When the A’s and Rangers wore those 1968 throwack uniforms a few weeks back, several readers wrote in to tell me that the game reminded them of a book called This Great Game, which featured a lot of photos from around 1970. I tracked down a used copy, and sure enough, it’s a keeper. Among the highlights:
• There are several good shots of the Angels’ old halo-clad headwear — caps, helmet, and helmet again (note the ump’s necktie, too).
• Speaking of the umps, the book features a lot of shots that show the American and National League patches that the umpiring crews were wearing in 1970. Additional pics here, here, and here. (That last shot had to have been taken during the World Series, since it shows an N.L. ump with Earl Weaver.)
• The felt lettering on this jersey looks so thick, I want to reach out and touch it.
• Odd sight here: Looks like Willie Mays is wearing a short-sleeved windbreaker under his jersey, instead of the more common long-sleeved model.
• Here’s another shot of Frank Robinson and his customized stirrups, with an extra strip of fabric added on the bottom so the stirrups can be pulled up higher.
• Never thought I’d see Junior Gilliam, of all people, wearing backwards stirrups.
• You might think I’m including this photo because of the striped stirrups. And yeah, they look hot. But the real point here, at least for me, is that the 1960s Chisox wore uni numbers on their right sleeves on the road — something you wouldn’t know from Dressed to the Nines, because right sleeves aren’t visible.
• The book also includes some older photos, including a pair of New York oddities from 1916: the Dodgers’ tattersalls and the Giants’ plaids.
• Here’s an old shot of the Polo Grounds. Check out those stripes between the mound and the plate! So many fungo circles (or at least that’s what I’m assuming they are) around the plate, too. Anyone know more about either of these details?
• This is also the Polo Grounds, albeit a bit later. The Yankees played there before Yankee Stadium was built. That’s Babe Ruth, in the pre-uni number era, launching one.
Want your own copy of this book? You can get one for almost nothing.
Research Project: Got a note from No Mas prexy Chris Isenberg the other day. “I want to look at the historical fonts used for yard-line markers and outfield dimensions, esp. at key stadiums. Do you know of anyone who has compiled this sort of thing?”
We’ve occasionally touched up on this topic here at Uni Watch (the little pitchforks used on the field at Sun Devil Stadium, e.g., or the “410″ marker at Shea Stadium being changed from white to black during the mid-1980s after Keith Hernandez complained that the white numerals were distracting him at the plate), but I’m not aware of anyone whose compiled a database of stadium or on-field typography. If you know of such a repository, and/or if you’d like to contribute some particularly interesting visuals (no obvious stuff, please), you know what to do.
Do Sharks Really Swim in Rivers, Anyway?: The Camden Riversharks’ “Old-School Baseball Night” promotion — featuring the entire team wearing striped stirrups and yours truly throwing out the first ball — is this Thursday, June 5th. Discounted box seats are still available for Uni Watch readers who follow these steps:
• First, go to this link. You’ll see the Riversharks’ June schedule. Click on the June 5th game, and then click on “Let me pick my seats from a seating chart.” You should then see a diagram of the Sharks’ stadium.
• See the teal seats right behind home plate, and the yellow seats extending down the baselines? All of those seats are available for the $8 price. Just click on the section you want and choose your tickets from the resulting “Eligible for Stirrups” seat listing.
• When you select your seats and click “Add to Cart,” the screen will initially show the regular ticket price. But when checking out, enter the promotional code “stirrups” in the appropriate field, and you’ll get the special $8 Uni Watch price.
