An early Uni Watch moment for me came in 1975 or so, when I was watching an NBC Saturday Game of the Week broadcast. Red Sox backup catcher Bob Montgomery was hitting, and one of the announcers (probably Joe Garagiola, but I don’t recall) mentioned that Monty was the last remaining player not to wear a batting helmet. Instead, he wore a plastic insert under his cap, as was his grandfather-claused right as a player already in the bigs when batting helmets became mandatory in 1971.
Montgomery, who retired after the ’79 season, has since become famous (well, at least on this site) as the last non-helmeted hitter. Two related issues have always bugged me, though: First, were there any other grandfathered players who wore the insert in the early 1970s? And more to the point, just what did these inserts look like? I’d never seen one.
Thanks to reader Brandon Davis, we now have our answer to the second question. He found this eBay auction for an insert that was purportedly used by the Cleveland Indians. As you can see, it’s open on top, which surprised me a little — flimsy protection is one thing, but flimsy partial protection is pushing it.
Not sure what’s up with that tape-wrapped section. Was it meant to repair a break in the front-top section, or was that section supposed to be broken/unattached/etc., to make the insert adjustable and one-size-fits-all? An inside view is inconclusive. Anyone know more about these doohickeys?
Inserts are apparently still in use, or they were until very recently. Last November, when MLB announced that base coaches would have to wear helmets in 2008, Larry Bowa said, “I prefer to wear an insert.” According to this story, Bowa “wore a cap lined on the inside with thin plastic” for the Dodgers’ spring training opener back in February. So does Bowa have his own personal insert that he takes with him from team to team? Or is someone still making these things?
Uni Watch News Ticker: Good game-used jersey site here (with thanks to Mike Verna). … Yowza! … Big Brown jockey Kent Desormeaux wore a Mets jersey — complete with NOB — to throw out the first pitch at Shea Stadium on Sunday night. The uni number matched the number he wore in the Kentucky Derby. … Amusing collection of Oriole Bird mascot video footage here (with thanks to Bryan Long). … Bizarre eBay find here (big thanks to our own Scott M.X. Turner). … Did you know that the player sliding into home plate on this baseball card is actually Willie Mays, not Hank Aaron? I didn’t, until James Yeh pointed me toward this really good rundown of error-laden baseball cards. … “The University of New Orleans baseball team had an interesting uniform this weekend in their Baton Rouge regional,” writes Chad Thompson. “On Friday night, their jerseys said ‘N’awlins,’ and then on Saturday they wore ‘NOLA,’ and on Sunday it was ‘Privateers.’ ” … “Thought you might be interested in these throwback uniforms worn last Saturday by the Yuba-Sutter Gold Sox in Marysville, California,” writes John Saiz. “They’re modeled after the Hub City (also Yuba-Sutter) Merchants, who were the first baseball club to travel by airplane. Of added interest, they were playing the Redding Colt .45’s, who were wearing their home whites (the Gold Sox play only two of their 46 games on the road, so they switch between their whites, grays, and BP jerseys every homestand).” … It’s horribly written, and even more horribly narrated, but this video critique of softball uniforms is largely on the money (with thanks to Randy Swanson). … Decent story here about NHL playoff beards (with thanks to Alan Kreit). … Someone has decided that Alfonso Soriano has MLB’s tightest pants (courtesy of Kevin Walsh). … Creative NOB use here (with thanks to Doug Keklak). … RIP, Bo.
#1 by Leo on 06.03.08 8:57 am |
Look what the was-special-but-not-so-special-because-the-whole-team-is-special-one got as a present yesterday.
http://news.bbc.co.u...
He really looks thrilled to be holding that jersey too.
#2 by Ricko on 06.03.08 8:59 am |
Ernie Banks wore one of those liners, but offhand can’t remember how long he continued into the 70s before retiring (and don’t have time to check it now; pesky things like work keep interferring with the fun stuff).
