other day reminded Paul Wiederecht of another set of orange-based hose: the set worn by the Colt .45s. … Here’s a rarity: an Expos pillbox cap (with thanks to Scott Schul). … A few days ago I mentioned that the Lions will be wearing a “75 Seasons” patch this year. Now comes word that they’ll be wearing throwbacks for two days (with thanks to Doug Mooney and Yakki Cohen). … Here’s a better shot of Eric Gagne’s high-pants look. … Joseph Chiaccio reports that the Rays will be wearing St. Petersburg Pelicans throwbacks on June 21st. … Did you know Mike Piazza once wore No. 25 with the Dodgers? I didn’t, until Paul Kamras sent me this. … Chris Dias notes that NBA tights appear to be making a comeback. … “Tuesday night’s game between the Greenville Drive (Red Sox affiliate) and the Charleston River Dogs (Yankees farm club) featured both teams wearing the uniforms of their MLB parent clubs,” writes Ronnie Poore. “Of course, no retired numbers were allowed, so several guys had to have new numbers.” Dozens of additional photos here. … The logo for the 2010 Men’s World Volleyball Championship in Italy will look like this (with thanks to Jeremy Brahm). … Also from Jeremy: Logo trouble at the Olympics. … John Muir reports that British Airways held a fashion show of its past and present uniforms on Wednesday in Tokyo, to mark the 60th anniversary celebration of the launch of the company’s service to Japan. … Notes from yesterday’s Chelsea/ManU match in Moscow, courtesy of Morris Levin: “Chelsea wore lower-case NOBs; because it wasn’t a Premier League match, the teams could do what they wanted with number and name fonts, so both teams used different ones than normal; both teams wore the Euro equivalent of championship game patches with multi-line embroidery on the front of the kits; and the Chelsea goalkeeper was not only wearing a road-crew bright-orange uniform but also full padded headgear. He played well but looked terrible.” All of these details are on display in this gallery. … Many of you have expressed doubt that the Tigers ever wore this jersey, but look — proof! … Anyone who thinks I get too much positive feedback (or who just wants a good laugh) should read the comments at the end of this piece. … Looks like they needed a blood jersey — and also some blood pants — last night in San Diego. … Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich appear to have a very special relationship (big thanks to Ronald Covert). … Big Klu’s daughter? Nope, it’s a member of the Wilson Memorial High School softball team in Virginia (nice find by Steve Hicks). … For those of you who remember my old zine: Beer Frame may be dead, but the T-shirt lives again. … And speaking of T-shirts, if you missed yesterday’s entry, check out all the cool new Uni Watch tees for sale here.
#1 by Brad on 05.22.08 9:08 am |
Chelsea’s keeper, Petr Cech, was wearing the headgear because of a skull fracture suffered in a game last year against Reading. He’s had it since his return. Chelsea’s kit is next year’s model–their 2007-2008 jersey had no collar and no yellow. Cech is usually outfitted in black, but the goalkeeper uni is a preview of next season, also.
#2 by Brian from Short Island on 05.22.08 9:10 am |
ESPN actually ran that Piazza crap?
#3 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 9:11 am |
note to self: do not fuck with albert pujols
#4 by Peter Wunsch on 05.22.08 9:14 am |
Love the autographs on the Worls Series clubhouse passes
#5 by Ryan B on 05.22.08 9:15 am |
For the lacrosse uniforms, the THSLL website says you use NCAA rules. Below are the applicable sections from the 2008 rulebook.
b. Jerseys. The jerseys shall have numbers that are at least 6 inches high
and centered on the front. Jersey numbers of at least 8 inches in height
also must be centered on the back. It is recommended strongly that the
jersey numbers be increased to heights of not less than 10 inches on
the front and 12 inches on the back, when team jerseys are replaced by
2009.
c. Shorts. All players on the same team must wear uniform shorts of the
same dominant official team color.
#6 by Shep on 05.22.08 9:22 am |
I can’t get that lacrosse e-mail to work. It keeps telling me it does not exist. Can anyone help with this?
#7 by Justin on 05.22.08 9:30 am |
Wow Paul, They did not like your Piazza article.
