By Bryan Redemske
As a Cubs fan, I often find myself on the wrong of end futility-related jokes, where losses are explained as, “Hey, it’s the Cubs. Of course they’re going to lose.” As such, I tend to avoid crowing too much about winning streaks being in first place, because despite the Cubs’ current fortunes, this always follows: “Yeah, but they’ve sucked for the last hundred years.”
Well, not quite — more like the last 62 years — but we’ll let that go for now. Why? Because in those hundred years, the Cubs have been at the forefront of uniform innovation. Why bother with winning when you can look good? OK, actually I’d rather have the wins. But here’s a quick rundown of firsts from our North Side friends:
1937: First full-zippered jersey.
1940: First vest.
1941: First powder blue uniform. They were abandoned after two years.
1978: First white pinstripes on powder blue. Actually, this is nothing to be proud of. (And yes, I know that link isn’t from 1978. The shoulder patch is wrong and Lee Smith didn’t debut until 1980. It’s just a scary picture.)
Setting aside those dubious firsts — especially the last two — the Cubs are actually one of the more interestingly attired teams in the majors. At first glance, it doesn’t seem to be the case — the Cubs have had pinstripes forever and have a seemingly plain road uniform.
Consider these items:
• Trademarked logo: The Cubs are the only team with a trademark symbol on their game jerseys (just below the S in Cubs). [For more info on this, see editor's note below. -- PL]
• Batting helmets: The Cubs use a cloth appliqué rather than a flat decal on their lids.
• Road pants: The little Cubs logo has been on the left hip since the current roadies debuted in 1997.
• Road jerseys: There are only four teams in the majors that use different colors for letters and numbers on the backs of their jerseys — the Braves, Diamondbacks, Nationals (alts only) and Cubs. The Cubs use it only for the road jerseys (f’ing Jim Edmonds …).
• National League patch: The blue alternate jerseys have a National League patch on the right sleeve. (It was migratory on some gamers and BP jerseys in earlier days).
See, there’s a lot more there than just pinstripes and plain road grays, much like there’s more to the team’s history than the gigantic gap between World Series titles. For example, the Cubs are one of two teams with 10,000 franchise wins. And the Cubs do have 16 pennants. And the back-to-back World Series titles.
But still, there’s always someone fixated on the drought. I have no stats for that person, only this: Shut up.
Editor’s Note: Paul here. Regarding the trademark symbol on the home jersey, several people, including Bryan, have noted that the Cubs’ logo is derived from the Chicago Athletic Association’s logo and suggested that the trademark symbol is required by the CAA. That sounds reasonable, but I’m not so sure it’s accurate. According to this page, the Cubs adopted the CAA’s logo in 1915, when P.K. Wrigley, who was a CAA member, bought the team. Now, I’m pretty sure the “®” symbol didn’t exist in 1915, and I’ve been unable to determine when it debuted (Anthony Verna, do you know?), but I’m fairly certain it existed well before 1983, which is about when the symbol started appearing on the Cubs’ jerseys. Also, the Cubs’ cap logo is a much closer copy of the CAA mark, yet the cap logo has never had a trademark symbol. (As an aside, I attended a big group dinner last night and found myself sitting next to a trademark attorney, so I explained this whole situation to him. His response: “No other team uses the symbol? They all should!”)
I suspect the CAA has nothing to do with the trademark symbol. My hunch: At some point the Cubs’ uni manufacturer (which was Wilson throughout the 1980s) got a new chest patch supplier and provided them with a piece of flat art of the team’s logo. That logo sheet must have had the trademark symbol, which then got incorporated into the resulting patches, and each successive supplier has just copied the specs.
Of course, you’d think we could just ask the Cubs and/or the CAA. I tried the former approach several years ago and got nowhere. But I didn’t know about the CAA connection back then, so yesterday I called the CAA — and learned that they shut their doors last summer and are currently in the process of dissolving their corporate structure. But they still have a shell of an operation running, and I left messages for several people. Hope to have more on this soon.
Speaking of the Cubs, I’ll be taking a much more detailed look at them next week on ESPN. I’ll be covering everything Bryan touched upon here and plenty more (including one astonishing historical detail we’ve never discussed here — I just discovered it myself yesterday). It’ll be a lot like the survey of Cowboys quirks that I did last fall. Think of Bryan’s entry today a warm-up for the more in-depth treatment to come next week.
And as long as we’re on a Cubbie roll here, yesterday’s throwback game, which found the Cubs and Braves wearing 1948 attire, was a hoot. Yes, they got a bunch of things wrong (the Cubs’ version of the wishbone-C logo never had a white outline, and both teams should have been wearing zippered jerseys instead of button-fronts, and the Cubs had the wrong shade of blue, and, and, and…), but the whole thing was still a pleasure to watch. More, please.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Oregon Senator Gordon Smith is using a very Oregon University-ish typeface for his political campaign. Further details here (with thanks to Travis McGuire). … Last three grafs of this story suggest that the Braves’ blue alternate jerseys might be a jinx (courtesy of Gary Moore). … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Paul LoDuca, on a rehab assignment, has been wearing a Columbus uni with his Nats helmet. … Black Fives prexy Claude Johnson is auctioning off a really cool jersey for Kevin Garnett’s charity. Details here. … There was a disputed play in Wednesday night’s Mets/Diamondbacks game, when Arizon’s Mark Reynolds claimed he’d been hit in the foot by a pitch. The ump ruled he didn’t try to get out of the way, but here’s the interesting uni-related point: The old shoe polish test wouldn’t work, because it turns out that the Diamondbacks don’t use shoe polish. According to a radio report I heard yesterday, the D-backs use “a special kind of shoe” that doesn’t take polish. Frankly, given all the different shoe contracts that players have, I find it hard to believe that there’d be a team-wide standard regarding shoe material, but I’ll look into this. … Camilo Villegas really needs a new belt (blame Ian Wright). … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Nashua Pride player Vinny Pennell has a clever way of displaying his initials on his helmet. … FNOB alert: Ron Moore of the Cardinals (good catch by Charles Dettmann). … Good info about the helmets used for The Express here (with thanks to Billy Ramirez). … Several readers noted that when Nick Lidstrom was awarded the Norris Trophy last night, the kid presenting him the trophy was wearing a jersey with “LiNdstrom” (not “Lidstrom”) on the back. Gary Bettman probably had nothing to do with this, but let’s blame it on him anyway, because it’s easier that way. … Fun look at L.A. Kings mustaches here (big thanks to Will Leslie).
#1 by Jim on 06.13.08 8:40 am |
the kid presenting him the trophy was wearing a jersey with “LiNdstrom” (not “Lidstrom”) on the back. Gary Bettman probably had nothing to do with this, but let’s blame it on him anyway, because it’s easier that way
That’s funny, I saw that too, and the first thing I said was “I blame Bettman for that.” My buddy asked me why, and I told him that everything is Bettman’s fault…
Can’t believe that Lidstrom’s jersey misspelling did not get caught before that kid went on stage. Major F-up, on someone’s part. Probably Bettman’s.
#2 by Dane on 06.13.08 8:42 am |
Also from last night’s NHL Awards ceremony:
They had young hockey players present the award nominees while wearing their own junior team jerseys. One of the Bantam-AAA team, the Timberwolves, is using the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves logo as their crest.
We usually see kids teams borrowing from the pro teams in their own sport, but it’s rare to see borrowing a name & logo from a different sport.
#3 by Shaftman on 06.13.08 8:59 am |
OT: But Important
My apologies for the length
This was written by Jayson Stark on espn.com.
• End of an era: Monday is a sad day in the history of this sport. It’s the final Hall of Fame exhibition game at Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field, the needless end of an awesome 68-year tradition.
Five members of Congress sent letters of complaint to Bud Selig protesting this decision. Selig told them, in a letter back, that the “logistics” of working this game into the schedule had simply become too “complicated.” But what that really means is that players weren’t interested in sacrificing an off day anymore for the greater good.
Selig promised that baseball will promote the Hall of Fame in other ways, including bringing most of the sport’s living Hall of Famers to this year’s All Star Game. Hey, great. We’re all for it. But as someone who has been to a half-dozen Hall of Fame games, I understand what it means — or meant.
The Hall of Fame game meant more to Cooperstown, and to the Hall, than Bud Selig will ever realize.