#3 by Ricko on 06.03.08 9:03 am |
Love those Hub City unis. Nice and cool on a hot day, I’ll bet. The last year I played hardball (35 and over league) we had navy jerseys, and several games that summer were played when was over 100F. Man, they were hot. Nontheless, the Hub City Merchants are fantastic. I can even tolerate the gold socks. LOL
#4 by derek on 06.03.08 9:04 am |
fake penguings jerseys, must of sucked to buy one.
http://www.pittsburg...
#5 by scott on 06.03.08 9:08 am |
Don’t remember if the Yuma Scorpions of the Golden Baseball League wearing El Centro Imperials throwbacks was mentioned:
http://www.yumasun.c...
#6 by derek on 06.03.08 9:11 am |
wow looking at those wrigley field pictures made me realize what a dump that place is. I mean come on, we are in 2008. No wonder they never win…
#7 by JK on 06.03.08 9:13 am |
New Celtic FC Away Kit story here….
http://www.celticfc....
#8 by Tony In Erie on 06.03.08 9:19 am |
Isn’t this a great baseball picture? I know, sounds lame, but I saw this and immediately thought, “classic.”
http://sports.espn.g...
#9 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 9:21 am |
nice little writeup here on the batting helmet
could be a good jumping off point for more research on the plastic insert mystery
#10 by Broadway Connie on 06.03.08 9:28 am |
They are fabulous, for sure. Love the Cub Scout-style piping on the caps. As for the stockings, I like ‘em a lot so long as everything else is Navy Blue.
By the way, has anyone here seen unis based on whatever they wore over at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken?
#11 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 9:29 am |
http://www.theloveof...
In the write-up, they mention that people were at first confused that Favre was wearing a Falcons jersey, the team, he was in fact, drafted by.
However, that is really Favre in his University of Southere Mississippi uniform!
#12 by Stephen on 06.03.08 9:31 am |
Lots of comments yesterday about the new Gwinnett Braves logo, but most of them were on the new cap design. According to the story here, the home jersey will look like this.
I gotta say, I love the Braves, and I really dig the new G-Braves road cap, but if this really is the home jersey, I am extremely dissapointed. It looks like a softball jersey, or a little league shirt, or something.
~E~
#13 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 9:32 am |
I would rate it higher if it:
1. Included him totally stretched out:full body
2. No electronic screen behind him
3. If it were a day game
#14 by Kek on 06.03.08 9:44 am |
Paul, that photo of the Osgood jersey is actually from Game 4 which was in Pittsburgh. My bad for not including that when I submitted it to you.
#15 by brian on 06.03.08 9:48 am |
Paul, speaking of Big Brown, the Belmont will be a Uni-Watch event because Brown’s jockey is planning to wear a Nassau County Police Dept. patch on his uniform to honor a recently injured Nassau cop. Here are some details…. Class act.
http://www.newsday.c...
#16 by Robert on 06.03.08 9:50 am |
Whoever wrote about Soriano’s tight pants is certainly correct. Wearing them in such a manner makes him look like a goober, and undoes the good that comes from hiking up his pants to show off his socks.
#17 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 06.03.08 9:51 am |
Either you forgot your sarcasm tag or you haven’t looked at the standings lately.
#18 by rob on 06.03.08 9:55 am |
well i certainly wasted a bunch of time on that game-worn jersey site…there’s some quality minor-league baseball jerseys there
#19 by Joey Guns on 06.03.08 9:56 am |
Check out this awful sight. A guy in a WNBA jersey. Does it get any worse than that?
http://straightcashh...
#20 by Cathy on 06.03.08 9:59 am |
And to make it worse, Soriano has taken young Felix Pie under his wing and…he unfortunately follows suit http://www.autograph... . They should follow center fielder Reid Johnson’s stylings http://media.wsbt.co... .
#21 by Mike on 06.03.08 10:01 am |
How about more like this?
http://news.yahoo.co...
#22 by Josh Petty on 06.03.08 10:13 am |
What is is lacking with modern features, it more than makes up for it with a great baseball atmosphere. I’ve been to several new parks in recent years, but I’ve never had a better time than I have when I go to Wrigley. I’m going twice in the next 2 weeks, so I’m extremely happy there. I just wish I lived somewhere in the vicinity of Fenway, that’s one place I really want to visit.