#8 by Steve on 05.22.08 9:31 am |
So Paul, are you going to take any of the “constructive criticism” in the ESPN article comments to heart? Yikes.
#9 by Adam on 05.22.08 9:34 am |
also, patch worn in the Man Utd/Chelsea match wasn’t a championship patch, it’s the Champions League patch and has been worn all tourney by every team participating, not a patch worn simply for the final game
#10 by MPowers1634 on 05.22.08 9:35 am |
Interesting note concerning the Minor league game here:
http://cmsimg.greenv...
http://cmsimg.greenv...
It seems that both teams wore the jerseys and batting practice caps of their parent clubs however kept their normal piped pants!
#11 by Philly Al in NoCal on 05.22.08 9:37 am |
This explains (w/ vivid illustration) why Cech wears a helmet:
http://www.mailonsun...
#12 by Paul Lukas on 05.22.08 9:37 am |
Doesn’t bother me. People are entitled to their opinions, and I knew the piece wouldn’t be popular. People don’t like to have their perceptions of reality challenged. It’s interesting to see how many people happily accept the St. Piazza myth and swallow it whole, however. The mere suggestion that he might have been a selfish boor really sends people up a wall.
#13 by JJWasz on 05.22.08 9:42 am |
Can anyone give me a good website that allows you to design baseball jerseys online?
#14 by Matt The Hammer on 05.22.08 9:45 am |
My o my do I miss Tiger Stadium.
#15 by interlockingtc on 05.22.08 9:50 am |
That old Canadiens team photo is one of the most dignified, beautifully composed, artful presentations of a sports team I’ve ever seen. And, yes, the sweaters are grand.
And I love the way the 1961 NBA cards provide such a great, noirish look to the many characters of the league. As a kid, that’s the stuff the fuels the imagination.
And a reappearance of the mysterious LA Laker giraffe!
#16 by Dan King on 05.22.08 10:03 am |
T.J- I tried to send you a uniform design but the email address has errors.
Watching the Champions League final yesterday it was funny to see that Chelsea had the gold writing on the front of the jersey in one area and also had the star ball logo.
http://uk.eurosport....
While Manchester had to put it long ways and without the star ball because of the nike logo
http://uk.eurosport....
#17 by al on 05.22.08 10:03 am |
The problem is that you could have written:
1. His “at bat” music and rock star persona was too much to handle
2. After swinging so hard, he watched his moon ball too long
3. He never looked good when wearing a real met hat (instead of a catcher’s helmet)
… and those points would have been as valid as the ones you provided.
#18 by Jen Hayden on 05.22.08 10:06 am |
Hey - on the image of the Colt .45 catchers - (sorry for this) look between their legs. Are those dots snaps or buttons or is it simply an issue with the photograph?
#19 by Kek on 05.22.08 10:18 am |
I wasn’t too crazy about the Page 2 piece, but not necessarily because of the topic. Paul, that’s your opinion and believe me, I know how it can be to take an unpopular stance on a topic.
I’m more critical of Page 2 and ESPN in general. It seems that Page 2 has gone from a really good, alternative source for solid sports journalism to a website that looks like it’s trying to hard to be funny, edgy and satirical. (I prefer EXTRA MUSTARD on SI.com these days) DJ Gallo’s style belongs on The Onion, Scoop Jackson’s style God awful (Jason Whitlock has called him out more than once on this), Jamelle Hill writes some good stuff but I think too often she writes the same story (race).
I think the Piazza piece reads more like an angry message board poster, rather than an Internet columnist. And while I think a lot of the comments are over the top, I think there is validity to the point that ESPN will look at this column as a success because of the buzz it created with all the comments.
#20 by Tony In Erie on 05.22.08 10:22 am |
Paul, I couldn’t agree with you more about Piazza. I’m just glad that you didn’t say something like “its a shame Clemens didn’t actually hit him with that bat.”
People ARE entitled to their opinions. Definitely.
#21 by Juan Grande on 05.22.08 10:23 am |
The Greenville/Charleston game was well uniformed but it appeares that the Yankees have a goldish piping on their pants. Yankees uniform purists must be going nuts.
http://cmsimg.greenv...