It supported the museum and the exalted village of Cooperstown. Just as important, it gave players a chance they otherwise wouldn’t get — to see Cooperstown and the Hall of Fame Museum with their own eyes. At a time when players’ appreciation of history has shrunk to embarrassing levels, baseball is now guaranteeing that 99 percent of its players will never set foot in baseball’s most hallowed space. And that’s the biggest tragedy of all.
There will be a “moment” of silence Monday, during the entire bottom half of the third inning. But after Monday, the silence at Doubleday Field will last forever — another tribute to the selfishness of baseball’s leaders and players. If you’d like to add your voice to the protest, visit savethefamegame.com.
#4 by Josh on 06.13.08 9:07 am |
A couple of other fun things from the Cubs WGN broadcast yesterday:
* The game began in black and white to honor the 60th anniversary of the first WGN Cubs broadcast
* When Jim Edmonds hit his homerun the WGN camera crew wild panned in and out in homage to the video of Ernie Banks’ 500th homer (can’t find video)
* Also the call of the home run by Len Kaspar ended with “Hey! Hey!” the famed call of HOF broadcaster Jack Brickhouse
#5 by Jonathan Sluss on 06.13.08 9:11 am |
The Lynchburg Hillcats, a Pirates A-ball affiliate will be honoring the early 1980’s Lynchburg Mets this weekend including throwback uniforms for the occasion. Details here: http://www.lynchburg...
#6 by War Damn Eagle on 06.13.08 9:11 am |
Someone mentioned in yesterday’s comments that the Braves should wear the striped stirrups with their current uniform. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think those stirrups are still part of the official Braves uniform. I know most players don’t use the stripes when they wear the knee-high pants, but I think Andruw Jones wore the stripes a couple years ago for several games (and this was with the current uniform, not part of a throwback promotion). I think it’s similar to the stripes the Cardinals have. Some players, like Anthony Reyes, wear them, while others do not. It’s too bad, b/c the those Braves stirrups rock.
#7 by Wes on 06.13.08 9:16 am |
Add the Twins to your list of teams with different colors for the letters and numbers on the back of their uniforms…
Home:
http://minnesota.pub...
Road:
http://outofthe612.m...
#8 by JF in DC on 06.13.08 9:17 am |
Yes, it’s sad to see the HOF game come to a close, but I think its time has come. Like most exhibitions, you see the shell of a team actually compete and in recent years, it would be rare to see a pitcher on the active roster appear in the game. Minor leaguers would be called up to play most of the game, so that much of what you were seeing were just “guys” in MLB uniforms.
My wife is from the Cooperstown area, so we get there often and the game does mean a lot to the community, however. It is a big day, especially for Cooperstown High School, as they raise tons of money for their senior trip, etc. (BTW, Cooperstown HS shuns PC and still goes by “Redskins.”)
I went to the 1982 game, Mets vs. White Sox, and the thing I remember most about that game was that it was shortened by one of the biggest monsoons I’ve ever seen. And while people started to mill down to the field, while the players were still there, a kid grabbed a Mets helmet from the on-deck circle and started to make off with it. He looked around, saw that I was the only one who saw him in the act, and started to get nervous. I just gave him a nod, and he was on his way…and today that Mets helmet proably still sits in his home…or somewhere on e-bay.
#9 by Mike Engle on 06.13.08 9:17 am |
Wes said:
Point taken, but the original list was restricted to the Senior Circuit.
#10 by Ricko on 06.13.08 9:20 am |
re: end of the Hall of Fame game.
If you’re looking for someone to say that today’s players and today’s Players Associations don’t give all appearances that their number one goal is to do everything possible to preserve the preferential, prima donna status of today’s players…it won’t be me.
They may be among the most self-serving people and organizations on the planet. Granted, the organizations are supposed to be, by definition, self-serving. But their defintion of that seems to come down solely to “pay incredible amonts of money for services and expect the bare minimum of commitment to the game/business/fans who allowed us to make all that money.”
Let’s all pause for a moment and contemplate Latrell Spreewell and his classic response when saying a $7 million offer wasn’t enough: “I got a family to feed.”
Or Andy MacPhail, who, when negotiating with Kirby Puckett who’d said he had to take care of his family, asked, rightly so, “Yes, but for how many generations?”
If what I’m saying isn’t so, why does Mike Ditka’s organization to seek benefits for older NFL vets even need to exist?
#11 by Jim on 06.13.08 9:21 am |
Why do teams give coached jerseys when they hire them? It’s stupid.
I can see baseball, because they actually wear them on the field.
http://sports.espn.g...
#12 by Jim on 06.13.08 9:22 am |
Jim said:
*coaches
#13 by Walaitis on 06.13.08 9:29 am |
Woke up this morning with a 102 fever and the second worst case of the chills I’ve ever had.
Karma sucks.
#14 by Ricko on 06.13.08 9:30 am |
I think Cubs also are the only MLB team ever to have a number dead center on the front of their jerseys. Was on their roads in, I believe, ‘74 under an arched “CHICAGO”.
#15 by Ricko on 06.13.08 9:33 am |
Ooops. Was ‘72.
http://exhibits.base...
#16 by Ricko on 06.13.08 9:34 am |
Doesn’t show well, but there was white edge on letters and numbers.
#17 by Joe Hilseberg on 06.13.08 9:34 am |
Great Cubs info. Perfect timing too…in 2 weeks I’m heading to Chicago to see my very first game in Wrigley against my O’s. I’ll be the guy in the bleachers with the 1979 orange O’s pullover with #35 Roenicke on it!
PS – I will also have that on tonight at Camden Yards because it’s 1979 night…the Pirates are in town! I’m not sure if they are doing throwback unis though.
#18 by Walaitis on 06.13.08 9:37 am |
Josh said:
Sorry to repost, but I did this one late last night (at least late for someone with 3 kids under 7) …
Ugh … just watched the highlights of the Cubs game on MLB.com. When Edmonds hit the home run to tie the game for the Cubs (oops … just put some pea soup in my mouth [is that better? ... though I beg for mercy ... I'm sure you did the same when that happened]), they flashed “HEY HEY” on the screen, as Len Kasper said the same. The 12 year old MLB.com “studio host” noted “What a great old school Harry Carey call”. He should be fired today.
#19 by ESS on 06.13.08 9:37 am |
Jamie Moyer, 45 years old, threw a 2 hit, 8 inning gem last night in the South Florida heat and humidity (so bad his opposing pitcher had sweat literally pouring off of his cap, graphically highlighted by Wheeler and Kalas with a closeup of the cap-based Niagara Falls) striking out 3 and walking 1.
He was also the only player on the field wearing stirrups.
Coincidence? I think not.
#20 by Joe Hilseberg on 06.13.08 9:39 am |
A small town in MD is looking for old-time baseball players
http://www.daggerpre...
#21 by Ricko on 06.13.08 9:41 am |
You’ll love Wrigley. In 1990, after eight years of “Dome Ball” I took my son to Chicago. Came up out of that dark tunnel, looked out onto the green grass and bright blue cloudless sky and felt the same sensations I’d felt at my first game as a seven-year-old, and a complete sentence formed in my head: “Oh, my god, I forgot how much I really love this game.”
Yeah, I’m looking forward to the new Twins ballpark.
#22 by scott on 06.13.08 9:45 am |
Add the Holyoke Blue Sox of the NECBL summer collegiate baseball league to the list of teams wearing numerals on the left side of the front of the jerseys. The home white uniforms appear to be modeled after the Boston Red Sox.
#23 by Nick on 06.13.08 9:49 am |
Here’s a screen capture of Li“N”dstrom:
Empty Nettters
#24 by War Damn Eagle on 06.13.08 9:50 am |
According to this web article, the Pirates and O’s are a go for 1979 throwback unis.
http://www.verizon.n...!-423519786?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=newsroom_portal_page_sports_article&_article=1074996
#25 by Russ on 06.13.08 9:50 am |
Not only were the Cubs the first to sport white pinstripes on an away uni, but according to a 1912 NY Times article (via this snopes.com article) they were the first baseball team to introduce pinstripes, period.
#26 by KT on 06.13.08 9:52 am |
“I don’t mean to sound insensitive,” said McDonough after fruitlessly searching his files for relevant info, “but really, who cares?”
