By Phil Hecken, with Jeremy Brahm
Now for the second part of our series on current NPB team uniforms. Today we will look at the current uniforms for each of the teams in the Pacific League.
The Pacific League also has six teams, but has always been the less popular of the two leagues. Here is a picture of the team’s uniforms in 1994. This was from an ad campaign called Sexy Pacific League.
And now here are the six teams in alphabetical order.
Chiba Lotte Marines: The Marines are situated on the east side of Tokyo Bay in the city of Chiba. The Marines have been known as the Lotte Orions until 1991 when the team moved from Kawasaki on the west side of Tokyo Bay to Chiba, and the team changed it name to the Marines and added pink to their color scheme.
After Bobby Valentine’s hiring in 1995, they went to a conventional white base with black pinstripes, which has been the team’s staple for their home uniform for the last 15 years. In addition, the patch on the left sleeve is the other logo for the Marines. Here is a shot of the home uniform from the back. What is surprising about the Marines’ home uniform is the big patch on the right sleeve. Yes that patch says “05 ASIA CHAMPION.” The Marines were is first team to win the Asia Series in 2005, which pits the champions of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and China in a round robin tournament and then a final of the top two teams. But that was four years ago, it is time to move on.
This year is also the 40th anniversary of Lotte, candy and gum company from South Korea, purchasing the Marines. Here is a picture of the patch and where it will be placed on their three uniforms. The different colors of the seagulls represent the different colors of the uniforms of the team since Lotte had the team. Here is a picture of their three uniforms from the front, and the back. The home cap is all black with a silver M.
Chiba’s alternate home uniform has red and black raglan sleeves. The red and black are broken by a white and black jagged line on each sleeve, Charlie Brown like line. The red Y-neck goes all the way down the uniform to the beltline and has black outline stripes. Plus the uniform has black buttons. The lettering is in black with a red number that is outlined in silver with a red 3D shadow. Chiba’s alternate cap has a similar pattern as seen on the sleeves and it is used with their road uniform.
Chiba’s road uniform has a quick vertical gradation from black to white and similar raglan sleeves to the alternate uniform. The second logo has been copied in grey on the right chest and expanded in size. On the back the lettering is in white with black numbers outlined in silver with a red 3D shadow.
Jeremy loves their home whites, but the alternates and the visitor uniforms just look off to him. Actually, Jeremy feels their 2007 road uniforms with white pants looked great.
OK. This goes from great to very bad to AWFUL. The home uniform is nothing short of awesome, very Rockie-like. Crisp and sharp, the pinstripes and black cap look great together. The alternate home uni, with it’s “Charlie Brown” sleeves and red neck yoke (which extends through the button plackets) is just not appealing — it’s fine to be different, it’s another to be jarringly-so, and for little apparent reason (although there is some precedent to the “crown” piping on the sleeves). The road uni is just AWFUL. It’d be HORRIBLE as an alternate, but this just doesn’t belong on a diamond, especially for about half of your games. And the pink? I don’t care if it’s a nod to your team’s historical past … it’s just not good.
Fukuoka Softbank Hawks:: The Hawks, to Jeremy, have the most boring uniform in Japanese baseball. It has a white base with black lettering with two yellow sleeve stripes with a double yellow stripe down the pantleg.
Their road uniform is similarly boring to Jeremy, with a black base with white lettering and stripes and white pants.
The Hawks just announced that Softbank mobile would sponsor the team and have added a patch with a dog on their left sleeve, based on their campaign with “the Whites” (here are the home and road unis.) Both uniforms use a black hat with a yellow bill and yellow lettering.
To Jeremy, the sleeve stripes are too thick and would be fine if they were smaller, but these are just bland uniforms. Now if you put Tsuyoshi Shinjo in one, that’s entertainment. Yes, Shinjo had a gold glove and an iron on picture of himself. “I love me, some me.”
I’d disagree with Jeremy’s assessment of these uniforms being “boring,” but that doesn’t mean they’re good either. I LOVE a pure, white uniform, but with all the shit going on here, this is neither pure nor white, but boring it aint. Busy maybe. And who knew motorcycles and automobiles played for the team? I’m also not a fan of the sleeve and pant stripes being of varying widths. Obviously, the sponsor has something to do with the uni design, and while I understand it, I don’t like it. Definitely also not a big believer in the black roadie.
Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters: The Fighters are located in Sapporo and only moved from Tokyo in 2004. Here is the last home uniform from their time in Tokyo. It was a similar design to that of the Minnesota Twins. Here is an example of their last road uniform before going to Sapporo.