#22 by JoeS on 05.22.08 10:29 am |
Paul:
I know nothing about Mike Piazza, so I don’t have much opinion on the article, but I thoroughly enjoyed the comments. In particular I like the comments from deekay31. First he writes this:
“Go kill yourself Paul Lukas… if you were a real Mets fan, you would have appreciated him for everything that he did.”
His request that you take your own life is funny in itself, but four minutes later he follows up with this:
“I hate you Paul Lukas, if I saw you on the street, Id hurt you… what was the point of your column except to spew out hate and venom for a guy, and for what? Bc he didnt want to play 1B? Bc he didnt confront the media about his heterosexuality the way you wanted him to? Youre real pathetic. I hope Piazza finds you and does to you what he did to Mota.”
So was he just sitting there for four minutes fuming over the article before he just couldn’t take it anymore and had to comment again? Hilarious.
#23 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 10:29 am |
say what you will about paul’s espn piece and it’s comments…but i will say this
paul is a man of his convictions, and he backs up his words (for the most part) with facts, (and of course opinions)…you have to separate the two
he made a rational, albeit emotionally charged diatribe on why piazza wasn’t always god himself and after reading his comments, he certainly did give me pause
i remember the good piazza things: the 9/21/01 homer against the bravos, taking roidger for a granny in one of those insufferable mets-yanks interplague games, almost single-handedly reestablishing the mets as a team of respectability in 1998, etc.
but there were also those piazza moments we’d like to forget, like his bad die jobs, and the endless speculation (which he didn’t really squelch until that press conference) on his sexual preferences, and many other off-the-field things…but those were off the field
true, he couldn’t run or throw for shit, but he was pretty good behind the dish in his signal calling and his ability to get in front of the errant pitch…and he did invent (or at least popularize) those pads everyone seems to wear now (knee savers?)
but, like all famous players, you have to take the good with the bad, and remember the good with the bad, and maybe i choose to remember the moon shots and not the
stolen bases and slidesbad baserunning…im glad paul reminded us (in case we had forgotten, or chosen to forget), it wasn’t always peaches and cream with himwhatever cap he wears into the coop will be fine with me, i’d rather it be
blackblue and orange, but if it’s got the interlocking “LA”, that’s ok by meonly thing for sure is this is a first balloter
#24 by Broadway Connie on 05.22.08 10:29 am |
#25 by MPowers1634 on 05.22.08 10:32 am |
His lifetime supply of Doritos and Jolt must have been cut off by his mother for failure to take the garbage out!
#26 by Derek on 05.22.08 10:32 am |
go to baseballamerica.com
#27 by JC on 05.22.08 10:45 am |
yeah, the drive and pelicans were wearing normal game pants, but with parent club jerseys…and apparently, bp hats…sigh
#28 by Shep on 05.22.08 10:51 am |
I’m still having problems with the lax uni adress
#29 by cisko on 05.22.08 10:52 am |
Here is more detail on Petr Cech’s injury, and why he still wears a helmet. Here’s helmet details and a good photo of it. Sure does look strange, but that orange kit is much worse.
#30 by Shep on 05.22.08 11:04 am |
Niketeam.com will allow you to design jerseys for a variety of sports, from pre-designed college unis to custom threads for a variety of sports. You can get a free account, and make as many as you want. It’s kind of fun.
#31 by Stuby on 05.22.08 11:07 am |
Hey Paul, since you are an employee, does ESPN allow you access to their vast video vault for research purposes?
Just wondering cuz you had asked if anyone had Tivo-ed that Game 7 of the ‘71 World Series on ESPN Classic. Y’know, the one with the guy blowing his nose into a handkerchief?
#32 by Matt on 05.22.08 11:13 am |
Fitting that the Lions would wear those throwbacks against longtime rivals Tennessee and Jacksonville. When I think of throwback football, I think Jags and Titans. Hmmm…Packers, Bears, even Vikes?
#33 by Saru on 05.22.08 11:15 am |
AS Saint Etienne is outfitted by Adidas. And, as Jeremy Brahm notes, their logo has three stripes. Coincidence?
Yup. Note the shirt is made by Umbro and has the same crest. Sorry, but not a corporate conspiracy in this case.