#23 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 10:19 am |
yes
JUUUUSSSSSTTTT kidding there paul ;)
#24 by Saru on 06.03.08 10:22 am |
If you wear an insert do you have to have keep another size cap (”batting cap”?) around? I can’t imagine those fitting under your regular hat.
#25 by dilbert719 on 06.03.08 10:23 am |
“Last November, when MLB announced that bases would have to wear helmets in 2008″
Paul, you might want to correct this line. Bases can’t wear helmets.
#26 by Joey Guns on 06.03.08 10:27 am |
Woman in her mugshot in a Tampa Bay Storm AFL jersey:
http://www.thesmokin...
#27 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 10:30 am |
Is Paul gonna pop for some Kiwi Neutral before the big night in Camden? I know, I know, he’s not “Chuckie Margolis Who Lives In The Basement.” He’s not gonna wear his cleats (soccer or otherwise) that night. Just gotta heckle our flounder once in a while.
Besides, there’s nothing like a good running gag.
“And this is nothing like a good running gag.”
(ba dum bum)
#28 by Kevin M. on 06.03.08 10:31 am |
Thats just a shirt. Their jeresys are navy blue and white (I could be wrong on this one but I am pretty sure they are white).
#29 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 10:31 am |
Yes, a guy in WNBA shorts.
(another ba dum bum)
Okay, I’m outta control. Back to work.
#30 by ToasterPoodle on 06.03.08 10:35 am |
Anyone get a shot of Gary Majewski’s stirrups last night. He’s shown socks in the past, but I don’t recall seeing the stirrups. Clearly they are working, because he entered the game with the bases loaded, and coaxed out a double-play with his first pitch.
#31 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 10:36 am |
One more thing. In all that loving of those old Browns unis here yesterday, howcum no one pointed out the hats were wrong?
Or was it just so obvious we didnt’ bother?
#32 by Gazzoo on 06.03.08 10:39 am |
Norm Cash was grandfathered into the ’70s wearing the lining…I watched Ernie Banks most of his career and can guarantee he wore a regular batting helmet at least from the mid-60s on.
#33 by John T on 06.03.08 10:39 am |
I vote for this:
http://www.nytimes.c...
#34 by Scott on 06.03.08 10:39 am |
That softball shorts video story narrator? Written by the same woman that caused OK ST football coach Mike Gundy to have the meltdown.
She isn’t having a good year…
#35 by ScottS on 06.03.08 10:41 am |
Say, aren’t those Husky socks a certain color which shall remain nameless?
#36 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 10:44 am |
You’re probably right, I just remember Banks in that liner for so very long. But, by 1969 was in Army and there was gap there when I didn’t watch as much baseball or buy as many mags.
#37 by Leo on 06.03.08 10:46 am |
That’s exactly how a Celtic away kit should look!
#38 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 10:49 am |
re: Softball shorts. Only time I wear ‘em is if it’s really hot and in a tournament, largely cuz most softball fields have benches instead of dugouts and you just NEVER get any shade during the game…or worse, during a long string of games. Wear a pad on left knee cuz it takes some punishment when I slide, more so of course in shorts.
#39 by Anthony Verna on 06.03.08 10:53 am |
I hate the 100% polyester jerseys. I can’t wear them unless I have a cotton shirt on underneath.
#40 by mmwatkin on 06.03.08 10:55 am |
Those “N’awlins” jerseys are a thing of beauty!
No 21st century graphics, no overdone piping everywhere, no black accents thrown in for no reason.
If I played for that team I would lobby to wear it every home game.
#41 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 10:55 am |
Know exactly what you mean. Thank god for shirt that wick the sweat away. They’re a godsend.
#42 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 10:56 am |
That must be the most enthusiastic “Mug Shot” I’ve ever seen!
As for the Lisa Leslie fan, I saw that yesterday and I’m still chuckling about it.
You guys are right though…Imagine going down to the park to play some pick-up and there’s a DUDE wearing a pair of Liberty shorts.
Besides the fact that only we UWers, or 10 year old girls, would realize what they were, that would be ridiculous!