That really sums up the whole thing here, doesn’t it? ;)
#27 by Jim on 06.13.08 9:52 am |
Nick said:
That is SO brutal…
#28 by Kevin on 06.13.08 9:57 am |
scott said:
Blue Sox uniforms:
#29 by Kevin on 06.13.08 9:59 am |
Kevin said:
Link isn’t working properly, gonna have to copy and paste it:
http://americanviewp...
#30 by Walaitis on 06.13.08 10:02 am |
Kevin said:
1. Odd to call themselves Blue Sox when their primary colors are red and white.
2. At least according to THAT picture, maybe they DO live up to the name, but nobody outside of the locker room will ever know.
#31 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 10:03 am |
LI Phil said:
did the highlanders win? ;)
#32 by Walaitis on 06.13.08 10:05 am |
OK, Paul … rate THIS one (the Blue Sox opponent in that game):
http://americanviewp...
#33 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 10:12 am |
Walaitis said:
You can’t polish a turd.
#34 by Pretty Boy Paulie on 06.13.08 10:17 am |
Walaitis said:
WHAT!? FIRE THAT MAN NOW!!!
I tip my hat to you Bryan, I’m still waiting for that jackass to bring up the 100 year drought. Us Cubs fans have to stick together! HOO-RA!
More cool tid-bits from yesterday’s game:
-Bob Brenly & Len Casper donned full 3 piece suits.
-a sports reporter in the back typed away on a typewriter through out the game.
-Hot Dog and Pop (that what we call it here in Chicago) vendors wore bow ties, white collared shirts, slacks and paper hats. “Pepsi Cola” was printed on the Pepsi vendor’s hats.
-a few on field photographers wore suits and Fedoras with a “Press” card on it.
-The first 2 innings were in black-n-white and featured camera angles that were used in 1948 (tough to watch the game though).
#35 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 10:17 am |
What exactly is going on with the NOB of Lima’s jersey here? Any Korean League fans in the house?
http://deadspin.com/...
#36 by Jet on 06.13.08 10:29 am |
Great edition today!! (Although it seems I say that nearly every day!) Love all those Cubbie tidbits and also revisiting the Cowboys uni quirks.
“A practiced uniform acolyte” (from the Cowboy article) … yeah, that’s what I like to think of myself as!!
Yee ha!
#37 by Pretty Boy Paulie on 06.13.08 10:30 am |
Even though the uniforms were pure white and not off white, buttons were used instead of zippers, blue cleats were used instead of black, navy cap and white outlined “C” instead of royal and no outline, and current Cool Flo batting helmets were used instead of non Cool Flow…it still was great!
A few pics from yesterday’s EFFING AWESOME throwback game…
http://bc.images.trb...
http://bc.images.trb...
http://bc.images.trb...
http://bc.images.trb...
http://bc.images.trb...
http://bc.images.trb...
http://bc.images.trb...
#38 by Tony In Erie on 06.13.08 10:30 am |
Two things:
Has anyone ever discussed the yellow hockey helmets from the 80’s? Not that its in depth but they were sure GOD AWFUL.
Has anyone noticed that Justin Timberlake’s character in the upcoming stink fest “The Love Guru” is sporting a fiberglass mask that hasn’t been seen on the rinks in twenty years, but whose other equipment is current?
You’re welcome for the run-on sentence.
#39 by Jim on 06.13.08 10:31 am |
Walaitis said:
The number on the front looks horrible. Would look better with no number and larger name.
#40 by Pretty Boy Paulie on 06.13.08 10:36 am |
I found the video for the Len Kasper “Jack Brickhouse” call!
Just go to the Cubs website, on the homepage the video automatically opens up on the right. If not you can still just click play. Enjoy!
http://chicago.cubs....
#41 by biggswede on 06.13.08 10:36 am |
there was a mention today about the cubs having the first powder blues. i’ve seen many mentions in UW of the greatness of the powder blues. why in the world is uni-watch et al a fan of the powder blue uni? when i was a kid in the 70s, i always thought the expos, jays, cubs and phils (pardon me if i missed any others) looked godawful in their blues — the royals being the exception (it somehow worked for them). how could road blue possibly be cooler looking than something like the old boston road grey with black (navy?) lettering? they looked like prison uniforms… in a good way! you may be thinking i’m not a fan of adventurous color schemes. on the contrary, i truly dig such things as the technicolor-soaked astros and canucks jerseys. do i need therapy or does anyone else have an aversion to these abominations? perhaps it’s an acquired taste… like lutefisk.
#42 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 10:38 am |
Pretty Boy Paulie said:
how
fucking insanegreat is it that we UWers can find that many things wrong with the throwback game…and STILL say it was “EFFING AWESOME” and that the unis were STILL better than they are now?also…i think brenley’s hat isn’t new…im pretty sure that’s from his clubbin’ gear
#43 by JJD on 06.13.08 10:39 am |
Oregon Senator Gordon Smith is using a very Oregon University-ish typeface for his political campaign.
It’s “the University of Oregon”.
#44 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 10:39 am |
Ricko said:
Joe H. – Some things to remember before going:
1) Put some Scotchguard on that O’s jersey. Wrigley bleacherites are usually not too “friendly” to fans of the opposition, especially when wearing their jerseys. You may end up with a few Budweisers “accidentally” spilled on your person.
2) God bless you if you happen to be seated anywhere near Ronnie Woo-Woo Wickers: http://www.ronniewoo...
It will be a “unique” experience, to say the least.
3) If you catch an O’s home run ball, throw it back. Otherwise, refer back to #1.
On the other hand, it is second only to Fenway (IMHO) as a “classic” baseball experience. Enjoy!
#45 by Ricko on 06.13.08 10:42 am |
LI Phil said:
In the bottom of the ninth, yes.
And my dad caught a foul ball with his new straw skimmer (for you young pups, that’s a hat). Punched a hole right through that sucker, though.
#46 by Ricko on 06.13.08 10:48 am |
Re: Cubs TBTC. Yeah, on balance, it looked like it was great fun. The highlights I saw seemed better cuz when batting at least whatever was on the Cubs’ heads was the right color.
Overall reaction to the entire day, as I ponder those “never existed” hats, was to think of Maxwell Smart…
“Missed it by THAT much.”
#47 by Jim on 06.13.08 10:49 am |
Tony In Erie said:
You mean these?
http://www.sealshock...
Look just as bad as everything else in the 70’s
Love the fiberglass mask, not accurate to current masks for safety reasons, but I’d love to watch him take one off the face with it on though :)
#48 by Ricko on 06.13.08 10:54 am |
Jim said:
Not bad if your team is sponsored by “Lemonheads”
#49 by Ricko on 06.13.08 10:55 am |
Those look about as dopey as those white helmets Oregon football has in their equipment locker (which is where they oughta stay, btw).
#50 by Joe Hilseberg on 06.13.08 10:56 am |
J-Dub said:
Thanks for the pointers! Luckily for me I’m going with a group of 40 who will all be Orange-Clad!
#51 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 10:58 am |
Ricko said:
He wasn’t wearing a boater? Did he bring a bumbershoot, as well? ;-)
(Sorry, Ricko – I was on the receiving end yesterday for my “DuMont 13″ B&W” comment – although my first baseball game was the first Mets (home) Opening Day in 1962 at the Polo Grounds, so I know of what you speak)
#52 by SWC Susan (aka Tex) on 06.13.08 11:00 am |
Josh said:
The broadcasters were also dressed in era style clothing – even the Wrigley Staff was! Concessions were rolled back to the era prices for the first hour.
And I really have to commend WGN for the level of detail they went to – digged the old school simple game status graphics (and by graphics I mean, simple white text!) I can not wait to sit down and watch the entire game (yes, I recorded it)!
I would really like to know some of the work that went into producing that game – down to the equipment manager making sure ALL pants were high cuffed to illustrate the sheer beuty of those stirrups. Any possibilities, Paul?
#53 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:00 am |
Joe Hilseberg said:
to complete that thought…
y’all should go like this…including the stirrups
#54 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 11:01 am |
Joe Hilseberg said:
COOL! Go to the Cubby Bear (or the Goose Island brewpub, or Murphy’s Bleachers – all nearby) before the game – you’ll attract some attention ;-)
#55 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 11:02 am |
J-Dub said:
Nah, you’ll hear plenty of f-bombs and you’ll get called a stupid “bundle of sticks” about 200 times. (Seriously why haven’t Cubs fans found a better word by now?) But I’ve never seen beer poured, accidentally or otherwise, on an opposing fan. They’re acctually fairly nice as a whole. The Old Style isn’t however, get your drinks before the game, or hunt down the one vendor out of a hundred thats selling Bud, you’ll know it’s him cause of the swarm of people waving $10’s and pushing each other like there’s a fire to get away from.