#34 by AB on 05.22.08 11:20 am |
I have always thought this and now I am certain of it. The parent of this Blog has an ego the size of Shea Stadium. I know it is typical of a Mets fan, but I mean that ESPN article about Piazza? ESPN REALLY PAYS you to write articles?
AND I KNOW EVERYONE has the right to his opinion. BUT ESPN Paid him for his…Where is everyone else’s to voice there’s on ESPN?
#35 by Paul Lukas on 05.22.08 11:27 am |
That’s right, AB: ESPN paid me CASH MONEY for that piece. Lots and lots of CASH MONEY. So much CASH FUCKING MONEY that I treated myself to an extra Twix bar yesterday.
#36 by KT on 05.22.08 11:27 am |
Seems to me like internet tough guys took the opportunity to voice their opinions in the comments section.
There’s a reason people like “deekay31″ don’t get paid to provide their opinions: Because they’re overdone, hysterical, Red Bull-fueled, misanthropic fanboy crap.
#37 by Derek on 05.22.08 11:29 am |
Is it to late to enter that raffle?
#38 by MPowers1634 on 05.22.08 11:30 am |
First Ammendment!!!
I have no problem with what PL writes. I may disagree, but that is both his right to air it publicly as well as my right to publicly agree or disagree!
As far as this blog goes, he created it, he governs the rules. Everyone’s opinion is allowed to be read, therefore making it quite a fair forum.
An OP/ED piece, whether it’s in your local newspaper, the NYT, or Page 2 of ESPN is just that: an editorial! Opinions are welcome, and if noone were to disagree…that would be a bore!
#39 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 11:34 am |
jealous?
#40 by matty blue on 05.22.08 11:39 am |
so…why do some of the press passes look like penises? i guess the press was more of an old-boy network than i realized.
#41 by Marty Met on 05.22.08 11:40 am |
typical of a Mets fan???? I’ll bet AB is a “long suffering” Yankees fan.
#42 by Dan from PC on 05.22.08 11:42 am |
Wait, Paul…they pay you? I thought for sure you were some egotistical maniac who wrote these things simply to piss off joeshithead1712171. This changes everything…
Where can I get one of those Sarcasm tag things?
#43 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 11:43 am |
and another thing…
many of you feel there’s that ECB at the WWL, but it’s mostly towards teh SAWKS, not the mets
and paul wasn’t exactly complimentary to many people’s favorite met (after tom terrific of course)
#44 by Philly Bill on 05.22.08 11:49 am |
http://www.zazzle.co...
Dude… It’s got a Brannock device on the back. Sweet.
And I love the comments about respecting Piazza’s “private life.” If you have a press conference to announce you’re not gay — one of the most absurd things I’ve ever seen — then it’s not exactly “private” anymore.
#45 by Ricko1 on 05.22.08 11:54 am |
What I am about to say is NOT specifically in reference to Mike Piazza.
Got that? Okay.
I spent a decade or so early in my career as a sportswriter, and when I read or hear fans gushing over an athlete, I always wonder if they’ve ever actually met that athlete or they’re just swooning from a distance. Some athletes are far, far, far from gracious, or even remotely pleasant, in real life. Some of the nicest public faces are a cover for jerks, and some of the really jerky public faces mask incredibly nice people.
Now, what someone does or says in public or in the media CAN give us insight into who they are, can’t discount that. And definitely don’t dismiss it because someone’s been put on a pedestal for hitting home runs or draining three-pointers to win big games. Those efforts have nothing to do with the quality of the person. Of the athlete, yes. Of the person, no.
All athletes have egos, it’s just that, well…size matters.
The true-blue fans such as the guy who wants to see Paul dead? They are in serious need of a life. Being a member of your favorite team does not bathe that person in some sort of heavenly glow.
If he was a jerk when played for another team, he’ll almost certainly still be a jerk when he gets to your team.
That hat (or the jersey) doesn’t make the man.
#46 by Mark in Shiga on 05.22.08 11:59 am |
Even if you like those ad-encrusted jerseys in the Leland’s auction (the Russia #12 is a gem), the description is pathetic. They specialize in high-value stuff, yet they couldn’t even find someone who could read Cyrillic? It’s “Moskva” (Moscow), not “Mockba”, and the Dynamo jersey was worn by a guy named Kaminsky. Collectors willing to pay hundreds of dollars for this stuff deserve a little more effort.