#43 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 10:58 am |
IMO, the size of the ad on the wall takes away from the beautiful pic of that tremendous catch.
#44 by Joey Guns on 06.03.08 11:05 am |
The Orioles are still doing the turned up cap look:
http://baltimore.ori...
#45 by Joey Guns on 06.03.08 11:08 am |
Paul would’ve cringed if he saw what I saw this weekend. This guy at the Orioles/Red Sox game that I went to had white socks with the purple Ravens logo on it, and he had these sneakers on:
http://sneakers.pair...
#46 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 11:09 am |
“The Bowery Boys Go To Baltimore”
#47 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 11:12 am |
#48 by Dave in VA on 06.03.08 11:13 am |
I remember Tony Taylor, who finished up his career playing for the Phillies in the mid-70’s, as batting without a helmet.
#49 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 11:17 am |
or a pair of DICKS shorts
#50 by Wade Harder on 06.03.08 11:21 am |
Of course, this is a little bit older, but here is my vote:
http://www.post-gaze...
I can’t take credit, though. Paul ran this last September.
#51 by HockeyDude on 06.03.08 11:22 am |
Red Wings vs. Penguins:
Between the first and second OT period Pierre McGuire made this astute observation: “The temperature down here at ice -level is getting so hot, many of the players have changed their sweaters.”
So much for the “keep dry” fabric technology of the RBK Edge system.
#52 by Shaftman on 06.03.08 11:26 am |
Does this work better for you?
#53 by caknuck on 06.03.08 11:34 am |
I’m surprised the Mets didn’t make Kent Desormeaux wear a batboy’s jersey. It’d probably fit (if not too big), plus they could claim the “BB” on back (I’m not sure if the Mets are of the number, “BB” or blank jersey back school) stands for “Big Brown”.
#54 by Walaitis on 06.03.08 11:35 am |
If you can do that to the ad, you can SURELY fix his pants and lack of stirrups, can’t you? (not at my “photoshop-equipped” home computer)
#55 by Ryan B. on 06.03.08 11:44 am |
What I thought was interesting was how the new, dry sweaters looked very much like a different shade of red than the pants–for obvious sweat-related reasons.
It looked odd seeing Red Wings with “dark red” sweaters skating with players in a lighter shade of red, the difference being between those who changed sweaters and those who didn’t.
#56 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 06.03.08 11:47 am |
Brilliant!!
#57 by Like the River on 06.03.08 11:50 am |
The lady friend came to the house in these yesterday
http://www.cleveland...
afreakingmazing
#58 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 11:54 am |
What happened to loving all the billboarded outfield walls in ballparks like Ebbets Field, etc.? Where did the hatred of all those sterile 70s “stadia” go? Everything gets updated, sometimes garishly, but do we hate electronics so much we’d prefer plain, solid color vinyl padded walls from foul pole to foul pole?
Yuck on that.
#59 by Shaftman on 06.03.08 11:57 am |
I probably could but I did that with MS Paint which is the equivalent of swimming across the Atlantic Ocean. I could do it, but I’d rather fly (or use photo shop).
#60 by Shaftman on 06.03.08 11:58 am |
I probably could but I did that with MS Paint which is the equivalent of swimming across the Atlantic Ocean. I could do it, but I’d rather fly (or use photo shop).
#61 by Shaftman on 06.03.08 11:59 am |
I’m no “hater”. I just gave the people what they wanted. Some of my earliest baseball memories are reading about the Abe Stark “Hit Sign, Win Suit” ad at Ebbets.
#62 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 12:00 pm |
so…i was watching the sunday night game (mets v. dodgers) and i called up the old man and we were talking…and of course, the goregous new cathedral that will be citifield is in all the outfield shots…and we were talkin about if the mets are bringing the stupid apple with them to the new park or putting in some new even more garish thing…and i got to thinkin…
how sweet would it be if they put the old “abe stark hit sign win suit” advert in the new citi???
that brought a chuckle and a smile (im guessing) to my old man, who of course has many fond memories of ebbets…
#63 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 12:01 pm |
jay…were you and me like separated at birth?
#64 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 12:06 pm |
“Hit sign. Win suit. Armani.”