#56 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:05 am |
LI Phil said:
too soon?
#57 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 11:06 am |
J-Dub said:
Ok, if you go to the Cubby Bear, then you will probably have a nice beer smell on you.
#58 by Pretty Boy Paulie on 06.13.08 11:07 am |
LI Phil said:
I was only disappointed by only the helmets and caps. As Brenly said “You can only throwback so much.” The whole overall experience was incredible. I don’t think any other team has gone that far for a throwback game.
I like todays uniforms, I have no major complaints about them (unlike some on this site). But the uniforms of yesteryear had this charm that is hard to replicate today. There was color, character, flair and uniqueness. I LOVE IT! (I’m 23 years young for the record here, I’m not some old guy who complains that everything new and Nike sucks hahaha.)
I’m sure Mr. Lukas and everybody on UniWatch will agree that the stir ups were GREAT!!! The best part is EVERYBODY wore them, unlike other game where throwback unis were worn.
#59 by JustinPGH on 06.13.08 11:09 am |
Not sure if this has ever been mentioned on here…
Obama Throwback Jersey
http://www.neighborh...
#60 by Marty Met on 06.13.08 11:12 am |
biggswede said:
YUCK!!! The 80’s Boston Road greys were even more boring than the Yankee home uniforms. Probably the worst uniform I ever remember
The powder blues were fun and exciting just like those GREAT Pirates uniforms from the late 70’s early 80’s.
Abominations??? Come on now. The blue road Phillies and Expos were so SWEET!!! 1,000 times better than the dreck the Phils and nationals wear now.
#61 by Kasey on 06.13.08 11:17 am |
No Zippers? According to the notes in the Cubs scorecards yeaterday, MLB would not let them use zippers. Thats why the jerseys were button-ups instead of zippers.
#62 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 06.13.08 11:18 am |
Pretty Boy Paulie said:
God! I wish I were even close to 23 again.
#63 by Stuby on 06.13.08 11:19 am |
Pretty Boy Paulie said:
Thanks for the great pics. Brenly looks like a pimp, though.
#64 by floormaster squeeze on 06.13.08 11:20 am |
I had a great uni related experience in my softball league last night (not me or my team–we have gray and green t-shirts and there is no way to make that look good).
A team that played on the field before us (Boston area) used a clever idea for jerseys. They all wore the same discontinued Falcons jersey of Alge Crumpler. It was hilarious and it looked good.
Our captain thought it was a brilliant idea and assumed it was a cheap way to look uniform (he assumed they had got them at some bargain basement retail). We asked some players and they said they have some Reebok employees on the team and they got them from “the inside”.
I have no idea how common this idea is but I like the idea (get uniformity, save money, get some kitsch appeal, and recycle!). Our captain said he saw about a dozen bright orange Bears “Grossman” jersey’s recently for $5 so maybe that will be our next uni.
#65 by Stuby on 06.13.08 11:21 am |
LI Phil said:
Yet Jim Palmer says the Pirate uniforms were ugliest he had ever seen? Pssh.
#66 by Pretty Boy Paulie on 06.13.08 11:21 am |
Marty Met said:
Agreed, they were ugly but its one of those “It’s so ugly but I like it” things….if that makes sense haha!
#67 by Ronnie Poore on 06.13.08 11:23 am |
biggswede said:
more bad baseball powder blues….
the Braves:
http://mlb.imageg.ne...
Cardinals:
http://homerderby.co...
for me, powder blue always looks lousy in baseball. the only teams that should wear powder blue are the Chargers:
http://i.a.cnn.net/s...
the Chargers cheerleaders:
http://i40.photobuck...
and the Tar Heels:
http://infinitekicks...
#68 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:24 am |
floormaster squeeze said:
true
#69 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 11:24 am |
Duckstyle said:
Perhaps my “beer shower” was due to the fact that I wore my Tom Seaver replica 1969 jersey to the game (some of them bums have long memories”).
Forgot to include the f-bombs, should we mention the lack of cell phone etiquette as well?
Bud? C’mon – don’t they still sell the micros at the main concourse concession stand (behind home plate, IIRC)? Sorry, haven’t been there in about 5 years or more
#70 by u2-horn on 06.13.08 11:24 am |
Those white-pinstriped powder blues are a thing of beauty! One of my favorite uniforms ever.
#71 by Saru on 06.13.08 11:26 am |
What exactly is going on with the NOB of Lima’s jersey here?
It just says “Ri-ma” in Hangul (no distinct sounds for “r” and “l” in Korean)
#72 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:26 am |
Stuby said:
jim palmer dint design the pirate unis
#73 by Stuby on 06.13.08 11:27 am |
LI Phil said:
I though Brooksie designed those pumpkin getups.
#74 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:29 am |
Saru said:
you owe me a new keyboard
#75 by Jim on 06.13.08 11:36 am |
Ronnie Poore said:
PIT doesn’t look too bad in powder blue. WOuldn’t want to see them in it all the time though.
REALLY wish Dany Sabourin played in that game, he had vintage colored pads made just for that game. Would have looked sweet.
http://www.zimbio.co...
#76 by Ricko on 06.13.08 11:46 am |
A point on the Chargers powder blues. The truth is (and if anyone does they research they’ll learn this is true), the Chargers never wore power blue jerseys with white pants until as “throwbacks”. The first powder blues came along a season or two after the switch to gold pants, which was in ‘66 (remember cuz was in San Francisco Labor Day weekend watching Chargers on a national telecast and, hey, they went to gold pants; then was in San Diego a week or so later and saw them in person against the Jets at old Balboa Stadium…jerseys were royal, as they had been every year prior to that). They didn’t wear white pants again until they switched to navy jerseys and helmets many, many years later.
So, bottom line? Powder blue with white helmets and pants never happened. Not in the 60s or 70s.
#77 by Patrick on 06.13.08 11:46 am |
#78 by Patrick on 06.13.08 11:50 am |
These are undoubtedly my favorite stirrups ever
http://espn-i.starwa...
Honestly, just slap the A on that cap in place of the B, and the Braves uniforms are tweaked to perfection. I love the dark tomahawk instead of the current red one. What a beautiful baseball uniform!
#79 by Jim on 06.13.08 11:50 am |
#80 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:54 am |
Stuby said:
that was my point
#81 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 12:09 pm |
J-Dub said:
Ok, you might have dug your own grave with the Seaver jersey. I’ve only been to 3 games at Wrigley, all were during the Sox-Cubs series. I never found anything but Bud and Old Style myself, but I’m sure a Cubs fan would know where to find the good stuff. Wrigley might have the atmosphere, but the Cell’s got the food and drinks.
#82 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 12:11 pm |
LI Phil said:
That’s what I thought, but I didn’t want to be the one to say it.
#83 by jere on 06.13.08 12:13 pm |
Just to clear something up—the Red Sox “80s road jersey” was also their ’40s, ’50s, ’60s, and (non-disco) ’70s road jersey. (With subtle differences, of course.) It’s not like that was just something they came up with for the 80s.
#84 by Kurt Kaufmann on 06.13.08 12:16 pm |
ESS said:
On the same day the Cubs paid homage to the ‘48 Cubs – Moyer’s first year with Cubs ;-)
#85 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 12:19 pm |
Duckstyle said:
Amen about the Cell (or “The Joan”) – food and beverage (and parking!) far superior to Wrigley, although Wrigley has more “atmosphere”. Although – taking the wife to the old upper deck seats at The Joan without a sherpa was an “experience” – not quite the same “experience” as having to take my then-3-year-old daughter to go potty in a Wrigley field men’s room, where she got to witness a patron zook into the trough – but an “experience” nonetheless
#86 by Paul Lukas on 06.13.08 12:26 pm |
Kasey said:
Really? Interesting. When the Mets dressed up as the NY Cubans back in 2001, those throwbacks definitely had zippers.
Do you have a copy of the scorecard notes to which you refer?
#87 by KT on 06.13.08 12:42 pm |
I hate DVRs that aren’t smart enough to realize when a live event runs long.