There had initially been talk of a pregame Uni Watch party, but lots of people told me they wouldn’t be able to make it to the ballpark early enough for that (plus I’m gonna be busy beforehand getting ready for the first pitch, showing the players the right way to wear stirrups, etc.), so we’ve scrapped that idea. But I’ll make a few rounds through the stands to meet up with readers, OK? OK.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Footwear note from Mark Mihalik, who writes: “I’ve noticed that Mark DeRosa and Michael Young have been wearing identical cleats throughout the season. However, when I found a close-up view of , I saw that DeRosa’s cleats actually have a ‘10′ imprinted on them. DeRosa wears No. 7, but he’s a close friend of Young’s (they were teammates in Texas, where Young still wears No. 10), so I can only assume that Young gave DeRosa a pair of his personalized cleats earlier this year.” … The MLB All-Star Game BP jerseys will look like this and this. … Oxymoron Dept.: dirtiest sanitaries ever (courtesy of Greg Riffenburgh). … Jeff Francoeur wore stirrups on Friday. “He’s been know to change up his pants, going from low to high, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen him wear stirrups,” says Byron Wages. … Maple bats are becoming controversial (with thanks to Marriott Rewards enrollee Minna H.). … Also from Minna: Rafael Nadal has been wearing green at Roland Garros — including the little championship icons on his sneakers. … And speaking of the French Open, remember a while back when I wrote about the Hawaiian women’s soccer team wearing that weird kinesio tape? Robby Ginepri has been wearing lots of that stuff (additional pics here and here). … If you liked my recent entry about this catalog, there’s another copy up for auction. … Nice little tidbit from Brad Dugan, who writes: “Back in ’99, Giants third baseman Charlie Hayes charged DBacks pitcher Todd Stottlemyre from second base, causing a bench-clearing fracas. In the ensuing confusion, Randy Johnson (not pitching that day) lost his hat, picked up Giants third base coach Sonny Jackson’s cap, and put it on. He wore it for a few seconds before realizing it didn’t fit well, and took it off to find out not only was it not his cap, it wasn’t even a DBacks cap. Now every time the Unit pitches against the Giants, they make sure to play that highlight from the archives.” … Liverpool FC has a new mascot, with an interesting NOB (with thanks to Hasan Masood). … Soccer footwear note from Chris Lehmann: “Cristiano Ronaldo (who had been wearing the new Mercurial Vapor IV shoes in red) was wearing what appears to be the Vapor IVs, but without the lace cover, in a carbon fiber color for the Champions League. They also had the date stitched on them on. Since then, in practices for Portugal’s national team, he’s worn the Vapors in a matching green colorway, but he’s gone back to the lace-cover version. The change might be because he blew his shot during the shootout after extra time.” … The Mariners wore their Latino jerseys on Saturday. … According to this article, NHL ref Dan O’Halloran wears No. 13 as a reminder of how he almost died from a gunshot wound. … Reprinted from Saturday’s comments: Ryan Braun has a contagious ear infection, so some Milwaukee players have been wearing earplugs as a preventive measure. No photos, alas. … The Baltimore Sun is reporting that the Orioles will restore “Baltimore” to their road jerseys next season. … Excellent article here about corporate sponsorships at the Olympics. … Speedo’s LZR swimsuits have some competition (with thanks to Jeremy Brahm). … The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has compiled the Braves’ record as broken down by uniform (with thanks to Mike Rich). … Best uniform story of the weekend. … Awesome stirrups (worn with varying degrees of success) sported by Monroe Community College of Rochester, New York, last week (with thanks to Kevin Lewter). … “Japanese LPGA golfer Akane Iijima won her first tournament of the year this weekend, and she wore a No. 1 on her shirt for the final round,” writes Jeremy Brahm. “She did have the lead in rounds 1 and 2 (it was only a three-round event), but she would have looked stupid if she’d lost.” … Jeremy was also at yesterday’s Mariners/Tigers game, where he snapped this photo. “That guy must have lost a bet,” he says. … Happy to report that Brinke Guthrie won the NFL Playbook. Glad to see it end up in a Uni Watch reader’s hands. … Dustin Pomprowitz reminded me of something I’d completely forgotten about: The refs in the 2000 NHL All-Star Game had an extra red stripe on their jerseys (those pics are from the skills competition, but they also wore the extra stripe during the ASG itself). Whose bright idea was that? … No photo, but interesting note from Gabe Kleinfeld: “The Yankees announcers were talking about how the Twins’ Nick Punto’s wife gave birth on Friday night, and I believe he was wearing the hospital bracelet in Saturday’s game.”
#1 by Ricko on 06.02.08 7:48 am |
Wasn’t sure when White Sox added number to right sleeve, but know they had them in ‘59 World Series. Did quick browse through cards for sale on ebay. Here’s a fifth series ‘58 Topps. None of earlier ‘58 White Sox cards show number on sleeve, so looks like that was the year they first appeared.