Actually a fun update. Very New York. And today’s players would appreciate it, too.
#65 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 12:11 pm |
Place where I work is pondering/negoiating a deal with Twins new stadium re: outfied sign/”hit me” sorta thing. I will keep you posted. If I know something definite before it becomes public, I’ll post it here.
Honest, it’ll be here before it’s anywhere else…if I can make it so.
#66 by Walaitis on 06.03.08 12:19 pm |
I just wish there were at least one good old ballpark, with simple ivy covered brick walls.
Yeah. That’d be nice.
#$#@$@^%^%$ equipment apparel door sign company whose products I will never buy.
#67 by chance on 06.03.08 12:19 pm |
Love the Armini suit sign. Somebody’s got to do that.
Just in case you really wanted to know - yes, they are.
It’s been in the plans since the very beginning, and you can see the circular concrete base in this contstruction photo.
#68 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 12:26 pm |
thanks, chance
yeah…i knew either the apple or some more rakish replica was going in there…sigh
#69 by Shaftman on 06.03.08 12:43 pm |
I always wondered why I had that scar on my butt :)
#70 by Walaitis on 06.03.08 12:48 pm |
Two notes of interest … the apple has been moved (now “in” the hitter’s backgroud, creating a higher fence in dead center) from it’s original position, according to the computer graphic (where it was located above the hitter’s background).
Also, I don’t know that I’ve seen computerized depictions of any other stadia where advertising signage was already part of the park. On one hand, it’s sad, but on the other hand, at least it doesn’t misrepresent a “clean” new park, when the reality ends up looking like the back of a 1984 Chevette held together by nothing but bumperstickers.
#71 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 1:00 pm |
Actually, I prefer this one better, wiseasses!
http://i256.photobuc...
#72 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 1:01 pm |
That anything like “Harold and Kumar…” ?
#73 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 1:04 pm |
Would they match this jersey?
http://i256.photobuc...
#74 by bobby on 06.03.08 1:12 pm |
Hadnt seen a any mention of this but I really like Stanford’s Pull over jerseys and stirups
http://www.sfgate.co...
#75 by AK on 06.03.08 1:17 pm |
Pretty obvious by the abundance of Pittsburgh jerseys/fans.
#76 by jere on 06.03.08 1:18 pm |
On the error card page–to me the most egregious one is when the writer refers to the dugout as the “clubhouse.” (On the Jeter card.)
#77 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 1:23 pm |
jim
i haven’t checked the box scores or the standings…even my local paper…
how bout them cubs? they still doin ok?
#78 by Walaitis on 06.03.08 1:34 pm |
Those aren’t bad. You don’t often hear “pull over jersey” and “like” in the same comment on this site unless the context is “would like to beat the person who decided …”.
#79 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 1:34 pm |
We have a Todd Helton situation…#6 is wearing Nikes with a blacked out logo while the team is outfitted by Mizuno!
#80 by Justin on 06.03.08 1:38 pm |
The following was in Ken Rosenthal’s latest column on Fox Sports.
“When especially agitated, Ethier will break helmets with his hands. Dodgers clubhouse manager Mitch Poole has taken to writing inspirational sayings inside Ethier’s helmets in an attempt to dissuade him from causing further damage.”
#81 by MPowers1634 on 06.03.08 1:38 pm |
Actually, a whole mess of brands are pictured:
Caps:TPX by Louisville Slugger
Uniforms:Rawlings(Check their left sleeve)
Cleats: Mizuno, except for #6 in the double play pic and #33 on the far left of the dugout pic. They are both wearing Nike Clippers.
#82 by Walaitis on 06.03.08 1:39 pm |
The Cubs? Is it still baseball season? (checking the good old St. Louis Post Dispatch parchment edition) Huh … lookie there. Yeah, looks like they might even obtain the best record in baseball if they win today!
#83 by Marty Met on 06.03.08 2:03 pm |
I LOVE the new Blue Jays powder blue pull-overs. And my favorite uniforms of all time are the Pirates late 70’s early 80’s Black, Gold and Bumble Bee Stripe pullovers.