Then again, I also hate it when I neglect to set them to record the next couple of programs after a baseball game, just in case. My recording ended with one out in the top of the tenth.
I really liked the Cubs’ throwbacks, even if they weren’t exact replicas. I loved that Derrek Lee, a notorious pajama-wearer, put his pants up high.
I thought Ryan Theriot, of all the players, really looked the part. He wasn’t out of place at all (Reed Johnson looks throwback every day).
I was hoping somebody would leave their glove on the field at the end of an inning, just once. Maybe you can’t anymore.
Baseball must have been really hard to watch on TV in 1948. Then again, it was such a novelty and people weren’t spoiled by all the bells and whistles we have today, so maybe it was the coolest thing since the WPA. The first couple of innings were tough to watch.
The old footage interspersed throughout the game was cool, too. And as much as I’m sure Jack Brickhouse would have appreciated the shout-out…Len Kasper, you’re no Jack Brickhouse.
Dug the socks. Dug the Braves’ head on the sleeves. The little touches throughout were nice. I don’t think that, in the grand scheme of things, you can say anything other than that the Cubs pulled it off quite nicely.
#88 by The Big Man on 06.13.08 12:46 pm |
Kurt Kaufmann said:
CORRECTION: ‘48 was Moyer’s second year with the Cubbies!!!
#89 by Steve on 06.13.08 12:47 pm |
J-Dub said:
Hmmm, I’ve been sitting in the bleachers at Cubs games for the last 20 years, and I would say it is very unusual for any fan, drunk or sober to be throwing (the sweet nectar of the gods) beer on a fan for the opposing team. Particularly one as benign as the O’s (AL, Different region, etc). They may give you a friendly ribbin’ but most Cubs fans love baseball and thier team. They appreciate people who have devotion to thier respective teams. We certainly do not think everyone should be Cubs fans, it works for us and thats it. +1 on the Ronny Woo Woo post though, quite annoying. Any Cubs fan who thinks that is cool most likely a) rarely goes to wrigley field, or b) is mentally touched.
#90 by Graham on 06.13.08 12:50 pm |
http://www.neighborh...
#91 by KT on 06.13.08 12:53 pm |
As for Wrigley, if you don’t get to go there much, it really is like a pilgrimage to Mecca.
After you’ve gone a few times, you realize that the place is a mess, infrastructurally. You get tired of taking a whizz in a trough. Everything’s a money grab. There are always vendors in your way, blocking your view.
But there are moments, when it’s a perfect day (or night) for a game, when you can sit there and everything kind of stops and you realize that you’re in a place that has been around since 1914 and still looks largely like it did then. It’s historic. It’s unique. It’s not a McBallpark like the ATM with grass we have in downtown Phoenix.
Moments like that are fleeting, but that’s what life is, innit? A series of short wonderful moments in and among all the b.s. of day-to-day existence.
Go. Enjoy. Just don’t be surprised if it’s not as romantic as you think it will be.
#92 by MPowers1634 on 06.13.08 1:02 pm |
Ricko said:
Beautifully said, Ricko.
Every time that I go to Yankee Stadium, via the 4 train, I feel the same way.
It is incredible when you finally, for a fleeting moment, see the outfield through the slit between the rightfield bleachers and the box seats along the first base line!
#93 by Happy Joe on 06.13.08 1:03 pm |
Duckstyle said:
Just curious [for myself and others not in the know], why is a new keyboard needed?
#94 by Joe Hilseberg on 06.13.08 1:03 pm |
Duckstyle said:
I’m not liking this…Bud products give me migraines! Is there no Miller Lite in Chicago?
#95 by Tom on 06.13.08 1:08 pm |
My theory on the trademark symbol…the initial appearance happend after the Tribune Company took over ownership of the team. The corporate lawyers must have been involved…
#96 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 1:11 pm |
Joe Hilseberg said:
There is, but considering that the bleachers are named for an AB product, you won’t find any SAB Miller product in the friendly confines.
(P.S.: it’s probably the fermented rice by-products in the AB product that gives you the migraine)
#97 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 1:14 pm |
KT said:
True that, KT. I think my experiences were probably somewhat skewed, allowing that I went to at least one Mets-Cubs game at Wrigley every year from 88 to 97 in one of my Mets jerseys. Mind you, when I wore my Mets jersey to The Joan for the one (and only, up to know, IIRC) series with the White Sox, I didn’t hear near as many derogatory remarks from Sox fans
#98 by Just Sayin on 06.13.08 1:29 pm |
I’ve been a critic of Bryan in the past, but today’s entry was fantastic.
Also, the Columbus Clippers have awesome uniforms.
#99 by scott on 06.13.08 1:33 pm |
Duckstyle said:
Looks like the Keene Swamp Bats to me:
http://www.swampbats...
The purple vests with the black undersleeves are a bit tacky.
#100 by Kent Skor on 06.13.08 1:39 pm |
Braves Alt Uniform Jinx: Wednesday afternoon on the radio, the Braves announcers announcers were talking about the problems with the blue road jerseys – losing 9 out of 11 (but then they are also 0-1 with the 1948 unis).
Pete Van Wieren said that he suggested to the Braves that they bring the home whites with them on the road and at least hang them in the lockers.
I guess it could work.
#101 by Jet on 06.13.08 1:39 pm |
I agree with the person that said the Royals were the only team that looked decent in powder blue. The rest – YUKKKK!
But man oh man, do I love those powder blue Pittsburgh Penguins jerseys! Probably the offsetting white shoulder bars, the wide waist stripe, and the dark blue pants help to offset the powder blue.
#102 by scott on 06.13.08 1:42 pm |
Kent Skor said:
The Braves seemed to play a lot better when they only had home whites and road grays.
#103 by Joe on 06.13.08 1:42 pm |
I’m watching Euro Cup right night. Anyone know why the Italian goalie is wearing what appears to be a scarf around his neck?
#104 by Kent Skor on 06.13.08 1:44 pm |
#105 by Paul Lukas on 06.13.08 1:48 pm |
Tom said:
V-e-r-y interesting speculation. The Tribune bought the Cubs in 1981, and the ® started appearing shortly thereafter. Hmmmmmm….
#106 by Andrew Harris on 06.13.08 1:50 pm |
A Mets fan in Wrigleyville, I too am fond of the Cubs classic look unis. One qualm… the wandering cub-on-all-fours patch sits on the right sleeve, seemingly inches away from the C logo on the home uni’s right breast. With the left shoulder blank, the jersey always looks out of balance to me.
#107 by MPowers1634 on 06.13.08 1:54 pm |
Kurt Kaufmann said:
Very good!!!!!
#108 by Ian K on 06.13.08 1:54 pm |
KT said:
Well said. I attended a game at Fenway last August. About a minute after sitting down in the single grandstand seat, I thought…I paid $150 for THIS?
But then I got into the game, and realized how much these fans know about their team. The woman to my left who was my mother’s age knew everything about the new catcher that was just called up. Every time the Red Sox threatened, the crowd cheered, and we rose to our feet at almost every 2-strike count. I booed with the crowed when Gagne came in for the 9th, then booed again when his first pitch was hit for a single.
Sure I payed through the nose when I can see a Rangers game for 12 bucks, and the seats were cramped, and no beer vendors worked my section. But there was such HISTORY, and God smiled on the crowd that August afternoon with a 70 degree gametime temperature. It was one of those experiences I had to do, and was so glad I got the opportunity.
And for those interested, here’s an album of my experience.
#109 by The Big Man on 06.13.08 2:03 pm |
Ian K said:
Ian…thanks for sharing your images and experiences of visitng Fenway…!!!
#110 by Gabe on 06.13.08 2:10 pm |
Am I the only one that feels that those 48′ Braves uni’s with the Blue Tomahawk look alot sharper than the current threads?
#111 by MPowers1634 on 06.13.08 2:16 pm |
Well said. I attended a game at Fenway last August. About a minute after sitting down in the single grandstand seat, I thought…I paid $150 for THIS?
But then I got into the game, and realized how much these fans know about their team. The woman to my left who was my mother’s age knew everything about the new catcher that was just called up. Every time the Red Sox threatened, the crowd cheered, and we rose to our feet at almost every 2-strike count. I booed with the crowed when Gagne came in for the 9th, then booed again when his first pitch was hit for a single.