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
Note: For good look at those home unis, check 1960 Topps. For some reason, Topps had card photos taken during ‘59 at Comiskey (prior to Giants/Dodgers move, almost everything was shot in New York or in spring training). I think of the ‘60 cards of the Barry Latman and Nellie Fox in particular. Great look at Indians pins on Russ Nixon’s card that year, too (a spring training shot).
#2 by Ricko on 06.02.08 7:50 am |
Whoa, forgot how large stadium is on ‘60 Russ Nixon. Doesn’t look like spring training after all.
#3 by Ricko on 06.02.08 7:53 am |
Here you go, save u the trouble of searching.
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
#4 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 8:05 am |
um…glad that’s not the reason
is romano just happy to see buzhardt?
#5 by ESS on 06.02.08 8:41 am |
Just to let anyone interested in going to Thursday’s game know, when I got my Riversharks tix last week the price listed was automatically the discounted one. I didn’t need to enter a code…
Don’t know if that’s standard now or not.
Perfect day to pick too, Paul, as it will be the nightcap of a Phillies Business-Person’s Special/Camden Riversharks doubleheader!
#6 by derek on 06.02.08 8:48 am |
new orioles kerseys next year
http://www.fannation...
#7 by Bernie on 06.02.08 8:54 am |
Man, Paul, I’m bummed. I live in Philadelphia, but my brother’s high school graduation is on Thursday night. Do you think I can wear striped stirrups to that?
By the way, just so you know, that field where the Riversharks play is absolutely beautiful, practically under the gorgeously lit Ben Franklin Bridge.
#8 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 9:26 am |
this will be nice to see again in aught-niner
#9 by Jim on 06.02.08 9:34 am |
Somebody’s a Earnhardt fan……
http://believingthom...
#10 by Ricko on 06.02.08 9:40 am |
Or he fell asleep on a McDonalds sign?
#11 by John on 06.02.08 10:01 am |
WOW, “This Great Game” I had that book when i was 10! One of the first ‘grown-up’ books I ever got! Great pix, and outstanding Leroy Neiman artwork. I may still have it somewhere…
#12 by Robert on 06.02.08 10:12 am |
One of the great things about the Uni Watch Book Club is that most of the recommended books can be found on amazon.com for pennies, plus $3.99 shipping. What a bargain.
#13 by Broadway Connie on 06.02.08 10:13 am |
“…If you liked my recent entry about this catalog, there’s another copy up for auction…”
The catalog is superb. Of course. But I have an important question about it: What two football teams are depicted on the cover?
Help, please.
#14 by ART on 06.02.08 10:13 am |
I think the Braves regular hat with the Red Brim and button looked awesome with the alternate SOLID BLUE top!!!
#15 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 10:28 am |
I’d say purple team is either Northwestern or Texas Christian…they had almost identical unis about that time. Opponent could be Indiana (if NW) or Texas A&M (if TCU). Again, saying “could be”. Is tough cuz white helmets so blurry, and accent color could be distorted. Think might be older that previous year, which would have been ‘61, or course. Has the look of generic “football” stock photo.
#16 by Darren on 06.02.08 10:29 am |
OK, so how many people are going to foolishly keep trying to sue ballparks/teams/equip. manufacturers when they get hit by broken bats and balls, even though not one of those lawsuits has ever been successful and have pretty much been declared dead in the water due to all the precedent? Unreal.
#17 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 10:32 am |
If photo goes back to late 50s, white team could be Wisconsin, before they added the huge red “W” front and center on the helmet.
#18 by chance on 06.02.08 10:40 am |
Sorry, which photo is that?
#19 by Robert on 06.02.08 10:40 am |
Though I agree that these claims are bogus, not all of them fail. Negligence laws vary from state to state. It may have been in Florida that someone sued for such an injury and won a tidy sum of money.
#20 by Robert on 06.02.08 10:43 am |
I am also reminded of the drunk girl who sat on an upper deck railing to be photographed after the first regular season game at the Ballpark in Arlington back in 1994. She fell into the seats below, suffering some injuries but fortunately surviving. The team paid a hefty settlement and increased the height of the railings to further discourage drunks from taking the plunge.
#21 by chance on 06.02.08 10:44 am |
Whoops - see it now.