#47 by Philly Bill on 05.22.08 11:59 am |
Just got my new issue of Sports Illustrated, and the cover features a comic-book illustration of the Rays and Yankees in Yankee Stadium… Except the Rays player is in home whites and the Yankee is in road grays.
They can expect some death threats from Yankee fans, most likely.
#48 by Paul Lukas on 05.22.08 12:01 pm |
I try to keep “special requests” like that to a minimum — there’s only so many favors I can get the ESPN people to do for me (I’m not actually an employee, I’m a contract worker). But yeah, this might be one of those times. Where was that original item about the handkerchief? Was it in the comments section a few days ago or what? Can’t remember…
#49 by Shep on 05.22.08 12:05 pm |
Geez Paul, just an extra Twix? I would have gone for the Indiana Jones Mint M&M’s myself.
#50 by Chris in Nashville on 05.22.08 12:06 pm |
I say “good for you, Paul.” If your day is ruined because of something that a guy wrote and you feel the need to actually take the energy to write venemous things about the column, you , my friend, have too much time on your hands.
#51 by Jeff Beef Bone on 05.22.08 12:13 pm |
1961 Basketball Cards: Why have I never seen the Celtics use that logo before? That prancing crowned and bearded character. Or the LA Lakers Giraffe with basketball?!
Were they just used on promo material? I thought the celtics always had the smoking leprechaun dude.
#52 by KT on 05.22.08 12:30 pm |
The only place a giraffe can hide is…behind another giraffe.
#53 by Mike Engle on 05.22.08 12:33 pm |
Wrong, Phil. The AliMed Knee Savers were invented by Sandy Alomar, Jr.
#54 by KT on 05.22.08 12:35 pm |
All the talk yesterday about Hall of Famers and the caps they wear on their plaques got me looking…most seem to be straightforward, but Catfish Hunter’s cap is blank.
The always-right wikipedia says: “At the time a player was allowed to choose which cap would be memorialized on his Hall of Fame Plaque. Before and after his induction, Hunter spoke highly of his experiences with both the Athletics and Yankees and his appreciation for both team owners, Charlie Finley and George Steinbrenner. For this reason, he refused to choose a team and thus the plaque depicts him without an insignia on the cap.”
I did not know that. He might be the only one.
#55 by Shep on 05.22.08 12:39 pm |
Catfish may have picked the way to go. If a player played for multiple teams, with decent stretches of both time and on-field performance with them, it may cause a lot of controversy with one team whose hat is not on the players plaque.
Does anyone know of someone like this, or am I repeating yesterday’s discussion too much?
#56 by Mark in Shiga on 05.22.08 12:41 pm |
KT, what about all the players whose careers came before caps even had logos on them? Before about 1920, teams were as likely to have a plain, colored cap as they were to have one with a letter or symbol. I suspect that the early inductees have *mostly* plain caps.
#57 by Juan Grande on 05.22.08 12:42 pm |
Piazza was the worst defensive player I have seen play in the majors for any reasonable length of time. My dead grandmother has a better arm that Piazza every did. Paul hit it right on the head… Piazza was a pretty good offensive player but his defense was atrociuos and his “mentality” was skewed to say the least.
PS: I loved the line about Piazza two-hopping a throw to second. So true… so true…
#58 by Shep on 05.22.08 12:42 pm |
Early inductees might have caps of what logos their teams adopted later on.
#59 by The Ol Goaler on 05.22.08 12:44 pm |
I watched that game last night; seeing Chris Young getting hit in the face with Pujols’ line drive was scary… the game was halted for several minutes while medical staff tended to Young. Albert and Padres’ first baseman Adrian Gonzales prayed together while Young was being tended. Fortunately, Young only suffered a broken nose; his injury could have been much more serious.
Once the game resumed, Pujols scored the go-ahead run… on the play at the plate, Padres catcher Josh Bard suffered a badly sprained ankle trying to block the plate! Tough night all around for the Pads…
#60 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 12:49 pm |
oh behind eric gagne’s pantaloons
#61 by wrecking_ball on 05.22.08 12:49 pm |
Just a couple things:
1) Those (Detroit) Tigers alts are some of the best of the lot. Very classy! I’m not a fan, but I’d not mind seeing them sporadically nowadays.