Sure I payed through the nose when I can see a Rangers game for 12 bucks, and the seats were cramped, and no beer vendors worked my section. But there was such HISTORY, and God smiled on the crowd that August afternoon with a 70 degree gametime temperature. It was one of those experiences I had to do, and was so glad I got the opportunity.
And for those interested, here’s an album of my experience.
Ian…thanks for sharing your images and experiences of visitng Fenway…!!!
My parents began vacationing on the Cape in 1976, the year befroe I arrived…do the math!
Ten years later, they built a modest house there.
Being a New Yorker,it’s tough admitting to having a soft spot for the Sox!
One major regret I have is having never gone with my father, who passed away a year ago today, to Fenway.
I’m definitely going to try and get there this Summer!
#112 by Stan the Man on 06.13.08 2:16 pm |
Gabe said:
Most older uniforms look better than their current versions…as yes…”when it was a game”
#113 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 2:16 pm |
Joe said:
I found a pretty good pic of it. No idea what it is, but it does remind me of Joe Crede’s neck warmer thing he was wearing this spring, basically just a head cover hood that he never pulled up.
http://uk.eurosport....
#114 by MPowers1634 on 06.13.08 2:16 pm |
The Big Man said:
Sorry guys, here’s my reply:
My parents began vacationing on the Cape in 1976, the year befroe I arrived…do the math!
Ten years later, they built a modest house there.
Being a New Yorker,it’s tough admitting to having a soft spot for the Sox!
One major regret I have is having never gone with my father, who passed away a year ago today, to Fenway.
I’m definitely going to try and get there this Summer!
#115 by Duckstyle on 06.13.08 2:18 pm |
MPowers1634 said:
As a White Sox fan it’s equally hard to admitt that Wrigley is such a great place to see a game, and our stadium is so forgetable.
#116 by bmarlowe on 06.13.08 2:24 pm |
“According to this page, the Cubs adopted the CAA’s logo in 1915, when P.K. Wrigley, who was a CAA member, bought the team.”
___________
This is clearly wrong as the all Deadball Era Cub logos looked nothing like the CAA logo.
#117 by bmarlowe on 06.13.08 2:26 pm |
“Also, the Cubs’ cap logo is a much closer copy of the CAA mark,”
______________________
No – the CAA logo has a thick blue circle around it. The Cub’s cap does not.
#118 by aubtiger on 06.13.08 2:28 pm |
I was watching the UEFA Euro match between Italy and Romania this morning. During the intros it looks like the jerseys of the teams have the flags of both nations on them. I have no proof yet but I will see if I can find some.
#119 by bmarlowe on 06.13.08 2:33 pm |
” the Cubs have had pinstripes forever..”
_____________________
Ok – I am being picky here, but this is uniwatch.
The Cubs have not had pinstripes forever. As far as home unis, except for 1918, there were no pinstripes unitl 1957.
#120 by Adam on 06.13.08 2:34 pm |
Duckstyle said:
Matter of opinion, I guess. I’d pick the Cell over Wrigley any day. Sure, I’m biased as a Sox fan, but I’ve had way too many bad views at Wrigley to ever want to go there again.
#121 by Walaitis on 06.13.08 2:35 pm |
Ah, they joys of being sick and sleeping half the day away … I really need to do this more often.
So, in my semi-hallucinogenic state, I just woke up from a dream that just MIGHT be influenced by spending more time than usual on this site today …
In my dream, there was a baseball team … but that doesn’t work for the information I’m about to type, so I’ll conveniently turn it into a basketball team. On the backs of their jerseys, they all have hyphenated names. None are the players’ last names, but instead a combination of the two streets that you would next meet on their street if you walked out their front door. For example, growing up, if I went out onto Berkley Drive and turned left, I’d next hit Highland. If I’d turned right, I’d hit Dunton. If I had a jersey on this team, the name on the back would be Highland Dunton.
During practice, if the coach wanted players to move, he’d yell out the street name towards which he wanted them to go.
OK … think I’m going back to sleep now. I think that makes less sense than my typical rants, but I bet it will be amusing to others!
Enjoy.
#122 by KT on 06.13.08 2:44 pm |
Adam said:
Count me as a Cub fan who doesn’t have a problem with US Cellular at all. It’s too young still to have developed character, but the renovations that have been made over time have made it a pleasant place to go. The neighborhood is still bad, but you can take public transportation there, so that’s a bonus. The amenities are good. The statues in center are cool.
The biggest problem I have with it is that they took out their ultra-cool Hall of Fame museum to put in yet another gift shop. “We had to put in another gift shop” is the way the lady put it to me.
No, you really didn’t. You chose to capitalize on your World Series win by moving more merchandise. Capitalism is fine.
But that’s when I stopped believing the bullshit about the Cubs being this evil corporate giant and the Sox being the “people’s team” representing the downtrodden. They’re just as corporate as everybody else. Just admit it.
In fact, considering they sold their start times to 7-11, they’re probably even more corporate.
But as a stadium, I have no problem with the Cell. As a ballpark, it’s not the greatest, but it’s certainly fine and, in some respects, superior to Wrigley.
I thought Andy MacPhail had it exactly right when he said “At some point we have to decide if this is a museum or a working ballpark.”
It IS 94 years old. And it hasn’t aged particularly well in spots.
#123 by scott on 06.13.08 2:47 pm |
MPowers1634 said:
Typical myth about how the Red Sox fans are so knowledgeable. In my experience, every team has knowledgeable fans, but winning teams tend to have a lot more of them. It’s called the bandwagon effect. And I would actually argue that as Fenway sells out night after night, the fans are actually becoming LESS knowledgeable, as many people are just there because it’s the cool place to be seen.
#124 by bmarlowe on 06.13.08 2:54 pm |
Russ said:
——
Cubs first wore pinstripes on their special 1907 WS uniforms. They were very narrow and closely spaced – quite different than what you see today.
#125 by Jim on 06.13.08 2:54 pm |
Walaitis said:
Wow…… that’s all I have to say
#126 by Kevin M. on 06.13.08 3:00 pm |
Jim said:
That makes my head hurt.
#127 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 3:01 pm |
Jim said:
And to think, some people dream about weird stuff – like having high tea with Abe Lincoln and a gopher
#128 by Mark D on 06.13.08 3:02 pm |
Some interesting information concerning the helmets the University of Oklahoma is auctioning off:
http://www.soonerspo...
#129 by Ian K on 06.13.08 3:08 pm |
scott said:
True to a point, but Fenway’s crowd tends to be reserved for two kinds of people: those who want to be there because they love the team and will sacrifice for the cost, or those who have the money to “be seen”, as you say.
I bet no 40-person church youth groups go to games at Fenway, like is the case at the Ballpark in Arlington. But you are right, the people actually AT the game know what’s going on. The D/FW Metroplex as a whole is fairly baseball-stupid. (I’m not a native but I live here now)
#130 by Jeff P on 06.13.08 3:13 pm |
J-Dub said:
Skimmers and Boaters are the same thing. Like a Bowler and a derby are the same hat as well. Different names for the same thing.
#131 by Ricko on 06.13.08 3:19 pm |
J-Dub said:
Actually in those TV commercials it’s a beaver. Now, come on, I ask myself whenever I see one of those spots, what guy would dream about that.
#132 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 06.13.08 3:35 pm |
Ricko said:
I know what you mean. I never dream about Abe Lincoln.
#133 by u2-horn on 06.13.08 3:35 pm |
Ian K said:
Great story, Ian K., but can you spend a little more time working on your 2nd base defense?
#134 by Jet on 06.13.08 3:38 pm |
Jet said:
excellent point.
#135 by Jet on 06.13.08 3:39 pm |
Gabe said:
Amen, bro.
#136 by Ricko on 06.13.08 3:43 pm |
Jet said:
When they went back to the tomahawk, I never could figure whey they changed it to red. The contrasting color really does make for a better looking jersey.
#137 by KT on 06.13.08 3:58 pm |
Ian K said:
They would if Fenway had 20,000 more seats. Smallest ballpark in either league, innit? High demand, low supply = no need for groups.
#138 by Adam on 06.13.08 4:12 pm |
KT said:
Not anymore. PNC Park is smaller (and, according to Wikipedia, so are Oakland, Tampa, and Florida, since they don’t sell all seats). http://en.wikipedia....