Don’t think it could be Wisconsin - before the excellent “W” helmets, they wore white shells with a red stripe. They didn’t go all-white until 1966, and even then they wore red numbers on the sides.
#22 by CJ on 06.02.08 10:49 am |
Because people don’t grasp the implied consent by going to the game.
#23 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 10:50 am |
what’s that “aggressive award” helmet (1969)???
anyone with more details? did they wear that on the field…and if so, did only those who received said agressive award wear them? and what exactly was the criterion (or criteria) to receive such a colorfully named prize?
thanks in advance
#24 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 10:57 am |
So maybe IS Indiana? Good bet most stock photos where shot in and around major markets back then, so would make Northwestern a more likely site than TCU.
My monitor just isn’t giving me a good look at white team helmets at all. Although I suppose could be some non-conference opponent, too…Washington State or someone (that’s without checking NW’s home schedule those years, of course).
#25 by Giancarlo on 06.02.08 10:58 am |
“Do sharks swim in rivers?”
Well, in 1916 a great white swam a number of miles inland up Matawan Creek, New Jersey with nasty results. This was part of a wave of Jersey shark attacks that inspired Spielberg’s Jaws.
http://en.wikipedia....
Camden, of course, is on the other side of the state on the Delaware River, so their name is a bit of a stretch if this incident is what they’re alluding to.
#26 by Duckstyle187 on 06.02.08 10:59 am |
I doubt it’s that they don’t grasp it. I think it’s more likely that they don’t know it exists. For instance, that woman that just recently got nailed said she wasn’t a baseball fan and got the tickets from a friend, so she probably had no idea. Plus, like someone else said earlier, laws can vary from state to state, so it’s worth a shot. If I, for one, got nailed by a broken maple bat and had ridiculous medical bills to deal with and probably got free representation from a lawyer who was looking to make his career-case, why not? It’s worth a shot. Not to mention that if the bat broke because of some kind of faulty maniufacturing process or quanity control, then she might get a payout from them. It’s not that cut and dry.
#27 by MPowers1634 on 06.02.08 11:03 am |
Having been outside all day yesterday, I just read through yesterday’s comments and two things were of note to me:
1. Everyone needs to lay off Bryan…Enough already!
2. The discussion involving the Derek Redmond Olympic race and it’s use in a Visa commercial was very interesting.
I remember watching the race live and thinking it was one of the most poignant thinks I had ever seen.
Luckily SI had a large picture of it in the next weeks issue that I was compelled to cut out and still have today, laminated and posted in my classroom!
http://i256.photobuc...
By the way, the sneaks on Mr. Remond’s shirt were the original Nike Air Huarache, an alltime favorite of mine!
Oh, and another reminder…leave Bryan alone! We can disagree with his views or style or both, but lets not be malicious. As I, and many others have said before, we are all here for the SAME REASON!
#28 by Joey Guns on 06.02.08 11:04 am |
Anyone see Manny’s LMontro.com shirt with “Got 500?” on it that he was wearing on Saturday night?
LMontro is the unofficial team barber for the Red Sox.
http://www.nypost.co...
#29 by Perry on 06.02.08 11:05 am |
Wow, great seeing “This Great Game” featured! I got it when it first came out, when I was 15, and just about wore it to tatters.
#30 by MPowers1634 on 06.02.08 11:06 am |
P.S.
The ad on Mr. Redmonds shirt reads “Have you hugged your foot today”?
He is also wearing the original Nike Air Max 180, a precursor to the revamped version put out two years ago, which is part of the Nike Plus line that works in conjunction with your IPOD:
http://farm1.static....
#31 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 11:09 am |
Don’t let Paul go near these pages. The purple runneth over.
http://hailtopurple....
#32 by Jeff on 06.02.08 11:10 am |
So the other day I’m in B&N leafing through this book: http://tinyurl.com/6...
and I found a pic of Carl Yastrzemski wearing some pretty weird stirrups. Haven’t found the same pic online but here are two that show the same look:
http://www.sportpict...
http://services.bost...
The pic in the book was color and primo. But what’s up with those?
#33 by MPowers1634 on 06.02.08 11:18 am |
This is why I come to UW every day!
http://farm3.static....