#84 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 2:21 pm |
good catch of the telltale swoosh, matt!
almighty god! - no, no! powers saw! - he suspected!…he knew…he was making a mockery of my horror…this I thought, and this I think..but anything was better than this agony…anything was more tolerable than this derision…i could bear his hypocritical smile no longer…i felt that i must scream or die..and now…again…hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!
#85 by C.N. on 06.03.08 2:33 pm |
Uh, no, Mike Gundy had a meltdown because he has the self-control of a five-year-old. Saying nothing about his coaching abilities, and despite the fact that Ms. Carlson was clearly out of line, Gundy stooped to her level with his temper tantrum.
#86 by LI Phil on 06.03.08 2:47 pm |
yeah…but that still made for a great coors light moment…
/he’s 40, you know
#87 by Scott in Erie on 06.03.08 2:54 pm |
I think a while back Paul linked to a place to get some funky striped socks for people who get it.
Anyone know what I’m talking about? I’d like to get a few pairs.
#88 by Jets/Mets Fan in Chicagoland on 06.03.08 2:56 pm |
Good thing Stanford wasn’t playing Anderson University (http://www.anderson.edu/)
#89 by tinger on 06.03.08 3:13 pm |
Can’t find a link, but the local FOX affiliate in Philadelphia had a report last night on the upcoming changes to the US Army’s dress uniforms. Apparently a South Jersey company has been manufacturing them for years and prototypes are being made that include a color change from OD to blue, complete with gold-trimmed epulets (sp?) on the shoulders. NOT a good look (think hotel doorman).
#90 by Mike on 06.03.08 3:21 pm |
#91 by Ben on 06.03.08 3:27 pm |
Aston Villa is giving up their shirt sponsorship to promote an English children’s charity, ala Barcelona.
http://sportsillustr...
#92 by Jets/Mets Fan in Chicagoland on 06.03.08 4:15 pm |
[knock, knock]
Anybody home in here…..or is it just my computer acting up?
#93 by mtjaws on 06.03.08 4:19 pm |
The Reds are on the bandwagon with emails urging continued votes for Griffey.
Also, their emailed picture includes a Griffey 600 logo that I hadn’t seen before.
http://mlb.mlb.com/c...
#94 by Ricko1 on 06.03.08 4:19 pm |
I know what you mean. I was just about to write something ripping Mike Piazza–y’know, ask how much some people would be pushing for his annointment into Hall of Fame if he hadn’t spent some time playing in New York–just to see if I could be the straw that stirs the drink.
(How’s that for combining Yankee and Met references?)
#95 by mtjaws on 06.03.08 4:21 pm |
Second try on Griffey picture link:
http://mlb.mlb.com/c...
#96 by Jets/Mets Fan in Chicagoland on 06.03.08 4:23 pm |
White Sox aare doing the same - urging fans to write in Carlos Quentin (who may be just a tad more deserving of Junior - this year, at least)
#97 by mtjaws on 06.03.08 4:24 pm |
Grr, last attempt:
If it fails, try pasting it in. It wants to convert the x into goofy formating.
#98 by Duckstyle on 06.03.08 4:39 pm |
Hey, anything that could possibly put an end to the ridiculous amount of Red Sox and Yankees on the AL team, I’m all for. Plus like you said, Carlos deserves it, anyway. Me thinks it’s not going to have the same effect the Podsednik and “Punch AJ” campaigns did in years past, since they actually had their names on the ballot, albeit on the “Final Vote” ballot
#99 by Kevin M. on 06.03.08 4:45 pm |
This is why I hate fan voting for the All-Star game due to it just being a popularity contest. If you look at the current standings its going to be Red Sox/Yankees vs the National League.
#100 by Mike on 06.03.08 4:52 pm |
Woohoo! The USFA is playing again!
http://www.theusfa.c...
#101 by Jets/Mets Fan in Chicagoland on 06.03.08 4:54 pm |
Agreed, but as long as Bud “Call me ‘Bud’” Selig is in charge, it’ll remain a popularity contest. After all, he’s all about doing what’s best for the fans, right? [smirk, giggle, snort]