The home uniform is white with white pants and has a black raglan sleeve that extends to the collar only on the left sleeve. The raglan area is highlighted with a gold stripe and has a teal blue line at the sleeve edge. Also the team entire team logo has a patch on the left sleeve. FIGHTERS is written with an arched teal lettering with gold outlines and black shadows. On the right sleeve is Nippon-Ham in black with gold outlines, the sponsor of the team. On the back lettering and numbers are in black with gold outlines.
The road uniform is essentially the same except that it is in grey with grey pants with Hokkaido in white with black outlines on the right sleeve and Nippon Ham in arched white lettering in white with gold outlines and black shadows. (Here is the back of the uniform.)
The Fighters also have an alternate uniform that is all black with white or grey pants. The teams’ F logo is placed over the heart. Numbers are in white on the back only. Jeremy has only seen this in warmups. Home and road cap is in black with the secondary logo.
The Fighters have had some special edition uniforms for the We Love Hokkaido Series in the summer. Here is the 2008 edition uniform and cap. And finally, the 2007 edition uniform. Shinjo even had a special uniform that he wore before the 2nd game of the 2005 Japanese All-Star game.
The Fighters uniforms to Jeremy are very sharp.
Although I am not a fan of asymmetrical uniform sleeve design, these aren’t too bad. The teal and gold are aesthetically pleasing, and not overdone as colors. Bonus points for having a gray away uniform too. You know I am not a fan of alternate uniforms, but, despite the pullover and sheeny-look, this one is definitely better than most.
Orix Buffaloes: The Buffaloes are based in Kobe and Osaka and was created from a merger of the Orix Blue Wave and Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2004. Ichiro Suzuki played for the Blue Wave, while Hideo Nomo played for the Buffaloes. The merger of the two teams was odd because the team had two home uniforms Kobe 2005 (white), 2006 Kobe, and Osaka 2005. The team still plays games in Kobe, but has moved their offices to Osaka and now only use the Osaka uniform as their only set.
Additionally, the Blue Wave had to kill a mascot, Buffilead, which was designed by Hanna Barbera. Instead they kept Neppie. You should see him with the shell around his neck.
Additionally, the Kintetsu Buffaloes are probably the only team in the world who changed logos on a mascot. “What do you mean?” you say. They changed uniform and shoe companies at one time and the mascot changed with them. Here are the Buffaloes in Mizuno and then in Asics. That is logo creep.
But getting back to the uniforms, the Buffaloes home uniform has a white base with dark blue raglan sleeves all the way to the collar. Each sleeve has a single red sleeve stripe. Orix has its company logo on the right sleeve. The white Y-neck is outlined in dark blue. The team logo is outlined in yellow and numbers on the front of the uniform are dark blue. On the back the lettering is in dark blue on a radial arch, while the numbers are dark blue with a yellow outline.
The road uniform has changed this season and the Buffaloes have ditched the yellow (old version).
ORIX is spelled out in white on the chest with dark blue buttons and white numbers. The Buffaloes script is on the right sleeve. On the back the lettering and numbers are in white. The batting helmet for Orix has always had three red stripes, (1989), the 1990s, from the brim to the halfway point on the left side of the helmet.
Their home and road cap has a dark blue base with the logo outlined in yellow. But look carefully at this cap — the front half of the hat has red dividing lines for the panels, but the back does not. Jeremy has never seen that before.
Jeremy thinks Orix looks good but he’d prefer to have the yellow back on their road uniform.
I liked a previous version of the home uniforms (possibly influenced by the “gag” jersey I bought, and which I’m wearing in the by-line). Look at this stunningly simple design. Too bad they wear this new uniform now. They also wear this raglan sleeved number, which is garnished with this cap — so what’s with the red? I know they have that red stripe on the sleeve, but it doesn’t seem to go with the other colors on the uni. Although possibly a nod to the past. (And they obviously have a lot of uniform history in the past — of both the Blue Wave and Buffalo variety). However, Jeremy informs me the red is actually part of Orix’s parent company’s color scheme, in addition to Kintetsu, (but Kintetsu does not sponsor the team anymore).
Saitama Seibu Lions: The Lions are located in the Northwestern Tokyo suburb of Tokorozawa. The Lions have been very successful since their move in 1978 to Tokorozawa and were known for their baby blue road uniforms. But this year the Lions have ditched the baby blue altogether and have gone in a new direction, back to the past.
The new design has a new font for the logo, a darker blue called “Legends Blue” and a brand new design. The old logo looked like this.
The home uniform is minimalistic, almost Detroit Tigers like. But it does have the new paw logo patch on the left sleeve, Saitama Seibu in red on the right sleeve, 13 white stars on the inside of the back of the neck for the number of Championships that the Lions have won overall. The back of uniform has dark blue lettering and numbers.