#34 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 11:19 am |
what’s weird about yaz’ stirrups, if i may ask…just that they were pulled really taut? that was certainly the style then…or was there something else about them i didn’t see
#35 by Broadway Connie on 06.02.08 11:26 am |
****
Hey, Ricko1, I think that the evidence in HailToPurple.com is indeed persuasive on the point that the team in the bluish/purplish jerseys on the Wilson 1962 catalog cover is probably Northwestern, and probably from 1959. Could the opponents be Ohio State? Indiana? Note also the relatively modest size of the grandstand. Note that the big Wildcat wearing jersey #72 seems to be wearing a helmet with a different number. Note that…
I will not sleep until we have an authoritative answer.
#36 by werthj on 06.02.08 11:26 am |
Picture from one of those base ball games played here in Milwaukee recently. Apparently period specific attire stops at the ankles.
http://www.jsonline....
#37 by Jeff on 06.02.08 11:29 am |
Like I said - the pic in the book was MUCH better and easier to see the look of them. But they just don’t look like stirrups. They appear way too thick. Pulled that high they should be really thin and laying much closer to the leg.
#38 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 11:35 am |
Back then there were some really thick all-stirrups socks available (they were among the first all-stirrups avail to public). I must have half a dozen pair in different colors…all bought about that time.
#39 by Jim on 06.02.08 11:37 am |
The guy is wearing a watch too…
#40 by Dane on 06.02.08 11:38 am |
When I was a season-ticket holder for the Arizona Icecats, each ticket had printed on the front, “Ticket Holder assumes all risks incidental to hockey.”
#41 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 11:38 am |
LOL, I remember having them pulled so tight that, standing out in the field when a strong wind came up, sometimes the damn things would actually vibrate and “buzz”.
#42 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 11:53 am |
Hey, Ricko1, I think that the evidence in HailToPurple.com is indeed persuasive on the point that the team in the bluish/purplish jerseys on the Wilson 1962 catalog cover is probably Northwestern, and probably from 1959. Could the opponents be Ohio State? Indiana? Note also the relatively modest size of the grandstand. Note that the big Wildcat wearing jersey #72 seems to be wearing a helmet with a different number. Note that…
I will not sleep until we have an authoritative answer.
October 31, 1959…Northwestern beat visiting Indiana 30-13.
Might be the game?
#43 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 11:55 am |
lol…i hear ya…you were experiencing resonance…not unlike, although obviously not in as strong a proportion as that which happened to the first tacoma narrows bridge…the ONLY thing i learned in a supposed ‘gut’ level course in college called ’structures’…or was it 8th grade science? meh…
also what happens to blinds on a window during certain zephyrs
we now return you to your regularly scheduled uni watch
#44 by Jordan on 06.02.08 12:00 pm |
Bull sharks have been seen outside of St. Louis, MO…that is remarkable.
#45 by Steve M on 06.02.08 12:01 pm |
The Nike Vapors aren’t just a carbon fiber color. Practically the whole shoe is made of carbon fiber. Those are a limited edition boot that cost a meager $400. They weigh like 6 ounces. The green ones are a super light synthetic leather that weighs around 7 ounces.
#46 by Ian K on 06.02.08 12:05 pm |
I’m fairly certain the team in purple (which actually looks more navy to me) is not TCU. I’m not an expert in TCU football, although since I’m an alum, maybe I should be.
I am assuming that by wearing colored unis, the team in purple is the home team. My theory that this isn’t TCU comes mainly from the depictions of the stadium. The Amon Carter Stadium field runs north-south, meaning the shadows go sideline-to-sideline throughout the day, not endzone-to-endzone, as the shadows on the field suggest.
Also, Amon Carter Stadium has double deck stands on the west side and single deck stands on the east side. Currently, there is a high concrete wall behind the top rows on the single-deck side. The photo shows the top row against a short fence that would make the stadium grounds visible from the top row, which is not the case at Amon Carter.
That’s my contribution…good luck finding the correct answer!
#47 by chance on 06.02.08 12:16 pm |
In 1969, Badgers coaches would give out what they called the “Savage Award” to the player deemed most agressive after every game. That player would wear a black helmet (as opposed to the regular cardinal) for the rest of the season.