2) There’s no quicker way to weep for humanity/Western civilization than to spend any time reading Page 2 commenters.
3) Good job to everybody who beat me to the punch regarding the kits in Moscow yesterday.
#62 by Ryan B on 05.22.08 12:51 pm |
You mean Charleston…while Greenville and Myrtle Beach (the Pelicans) are in the same state, they are not in the same league. Greenville is the South Atlantic, Myrtle Beach the Carolina.
#63 by E_Ro on 05.22.08 12:53 pm |
Also fitting that the lions 75th season patch, has so much black in it. Blech.
#64 by brian on 05.22.08 1:03 pm |
that lax uniform email definitely doesn’t work. is there a corrected one?
#65 by ESS on 05.22.08 1:07 pm |
Paul likes the Mets? I had no idea.
#66 by Kenny on 05.22.08 1:12 pm |
So the green in the lacrosse jersey…is it kelly green or forest green?
#67 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 1:22 pm |
dallas green
#68 by KT on 05.22.08 1:27 pm |
Well, obviously. I was going for “the only one where there was a cap logo to be had yet it’s blank.” It appears as though even some 19th century guys had cap logos. Though Cap Anson does not.
Paul would know better, but I think the cap logo was probably one of the earliest team identifiers, and I’m guessing that even in the early 1900s, most teams had something on their caps. Numbers on jerseys, obviously, came much later.
If you go back to 1876, sure.
But Hunter’s obviously a different case because there was a cap logo to be had and he just refused to choose. Cap Anson played in the first year of the National League (even before that…he’d played in 1871 in the National Association) and played until 1897. He may or may not have ever had a C or other logo on his cap.
#69 by Kek on 05.22.08 1:31 pm |
What facts? (Specifically regarding this Piazza piece that is). Look, I’m not knocking Paul’s opinion of Piazza. I don’t care one way or the other what someone thinks of him.
However, out of appreciation of the two of us in this board that AREN’T Mets fans , you might want to enlighten us with some substance that backs your opinion.
For instance, in number one, I’m sure Piazza hasn’t been the first and won’t be the last guy to not like switching positions. Is that an actual quote from Piazza or a paraphrase? If so, what is the context? Also, give an example of a classy guy that made a switch, or compare to another player that sulked.
Number two: give examples with quotes as to why you’d think Piazza cared about the catcher HR record (remember, we’re not all Mets’ fans so we don’t remember) not just a lame joke.
Number three: outside of maybe John Kruk, it’s a real tough sell for me to tell me any MLB player is a “horrible athlete”. Guys don’t get to the pinnacle of their trade by being horrible athletes.
Number four is so off base I don’t even know where to start. Who the hell is anyone to claim that any athlete should take up any given cause? Look, everyone isn’t going to be Roberto Clemente and do super things on the humanitarian level. I would think you’d want to find out Piazza’s opinion on the topic before you ask him to make a social statement with such magnitude because if he didn’t believe in it and said it, it would be hollow. This is like when people wanted Tiger Woods to speak out about the rebel flag or Michael Jordan to be more active in black causes. People have to want to do that stuff, you just can’t force it.
Number five: the only one I’ll give you. He got caught in a flip flop situation. I’ve never knocked the hustle of an aging power hitter to go to the AL and DH. I hate the rule but if it’s there, exploit the hell out of it. Maybe what Piazza said was in the heat of the moment after all that drama, but the fact of the matter is he did it and on the surface, it’s hypocritical.
Number six: BURN! It’s a given that he wasn’t the greatest defensive catcher in the world. But isn’t that alluded to already with the mentioning of the move to first?
There’s also some of that sportswriter hubris. “And as a lifelong Mets fan who never warmed up to Piazza, I don’t want his enshrinement tied to my team”. So you’re judge and jury? And I know that writers don’t normally do the headlines and captions but the picture caption (let’s pretend New York never happened.) is a bit much too.
I looked at the stats link in the story and I find it hard to believe that someone with 2000+ hits and 400+ HRs (including 99-02 when he had 40, 38, 36 and 33 dingers as a Met) never fulfilled his potential as a star, in the fullest sense of that term.