#139 by Ricko on 06.13.08 4:14 pm |
Some vids from Cubs-Braves…
http://chicago.cubs....
#140 by Kevin M. on 06.13.08 4:16 pm |
Adam said:
Most of what the Rays close off is the upper deck when low drawing teams coming in like the Marlins. When they have the Yankees and Sox and people from Tampa decide to make that long 30 min. drive over the Howard Franklin they open up those seats.
#141 by SaveFarris on 06.13.08 4:48 pm |
RIP Tim Russert. Anyone think the Buffalo Bills should wear a memorial patch?
#142 by Ricko on 06.13.08 4:48 pm |
SI cover showing Redskins feather helmets:
http://dynamic.si.cn...
#143 by Rick White in Cedar Park, TX on 06.13.08 4:49 pm |
Ricko said:
Oh man! The black and white video is unbelievable. They certainly got it right. I could handle watching baseball again if they’d do a whole game like that every once in a while.
#144 by Ricko on 06.13.08 5:02 pm |
First Nikes on cover of SI:
http://dynamic.si.cn...
#145 by Joe on 06.13.08 5:02 pm |
So I was playing on the Steelers website and I came across pictures of their recent OTAs. On the following link, if you look at “EVENTS” the first category is “2008 OTAs – Day 14.” The Steelers are wearing their 75th anniversary gold throwback helmets they wore this past season against the Bills and Ravens. At first I thought they might just be getting some use out of them but then I started thinking they had to of gotten new helmets for this years rookies, right? Is this common practice among other teams who wear special one-time use helmets? The Steelers aren’t wearing them again this year in a game, are they?
Bottom line, I just want to know what’s up with that?
http://news.steelers...
#146 by Ricko on 06.13.08 5:10 pm |
Someone mentioned Kansas State’s two-shades-of-purple basketball uniforms.
Here they are…lavender and purple.
http://dynamic.si.cn...
#147 by J-Dub on 06.13.08 5:17 pm |
Ricko said:
Great googly-moogly!! Didja check out the socks (long) and shorts (short)? Slightly different than now, eh? http://a1259.g.akama...
#148 by LarenR on 06.13.08 5:26 pm |
Joe said:
Extensive discussion of this yesterday, starting with comment 12:
Kek said:
#149 by LouUmp on 06.13.08 5:50 pm |
why is it I can’t see the videos on the MLB website??? All my media players are up to date…s far as I know…
#150 by =bg= on 06.13.08 5:56 pm |
SaveFarris said:
absolutely. maybe a RUSS decal on the helmet. totally appropriate. IMO.
#151 by Joe on 06.13.08 6:32 pm |
LarenR said:
Thanks, but unless I missed something the only thing I learned in yesterday’s comments was that it was hot in Latrobe and the Steelers didn’t practice there.
Anyone find anything else?
#152 by Steve on 06.13.08 6:42 pm |
scott said:
I would argue that point. Teams with long standing tradition likes the Cubs and the Red Sox, among others, have knowledgeable fans spanning back decades. Heck its not difficult to find 2 and 3 generations of fans in one family. The are always those folks that go to watch a game just to do it but thats in every park. Also most Bandwagon fans, do not invest the time to really be that knowledgeable.
#153 by Steve on 06.13.08 6:51 pm |
I found this interesting thing on a tech website:
http://www.engadget....
new suits for NASA.
#154 by Bryan Redemske on 06.13.08 6:58 pm |
Jet said:
Except it’s wrong. The walking bear patch is on the left sleeve, not the right.
#155 by Marcus from B-More on 06.13.08 7:07 pm |
Dem O’s wearing ‘79 unis while playing pittsburgh tonight
#156 by TF on 06.13.08 7:35 pm |
I think Brian Roberts is wearing his stirrups backwards.
#157 by Marcus from B-More on 06.13.08 7:37 pm |
looks like a few of them (millar, scott) are rockin the FAUXRRIPS – if you gonna do it, do it right – brought to you by “americans for real stirrups”
#158 by James Craven on 06.13.08 8:01 pm |
Ricko said:
[wiseass mode]Was it Jerry Mathers as “The Beaver”?[/wiseass mode]
#159 by Ricko on 06.13.08 8:01 pm |
#160 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 8:11 pm |
Happy Joe said:
dammit…
just got back after a long, hot and ultimately futile tennis tourney…so sorry for the delay in answering
a new keyboard is needed because of the coffee i spit all over it after reading “RI MA”
#161 by Jordan Pope on 06.13.08 8:38 pm |
Steve said:
NASA is testing their new rovers about 5 miles from my house
#162 by Walaitis on 06.13.08 8:45 pm |
Bryan Redemske said:
OK, well its wrong, but it’s consistantly wrong. The patches are on the players’ right sides when facing them, but are actually on the players’ own left chest and left sleeve.
He WAS right in the initial assessment that the uniform is “out of balance” because both are on the same side. That’s bothered me for as long as I can remember.
#163 by Mike Engle on 06.13.08 8:48 pm |
Watching the Yankees game…Shawn Chacon was at bat, wearing #30. Wasn’t it reported before this season that Shawn Chacon had chosen #1? Oh well. So much for him being the other single-digit pitcher aside from Josh Towers.
#164 by Tim Abel on 06.13.08 8:56 pm |
new chelski away kit
blegh
#165 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 9:16 pm |
Mike Engle said:
absolutely right mike
from the 2.22.08 edition of UW:
According to the last sentence of this page, newly signed Astros pitcher Shawn Chacon will be wearing uni No. 1, thus doubling the current contingent of single-digitized MLB pitchers
#166 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 9:59 pm |
Ricko said:
Here it is in the flesh:
http://cgi.ebay.com/...
#167 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 10:01 pm |
lwiedy said:
or the mannequin ;)
how the hell you been larry???
#168 by =bg= on 06.13.08 10:11 pm |
Giants wearing ‘82 (i think) orange throwbacks- love ‘em- wish they’d use as an alt. Giants one of the few teams who don’t HAVE an alt.
Photos to come.
#169 by Mike Engle on 06.13.08 10:13 pm |
LI Phil said:
Two more notes (in one) from the same game.
Wilson Betemit is pinch-hitting for Joba, wearing (a) some weird-ass Gagné goggles, and (b) a #41 helmet. (Betemit is #14; #41 is a reliever, Jose Veras.)
#170 by =bg= on 06.13.08 10:19 pm |
http://img.photobuck...
Retro Giants
(only error I can see- I think they wore white shoes)
#171 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 10:19 pm |
Jet said:
Perhaps because the Royals were the only ones to use simply white numbers/letters. The contrast was very strong, especially when the blue darkened just a bit after a few years. The plain white lettering was chosen because it would show better on television although b/w photos often were completely washed out:
http://i256.photobuc...
#172 by jake sorg on 06.13.08 10:22 pm |
Being a Cubs fan I never really get to se th Blue Jays play, but I noticed their MLB logo on the back of their hideous powder alts matches their current color scheme, but the MLB logo on their caps is a more appropriate red, white and blue. This may have been mentioned during the review of these unis before the season, but I can’t remember.
#173 by Mike Engle on 06.13.08 10:22 pm |
=bg= said:
And orange sanitaries! Now’s the time, Barry Zito! [When Barry Zito had the Giants' starters united in stirrups, he mentioned he wanted to bring back the orange sanis, but "Righetti would kill me." --MBE]
#174 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 10:26 pm |
LI Phil said:
Very well, Phil, thanks for asking. I’m here every day (sometimes real late) but I’m picking my spots a little more carefully lately.
#175 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 10:27 pm |
=bg= said:
maybe not
#176 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 10:32 pm |
LI Phil said:
Depends on the year:
http://exhibits.base...
#177 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 10:35 pm |
lwiedy said:
wow…that is kinda all over the place…but if they are going for 1982, then they are correct
/would have LOVED the white shoes & orange sanis tho :(
#178 by =bg= on 06.13.08 10:41 pm |
More Giants
http://smg.photobuck...
Tonight:
Orange Retro Jersey T-Shirt to the first 20,000 fans.
First 20,000 fans.
#179 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 10:44 pm |
lots of rich stirrupy goodness on the o’s tonight
#180 by Ricko on 06.13.08 10:53 pm |
LI Phil said:
I think those Giants, the late 70s Twins and the early 80s A’s are only teams to wear different color shoes at home and on the road. Giants black home, white road. Twins red home, black road. A’s white home, forest green road. A’s wore gold sanis at home some of the time; white some of the time with that uni. So I guess the Giants are the only ones ever to strictly have different sanis with their different shoes.