#48 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 12:22 pm |
thanks chance
i was actually more interested in what constituted ’savage’ play…dirty play? overly-aggressive? like…if you broke the opposing QB’s leg did you win the award?
probably actually very innocuous all things considered, just that in today’s heightened sensitivity and PCness-run-amok, a “savage” or “aggressive” award seems, well, rather cavemanistic
…not that there’s anything wrong with cavemen
#49 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 12:23 pm |
I remember that. Also remember being at a Gopher game when a Wisconson DB wearing a black helmet injured a leg, and lay in the back of the end zone for what seemed like forever. He eventually had the leg amputated. Be damned if I can remember his name. “Mel” someone, maybe?
#50 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 12:29 pm |
Frankly, I often wondered if Gopher players didn’t target the guy cuz of the black helmet and “savage” label. I say that because after the incident almost nothing was written or said about it, almost as if it had never happened.
And Wisconsin never did the black helmet thing again.
#51 by MPowers1634 on 06.02.08 12:34 pm |
Compression, Tension and Torsion: The tenets of 8th Grade Technology Education and thusly my career!
#52 by chance on 06.02.08 12:35 pm |
Well, they also didn’t do the cardinal helmet thing again, either. So be careful about reading too much into it.
Hadn’t heard about that incident, but I’ll look into it - sounds fascinating.
#53 by MPowers1634 on 06.02.08 12:43 pm |
My college coaches gave out awards on the Monday following both the Saturday vasrity game as well as the Sunday Junior Varsity game.
The offensive and defensive players of the games were awarded RB awards referring to our legendary equipment manager, Joe Jilts, who called everone, including his grandmother, rat bastards.
The hardest hit of the game was awarded a bronze hammer with a green painted handle.
This was in reference to our head coach, Walt Hameline, who was nicknamed the “Hammer” and would frequently implored us to be the hammer as opposedand not the nail!
Behave, Phil!
#54 by MPowers1634 on 06.02.08 12:45 pm |
In English, this time:
This was in reference to our head coach, Walt Hameline, who was nicknamed the “Hammer” and would frequently implore us to be the hammer as opposed to the nail!
Behave, Phil!
#55 by Minna H. on 06.02.08 12:45 pm |
I am a one-and-done not-so-charter member of the Marriott rewards club. Anyone else have a disappointing experience there? I will be staying elsewhere for my next foray into Boston. What IS the Official Hotel Chain of the Boston Red Sox, anyway? Anyone?
Even though I love me some Rafa (he is so hot for a child, and no, Original Jim, he is not “greasy”; he just is wearing too much hair gunk), I don’t like the neon balls of flame. I much prefer the elegant smoking jacket and understated shoes of Roger Federererer’s Wimbledon wins.
http://cornedbeefhas...
http://www.eukicks.c...
Then again, the contrasting ‘uniforms’ really highlight the differences between Roger’s and Rafa’s personalities. I wouldn’t mind Rafa’s ensemble so much if it was in, say, black or red–I just don’t like neons.
As for the bat/suing thing (Matsui?), I agree with Duckstyle that if the bats were made improperly, then she might have a case–and that’s coming from someone who thinks there’s entirely too much suing going on in this country. I don’t think anyone hit with a ball should sue, though, because that truly is a risk inherent to the game.
#56 by Aram on 06.02.08 12:46 pm |
I play on a vintage base ball team here in Michigan, and we tell our players to black out any modern logos and non-black elements on their shoes. Apparently the Milwaukee Cream Cities don’t do the same thing.
Of course, I don’t have to worry about that, because I don’t wear shoes when I play.
#57 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 12:48 pm |
Yup, just said I “wondered”, cuz at start of game was thinking that black helmet tended to make it’s wearer a target. Remember thinking, “Black helmet in practice, maybe, but in game sure does single out a guy.” Less that two hours later he was prone, unmoving and about to lose a leg.
My point was I wondered if the coaching staff figured out what I saw just sitting in the stands. “Y’know, maybe we shouldn’t make one of our better players a bullseye.” Ya think, coach?
#58 by Paul Lukas on 06.02.08 12:49 pm |
Yaz was wearing ribbon stirrups:
http://www.trenwayte...