And I know your response to the one comment in here, complete with capitalized f-bomb, was sarcastic and not meant like it, but when you say stuff like that, you stoop to the level of the stupid comments that were on your story. Plus, I thought you said that comments don’t bother you in a previous post.
It’s funny, because in my experience, the people that say things like “I don’t care what other people say” are normally the first ones to get offended or put off.
Not a good day for you man!!!!
#70 by KT on 05.22.08 1:32 pm |
To be clear, I believe stockings and shirts were the earliest team identifiers (stockings may have come first). I’m sure cap logos came later, but most probably had them before 1920 (the 1919 White Sox do not appear to have anything on their caps. Nor do the 1918 Red Sox).
That’s interesting. Maybe it came into common usage later than I thought. Might be fodder for some research for someone with, say, a blog about sports uniforms.
#71 by KT on 05.22.08 1:34 pm |
Ernie Banks or Rod Carew for the former.
Alfonso Soriano for the latter.
#72 by Mike on 05.22.08 1:36 pm |
Question regarding the comment that players had to wear new uniform numbers for the Greenville-Charleston game.
When I was a kid we had the Yankees AA team in West Haven (in fact I think I have two jerseys in my dad’s attic where you can see the faded “NY” and the re-sewn “YANKEES” across the front), the team wasn’t allowed to have any players with Yankees retired numbers because the number was retired throughout the organization.
Does anyone know if this is true?
#73 by Jason on 05.22.08 1:43 pm |
The Wall Street Journal has an article and video about vintage base ball.
http://online.wsj.co...
For more vintage uniforms check out the photo gallery from last years’s Ohio Cup…
http://www.vbbdiamon...
#74 by KT on 05.22.08 1:43 pm |
Also, George Brett for the former:
Brett moved to first base in 1987 after 13 years as the Royals’ third baseman. “He didn’t like it,” Schuerholz related. “He had pride. He was one of the best players in the game, an All-Star third baseman. I understood that. George made the switch because he’s a team player.“
Interesting NYT article here on that very subject here showing that players have different attitudes on position switches. As you might very well expect them to have.
Also:
A 2005 article in which Piazza says he was “willing to play (first) occasionally if needed.”
This one, from 1993, in which the subject was apparently first broached and he said ‘’I told them, ‘’I'll do whatever you think needs to be done for this organization,”’ Piazza said last night. ‘’Obviously, my love is for this ball club and I’ll just do whatever you guys want.'’
this one from 2004 in which it was noted that “In some newspaper reports in November, Piazza was said to be so unhappy with the Mets’ plans to move him from catcher that he asked to be traded.
Yesterday, Piazza termed those articles ‘’a complete fabrication'’ and ‘’fiction.'’ Asked if he was happy, Piazza said, ‘’I've not given any indication otherwise, so that goes without saying.'’
#75 by Kenny on 05.22.08 1:44 pm |
http://images.art.co...
#76 by chance on 05.22.08 1:54 pm |
Given the number of teams named after the color of their socks, I think that’s a pretty clear indication of what was the first team identifier.
#77 by chance on 05.22.08 1:57 pm |
We talked about that yesterday - it’s Bizarro World, referring to the Superman character who did everything backwards (“WE AM DOOMED! YAY!!!”). Count how many things are backwards (or just plain wrong) in the picture - Jeter’s NOB, the foul poles point the wrong way, home team in grays and road in whites, etc.
#78 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 1:57 pm |
doug,
you quoted me but your vitriol seems directed at paul…are your comments indeed for mr. lukas to respond to?
and i’ll give you two catchers who are both HOFers who made the switch without the bitch…bench and berra…although both did play positions other than first and both did so throughout their careers, so it may not be such a germane point…but they were two catchers who did move from behind the dish
#79 by Steve M on 05.22.08 1:57 pm |
Paul, keep up the good work… It amazes me how people get so worked up over things.
#80 by KT on 05.22.08 2:03 pm |
That would be….four?
There were more in the early days of the game, though, so yes, it’s stockings first. I think around that same time, colored shirts and caps may have come into general use to differentiate teams from another.