#181 by Ricko on 06.13.08 10:59 pm |
A question…while prowling through Dressed to the Nines just now, I see it shows the A’s occasionally wearing gold stirrups with white sanitaries on the road in ‘87 and ‘88 (with the forest alternate jerseys).
Anyone got any photos of that?
#182 by Mike Engle on 06.13.08 11:00 pm |
Ricko said:
The Mets used to have different shoes. Blue shoes to match the real home caps and black for the road and with the alternates. Eventually the burden of so many cleats and so many different shoe polishes took its toll on the equipment guys, as the Mets have not worn blue shoes for years.
For whatever reason, I want to think the mid-90’s Indians did something similar as well. Red shoes at the Jake, and black shoes on the road, IIRC. Paging Mr. Grzegorek…
#183 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 11:05 pm |
LI Phil said:
They were not the only ones wearing ‘em in ‘82:
http://i256.photobuc...
#184 by Ricko on 06.13.08 11:06 pm |
Yup. You’re right. Forgot about those Indians. Wore red sleeves, belts and socks at home, too, but all those in navy on the road.
I think my brain was locked on the time when it involved real stirrups.
And the Tigers still wear white-trimmed black shoes at home and orange-trimed on the road.
Did the Orioles do that for a time, too? Can’t recall for sure.
#185 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:13 pm |
what stirrups did the 1988 a’s wear with these pants?
#186 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 11:21 pm |
Ricko said:
I’d love to see them too. As stated here several times before, “Dressed” is not infallible. Has anyone had luck bringing corrections to their attention?
#187 by Ricko on 06.13.08 11:28 pm |
I’ve passed a number of them on to Paul, with photo backup, but never tried contacting them.
When Okkonen’s book first came out I found a slew of mistakes and omissions, many of which have subsequently been altered at “Dressed” because others noted them, too, I imagine.
As I told Paul, I’d never consider them corrections, but more as contributions. Unless I see lots of people making the same mistake over and over. Then, yeah, sometimes I wanna scream. LOL
#188 by Ricko on 06.13.08 11:33 pm |
btw, am I the only one who can’t stand that “muscle guy” that replaced Okkonen’s figure? Even if the artwork weren’t dippy, it doesn’t show the pants striping, for one thing.
#189 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:36 pm |
Ricko said:
this fuckin’ guy?
#190 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 11:36 pm |
Ricko said:
Have you seen your “contibutions” used? Certainly, none of the entries are inaccurate purposely, but what’s wrong is wrong. I’ll use your suggestion of going through Paul, thanks!
#191 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 11:39 pm |
LI Phil said:
Who says MLB ignored to steroid issue!
#192 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:45 pm |
ok…just for shits and giggles…
what’s significant about this?
#193 by lwiedy on 06.13.08 11:49 pm |
LI Phil said:
Only got this, Phil:
Microsoft VBScript runtime error ‘800a000d’
Type mismatch: ‘[string: "18)"]‘
/dressed_to_the_nines/uniforms.asp, line 156
#194 by LI Phil on 06.13.08 11:51 pm |
shit
try again
#195 by C.N. on 06.13.08 11:53 pm |
SaveFarris said:
No, but I bet they will.
#196 by C.N. on 06.13.08 11:54 pm |
floormaster squeeze said:
#197 by C.N. on 06.13.08 11:56 pm |
C.N. said:
Whoa, that didn’t work. What I meant to say was that in our softball league, a whole team wore old Darko Milicic jerseys. Points for originality, I guess.
#198 by C.N. on 06.13.08 11:58 pm |
Ricko said:
You’re right to a point, but most of those guys weren’t around when salaries were as astronomically and ridiculously high as they are now, and their bodies have been put through the meat grinder, and they can’t afford to take care of themselves, in part because the NFL isn’t providing any assistance. Should they? I’m not familiar with all the intricacies of the situation, but I think they should.
#199 by lwiedy on 06.14.08 12:02 am |
LI Phil said:
JR made his first appearance. I was thinking the same thing, even wrote out a crack about the Astros not gettng the memo about integration. Thought better of it.
#200 by LI Phil on 06.14.08 12:05 am |
lwiedy said:
well yes…you’re 50% right…what else?
#201 by Ricko on 06.14.08 12:07 am |
In the early 80s (the 1980s, LI Phil) a team of mine was all brothers and cousins from same family; I was only one whose last name wasn’t “Hines”. As if that weren’t odd enough) they decided we should wear Hawaiian shirts (was while Magnum, P.I. will still on). So there were, a dozen guys with a dozen different Hawaiian shirts. Appropriately enough, the team sucked.
Now me, I also wanted to name a team after the group that sang “Alley Oop.” Call ourselves The Hollywood Argyles…and all wear argyle socks, of course. That THOSE would be some socks.
#202 by lwiedy on 06.14.08 12:10 am |
LI Phil said:
Isn’t funny, I forgot the forgotten one, Mr. Doby!
#203 by LI Phil on 06.14.08 12:11 am |
Ricko said:
ah yes…the coal miner league
#204 by lwiedy on 06.14.08 12:12 am |
lwiedy said:
Isn’t THAT funny, I forgot…
#205 by Ricko on 06.14.08 12:17 am |
C.N. said:
My thought is that the phenomenally wealthy players of today might, through their players’ association, consider spending a teensy bit of their combined fortunes–or least work with and/or lobby the NFL–to help out the guys who helped build the game that made them so…comfortable. Maybe have, y’know, just a little sense of history, for a moment consider that something of importance might actually have happened before they were born…that quite possibly they aren’t getting that money just because they’re so wonderful.
(In case you haven’t figured it out, I left sportswriting because even though I loved the games, I couldn’t so many of the boys who played them. That was almost thirty years ago, and they’re even worse now).
#206 by Ricko on 06.14.08 12:19 am |
LI Phil said:
Or the Wendy’s house league.
#207 by LI Phil on 06.14.08 12:27 am |
Ricko said:
yeah…but you can’t go to jail for sex with a wendy
#208 by Ricko on 06.14.08 12:34 am |
A less cranky answer (it’s late):
I think the NFLPA should be doing what Ditka and his associates are doing. A separate group should never have become necessary. But Gene Upshaw has consistently said those older veterans aren’t his group’s problem.
And while that may technically correct, it is enormously lacking in heart, compassion and gratitude…which sadly, I think, apparently reflects the personalities of most NFLPA members.
#209 by Ricko on 06.14.08 12:37 am |
LI Phil said:
Depends whether or not she has to be home early to study for her driver’s learning permit test.
#210 by LI Phil on 06.14.08 12:40 am |
Ricko said:
so…wendy was a miner
#211 by LarenR on 06.14.08 1:01 am |
=bg= said:
Love the orange!
The Giants tried the alternate thing in the early 20-aughts (see images of Bonds hitting #71), but it was almost universally disliked, so they scrapped it. I say bring back the orange and, for real bay area fans, the Crazy Crab!
#212 by =bg= on 06.14.08 1:06 am |
The Giants black alts were horrible- just like the spring training tops. black numbers with a thin orange border on a black background. yech.
here’s one more- the sprinklers just popped on in the bottom of the 9th, in the middle of the pitcher’s windup.
http://img.photobuck...
The Giants wore ‘82 unis says Jon Miller. Meanwhile, another loss for Zito.
#213 by LarenR on 06.14.08 1:10 am |
=bg= said:
#214 by LarenR on 06.14.08 1:12 am |
=bg= said:
Oops, let’s try that again:
Zito’s crap, but at least Vizquel got into the retro mood with his steal of home in the second!
#215 by James Craven on 06.14.08 5:12 am |
Alas, A’s didn’t want to play along with the 1980’s theme, so they wore their regular unis. A’S MANAGEMENT JUST DOES NOT GET IT!(TM)
#216 by C.N. on 06.14.08 12:52 pm |
Ricko said:
Yeah, I agree with your position 100%, I just misunderstood what you were trying to say earlier. I agree that, until a better solution arises (i.e., Gene Upshaw or some of the greed-mongers he works with provide funding for retired NFL vets of a certain era), the organization that Ditka champions is the best we’ve got.