Heinous things. When players pulled their stirrups ever higher and added extra material to them and such, the market responded with ribbon stirrups, which were essentially just stripe. And once that became popular, the market further responded with the faux-stirrup — a sock with a pre-woven stripe:
http://baseballdepot...
A pox on all of them, I say.
#59 by Kirk on 06.02.08 12:52 pm |
The Gwinnett Braves unveiled their new look today. They’ll be the new AAA affiliate of the Atlanta Braves, relocating from Richmond.
Home cap:
http://www.gwinnettb...
Road cap:
http://www.gwinnettb...
BP cap:
http://www.gwinnettb...
Logo:
http://www.gwinnettb...
The uniforms will probably be similar to all the other Atlanta affiliates with the name Braves:
Danville (low A) -
http://www.instantre...
Rome (A) - http://cache.deadspi...
Mississippi (AA) - http://filelibrary.m...
Richmond (AAA) - http://www.rbraves.c...
#60 by Robert on 06.02.08 12:53 pm |
There were “stirrups” at the time that really weren’t stirrups in the traditional sense. They were t-shaped strips of elasticized polyester. They would look like Yaz’s stirrups, even if they weren’t pulled tight. They usually did not hug the leg, instead leaving a sizable gap between the stirrup and the leg.
#61 by mtjaws on 06.02.08 1:21 pm |
Ugh, I hate it when minor league teams follow along with the same nickname. The minor league team can create such a unique identity with their own name (Lookouts, Hammerheads, Isotopes, Biscuits), instead of just going the cookie cutter route. I’m sure it’s Atlanta that wants everything to be Braves, but I’d much rather see some originality.
#62 by RaoulDuke on 06.02.08 1:25 pm |
Over the weekend I was flipping through the channels and came upon uni gold.
Here in St. Louis a bunch of amateur guys played the longest game ever. One team wore St. Louis Browns unis and the other wore St.Louis Stars.
I love everything about that Browns uniform.
http://www.stltoday....
http://www.worldreco...
#63 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 1:43 pm |
exactly
that’s why i wondered if it was actually worn in a game…because of either a) what you just described (the hunter being hunted) or b) wouldn’t it draw attention to [1] the refs…hey…this guy is aggressive…he’s donning the black chapeau–lets keep an eye on him or [2] the other team…hey, this guy is aggressive…let’s make sure we chopblock him before he gets one of our guys
seems like the black dome may have backfired…
#64 by Jim on 06.02.08 1:45 pm |
YEah, but I argue that minor teams have really crappy names. Not saying all Pro teams have great names either (Thrashers, Rays, Jazz) but minor league teams seem to have really cheesy names.
#65 by scott on 06.02.08 1:45 pm |
Unfortunately, we seem to be seeing somewhat of a trend in the return to the days of affiliates being named after their parent teams. Last year, Scranton Wilkes-Barre dropped its Red Barons nickname for the Yankees, and supposedly next year the Salem Avalanche will give up that name to become the Salem Red Sox. I guess the MLB teams see an opportunity to make even more money after their brands at the minor league level.
#66 by Pat Lagreid on 06.02.08 1:56 pm |
I’ve been
lazyaway from the computer for a day or two, but the Mariners wore their “Marineros” jerseys in honor of Latin American beisbol.Even the Moose got involved.
And why aren’t the tag buttons showing up when I post? I’m having to remember basic HTML coding!
#67 by Taha on 06.02.08 2:01 pm |
totally non-Uni related, but I wanted to share this. I received an e-mail from the Detroit Tigers encouraging me to vote 25 times for Ivan Rodriguez to be the AL all-star catcher; not only that, the message implored me to get friends to do it, too. That is so disingenuous! Shouldn’t the starter be elected based on his on-field performance? I wonder if other teams are doing it, too?
#68 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 2:02 pm |
go ask alce
i think he’ll know
#69 by Minna H. on 06.02.08 2:09 pm |
Pat Lagreid, it has to do with the glitches the site has been having lately. If you look right under the ‘leave a comment’ phrase, though, there in tiny script (which I just saw today) are the short-hand codes.
RaoulDuke, that game is the coolest thing I’ve seen today. I wish I could have been there for all thirty-two hours!