The road uniform is a grey base with a dark blue outline around the Y-neck. Also has a single dark blue sleeve stripe on each sleeve. The Lions script is in dark blue and dark blue numbers. The paw logo, Saitama Seibu and 13 stars are all the same as the home uniform.
The dark blue cap with the white L will also be used on the road. Their batting helmet appears to be matte black.
Jeremy has only known the Lions in baby blue, and he does like to the look of these uniforms, but he hates the font for the script.
This is, by far, my favorite of all the uniforms. But, if you had asked me to judge them by their previous uniform incarnations and Nikified designs, I would have absolutely hated them. Just goes to show you that Nike, when pressed, can make something gorgeous. I’m sure there will be some backlash in Japan, as this is a radical departure from this. You won’t hear any complaints from me.
Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles: The Gold Eagles are based in Sendai in the Northeast (Tohoku) part of the country. They play their home games at the Kleenex Stadium Miyagi, so there could be crying in baseball. The Eagles are the youngest team in the Pacific League as they started in 2005 and were created because of the merger of Orix and Kintetsu, which would have created an odd numbered league of five. Rakuten bought an expansion franchise license to make the Pacific League have six teams. The owner of Rakuten, Hiroshi Mikitani attended Hitotsubashi University and Harvard University, whose school colors are crimson, and that is the name of Rakuten’s holding company, Crimson Group. Therefore crimson is one of the team’s primary colors.
The Eagles’ home uniform has a white base with crimson lines. The team script is written in crimson with yellow shadows and has crimson numbers outlined in yellow underneath the script. Each player’s name and number are crimson with yellow outlines. This number font is similar to what the BayStars used to use.
The Eagles have added a 5th season patch to the left sleeve. Also, Rakuten’s logo is on the right sleeve. Jeremy asks, “Does it look weird to have a logo for a company with a heart over your heart?”
The road uniforms are basically a flipping of the colors, a crimson base with white stripes. Rakuten replaces Eagles and is in white with yellow shadows, which make it a bit difficult to read. The player names and numbers are in white without the yellow outlines. These are paired with white pants.
The third uniform, which is only used for Interleague games, has more crimson than the regular model. There are white pit stains, yellow stripes, crimson panels, crimson numbers and player name’s in crimson block letters with yellow outlines. The team’s E logo has been converted to crimson instead of the traditional white, and is outlined in yellow. RAKUTEN is in small letters underneath the E. And the IRIS patch has been moved to the right part of the chest.
Rakuten wears a crimson cap at home and on the road with a white E with yellow outlines.
According to Jeremy, the Eagles have an old school look, even with the road colored tops. Jeremy would like to see a grey road uniform with the crimson, as he thinks it would look nice.
This uniform doesn’t do much for me either way. The colors are gorgeous, but I am not really enjoying the (seemingly unnecessary) thin piping all about the place. As a design element, I don’t really like it, and it doesn’t appear to have any functionality. The cap color and design are pretty cool though. And I do like the numeral font, which appears to be “copperplate gothic” or something similar. I wish they had a gray away uniform, but what are you gonna do?
Just remember some Japanese teams have worn some different things: the Daiei Hawks, the Nippon Ham Fighters (here too), the Nittaku Home Flyers, the Taiyo Whales and the Crown Lighter Lions.
Here are also a couple of photos of the Pacific League from the early 80s. This was with the Exciting League Pa (Pacific) campaign: Exciting League Pa photo uniform, Shinji Mizushima. Mizushima is a huge baseball fan and manga artist who has done numerous stories on baseball. He is wearing a uniform with sections of each of the team’s uniform colors. And here is an Exciting League Pa poster. There are no other examples of this that I can find.
Phil’s Final Thoughts: If anyone is still interested, the “grafic” I used for the header is the “famous” Atom Boy. But I’ll let Jeremy explain it a bit more:
The picture that you have is from the Yakult Atoms in the 1960s. They used AstroBoy on the left sleeve, because Sankei is part of the Fuji Sankei Broadcasting group and AstroBoy was on their networks. Sankei sold the team to Yakult then became the Yakult Atoms before returning to the Swallows. Technically in Japan AstroBoy is called Atom Boy, but semantics.
I wanted to express my deep and sincere thanks to Jeremy Brahm for all his work on this piece (or, actually, two days worth of pieces). There is a tremendous amount of information on Japanese uniforms I am certain he left “on the cutting room floor” so to speak, and this was really just scratching the surface. His patience and willingness to help, not just with this, but also with the “April Fool’s Day” bit, as well as pinching in for me with the volleyball article a couple weeks ago, was greatly appreciated. Hopefully you guys (and gals) enjoyed the bits on the rising sun unis as much as I did. Thanks again, Jeremy!