But the sock-inspired names:
Chicago White Stockings (now Cubs)
Chicago White Sox
Cincinnati Red Stockings (now Reds)
St. Louis Brown Stockings (now Cardinals)
Former Franchises
St. Louis Brown Stockings (pre-Cardinals franchise)
Toledo Blue Stockings
Worcester Ruby Legs
National Association
Boston Red Stockings
Chicago White Stockings
Philadelphia White Stockings
Philadelphia Whites
St. Louis Brown Stockings
St. Louis Red Stockings
Washington Blue Legs
There are several others named after colors and a couple after caps, so there you are.
#81 by Kek on 05.22.08 2:03 pm |
I’m sorry. I was directing that to you phil. I appreciate the responses people have given. I was only saying it in a rhetorical sense. Those examples could have been used in Paul’s piece, that’s all.
#82 by Kek on 05.22.08 2:04 pm |
GEEZ! That should say “I WASN’T directing that to you phil” My bad!
#83 by Walaitis on 05.22.08 2:06 pm |
Which reminds me of a commercial I saw years ago (may still be running now) .. a United Way commercial with Alex Rodriguez in Yankee home pinstripes filming a commercial at Tropicana Field. As someone who tries to ignore that every team in the AL doesn’t exist - except for maybe the Red Sox - that STILL bothers me today!
As for those coming on here screaming at Paul through your keyboards (paraphrasing here): What are you doing??? Who gives you the right to voice your opinion on this blog??? Well, whoever it is (and I would expect the official answer would refer to some kind of “right to free speech” document or something), they gave you the same right, and you, too, are using it! The difference is, Paul hasn’t said that you’re NOT allowed to voice your opinion … in fact, he’s made it possible for you to do so, so be grateful, not bitter!
#84 by chance on 05.22.08 2:11 pm |
Don’t forget the Red Sox, as well.
You mention the Boston Red Stockings as a “Former Franchise,” but they still exist - they’re called the Atlanta Braves now.
The Tigers may have been named after their striped socks - accounts vary, but that’s one of the possible explanations.
I know the Boston Red Stockings used to be also called the Boston Red Caps sometimes. Which other teams are named after cap colors?
#85 by Mandingo on 05.22.08 2:15 pm |
You mean sort of like when Paul gets worked up whenever faced with something purple? Yeah, that amazes me too……
#86 by Paul Lukas on 05.22.08 2:16 pm |
As many of you have figured out, the e-mail address for the lacrosse uniform design submissions was wrong. It’s now fixed.
#87 by LI Phil on 05.22.08 2:20 pm |
no prob doug
we good
#88 by Tony In Erie on 05.22.08 2:23 pm |
There’s alot of of nasty comments on the ESPN article…are you blocking those freaks on this site?
Loving the fact that you’re getting so much coverage. As Milli Vanilli would probably say, “bad publicity is still publicity”
#89 by Frank on 05.22.08 2:24 pm |
And one of the most recent additions to this group, the Columbus Blue Jackets. Although it seems like it wasn’t the team’s blue jackets they were named after, but the civil warriors in their, well, blue jackets… evidence in one of their alt logos, here…
http://www.icebullsh...
#90 by KT on 05.22.08 2:25 pm |
Yes. My bad. Obviously. Red Sox and White Sox today, but “stockings” was a common name before the turn of the century.
They’re listed as a National Association franchise, which they were before becoming the Boston Red Caps in 1876, the first year of the NL. At least, they had many of the same players and the same manager. They may as well be the same franchise (though “franchise” wasn’t quite the same as we think today).
Didn’t they get the socks themselves or just the colors from Princeton (whose teams are the Tigers)? Isn’t that another story?
St. Paul White Caps/Apostles in 1884. “Saints” is obviously an historic name for a St. Paul team but “Apostles” is really good, too.
#91 by Frank on 05.22.08 2:29 pm |
Here’s the web site for Z-Wear, our uniform supplier…
And how many of you were on there way to long designing jerseys. Fun fun fun.
Aside, I always thought it was one of the best parts of video game sports, making your own team, drafting players, and customizing the unis.
#92 by chance on 05.22.08 2:30 pm |
So far as I know, nobody’s ever bee