Re: affiliate team names: I prefer that they come up with something wacky and off-beat rather than just mimic the parent teams. I like a little spice in my life, and affiliate teams should reflect the local flavor/color.
#70 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 2:22 pm |
Must be an organizational thing cuz don’t think, for example, Twins have ever had an affilate Class A or higher named “Twins.”
Of course, the Braves DO think they’re “America’s Team.”
riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.
#71 by kevodrums on 06.02.08 2:25 pm |
Here is the entire article, but I wish they had more pictures.
http://www.jsonline....
#72 by Wade Harder on 06.02.08 2:26 pm |
I agree. It would be pretty crappy if the Nashville Sounds had to take over the name of their parent club. In my lifetime, the team would have been called the Nashville Yankees/Tigers/Reds/White Sox/Pirates/Brewers!
#73 by Kevin M. on 06.02.08 2:27 pm |
Actually the Braves where voted “America’s Team” during the 90’s but don’t refer to themselves as that anymore and haven’t for years. The Braves do have one team, Myrtle Beach Pelicans, that don’t use the Braves as a nickname. I think the Rays has some of the best minor league names with Bulls, Biscuits, Catfish, and Renegades to go along with a few Devil Rays names.
#74 by Minna H. on 06.02.08 2:31 pm |
Ricko1, really? I thought the Cowboys were “America’s Team”.
Here are the Twins’ affiliates (gonna try HTML, bear with me):
MN Twins Junior Leauge
I like the New Britain Rock Cats! That has personality.
#75 by Minna H. on 06.02.08 2:39 pm |
Wade Harder, wow! Why did they switch so much? Just think, if you were to buy a t-shirt/ jersey for each change of parent team, you would be out a pretty penny.
#76 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 2:40 pm |
Always was amazed at the arrogance of any team (voted on or not) who bought into calling themselves “America’s Team.”
Of coure, the idea DID start with the Cowboys…even BEFORE Jerry Jones owned them…so I guess we can understand the thinking.
We always used the say the real America’s Team was whoever’s playing the Cowboys this week.
Besides, everybody knows America’s is the Kansas City Brigade. (giggle)
#77 by Ricko1 on 06.02.08 2:45 pm |
Forgot about Elizabethton. Point was the Twins, for one, have never been big on using their nickname organization-wide. Actually, other than the Braves, which teams DO use the big club’s moniker so extenstively? (That’s not a challenge; I just don’t recall offhand).
#78 by KT on 06.02.08 2:48 pm |
This is interesting.
I’ve seen NFL teams put their quarterbacks in red practice jerseys, signifying “hands off” (no tackling, dummy). I’ve seen red mesh pullover vests OVER a white practice jersey.
I’d never seen a team go to the extreme of putting patches and NOB on a red jersey (when red isn’t in their color palette at all) for its quarterbacks until now. (The shot on USA Today’s front page, which may not still be there by the time you read this, shows the NOBs.)
#79 by Minna H. on 06.02.08 2:52 pm |
Ricko1, I wasn’t trying to contradict ya–I was just excited to see the cool names of the double A teams.
Are you from the Twin Cities by any chance?
#80 by Broadway Connie on 06.02.08 2:54 pm |
October 31, 1959…Northwestern beat visiting Indiana 30-13.
Might be the game?
YES!! Way to go.
#81 by KT on 06.02.08 2:58 pm |
In other news, Babe Ruth’s granddaughter wants Major League Baseball to retire Babe’s #3 throughout both leagues.
Sorry. Don’t think so. You can make a case for several of the giants of the game (not New York Giants). It was an overreaction when MLB retired #42 in 1997 (well-intentioned as it was, it was still an overreaction, and they keep overreacting to this day) and retiring more numbers throughout the game makes it less special.
No New York Yankee will ever wear #3 again, and that’s as it should be. But how is Babe Ruth’s legend diminished in any way by a Tampa Bay Ray wearing #3? (Sorry, Evan Longoria.)
#82 by Marty Met on 06.02.08 3:05 pm |
Roberto Clemente’s 21 should be retired before Ruth’s 3.
#83 by LI Phil on 06.02.08 3:10 pm |
why’s that?
#84 by Chad G on 06.02.08 3:10 pm |