If you didn’t already read it, you need to check out Paul’s latest ESPN column in which he gives the rundown of all the new uniforms and changes for the 2009 season. It’s my favorite column of the year. But then again, there is baseball … and then there is every other sport. Tomorrow I will continue one of my own personal traditions involving Opening Day, and that is watching The Natural. Any of you guys have an Opening Day traditions (like going to a game, playing hooky from work/school, popping in a dvd, or, if you’re a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, counting the days to the Steelers open training camp dreaming that this is your year)? Let’s hear ’em.
Enjoy your Sunday. Enjoy opening night. Hell, just enjoy!
Good morning,
Big lEast … you. are. done. Exits are to your right.
And UConnectthedots? Does Stanley, “Student” Robinson have to go back to work on Monday? Because we know he doesn’t have to go to school.
Sham.
PS – Love the effort on the NPB unis. Really interesting, and I didn’t expect many to be so ‘traditional.’ Nice work Jeremy and Phil.
And what’s a Stadium Miyagi? Besides a stadium moniker celebrating the wisdom of Noriyuki “Pat” Morita?
That ballpark would be Wrigley Field in Los Angeles.
I sent paul a picture, but I went to the Rangers-Royals exhibition game yesterday. Rangers wore blue caps, blue jerseys, white pants. Royals wore blue caps, blue jerseys, gray pants. Very frustrating to watch from our seats and quite the talk of our group.
Just to follow up on what Stuby said, Wrigley Field in LA was, save for a few features, an exact replica of the Chicago ballpark it shared a name with.
[quote comment=”321468″]I sent paul a picture, but I went to the Rangers-Royals exhibition game yesterday. Rangers wore blue caps, blue jerseys, white pants. Royals wore blue caps, blue jerseys, gray pants. Very frustrating to watch from our seats and quite the talk of our group.[/quote]
Very confusing. There oughta be a rule…
link
And speaking of the Chicago Wrigley, apparently not everybody is in love with the place.
link
[quote comment=”321468″]I sent paul a picture, but I went to the Rangers-Royals exhibition game yesterday. Rangers wore blue caps, blue jerseys, white pants. Royals wore blue caps, blue jerseys, gray pants. Very frustrating to watch from our seats and quite the talk of our group.[/quote]
That’s why it’s an exhibition. I don’t think teams can do that any longer during the regular season.
Opening Day is also the best sports day of the year because it is almost always capped off with the NCAA Championship.
[quote comment=”321470″][quote comment=”321468″]And speaking of the Chicago Wrigley, apparently not everybody is in love with the place.
link
The truth about Wrigley is that the things that are right with it are fantastic. Unfortunately, the things that are wrong with it vastly outnumber them.
I have some thoughts on what they should do with the place to make it viable long-term. Basically they need to tear down everything in foul territory and rebuild it from scratch (except for the marquee, of course — definitely preserve that). Really, nobody gives a shit about that portion of the ballpark. The only things people are in love with are the ivy, the bleachers and the scoreboard.
Of course, the logistics of such an effort probably mean it’ll never happen.
Ugh. Too many quote tags not enough close quote tags…
[quote comment=”321470″]And speaking of the Chicago Wrigley, apparently not everybody is in love with the place.
link
The thing about Wrigley is that the things that are right with it are fantastic. Unfortunately, the things that are wrong with it vastly outnumber them.
I have some thoughts on what they should do with the place to make it viable long-term. Basically they need to tear down everything in foul territory and rebuild it from scratch (except for the marquee, of course — definitely preserve that). Really, nobody gives a shit about that portion of the ballpark. The only things people are in love with are the ivy, the bleachers and the scoreboard.
Of course, the logistics of such an effort probably mean it’ll never happen.
Just cannot dig that Fighters uni. There’s just something about those sleeves that make me gag.
Opening Day really isn’t that big a deal to me. I mean, I’ll probably watch the Jays/Tigers game on Monday night, but I just don’t really get into the season until the end of June. The season is too long, and the NHL playoffs are too good. Baseball can easily be ignored in April and May…well, for me, anyway.
NBC sure picked a snoozefest of a hockey game to broadcast this afternoon. Wild/Wings in a pretty meaningless tilt. Will definitely watch Blackhawks/Jackets, and try to catch some of the Penguins/Panthers game. Be nice to see the cats catch the Rangers.
Phil
It should say Golden Eagles, not Gold. I didn’t notice that until now.
If you have Google Chrome, you cannot see these two links
Shinjo
link
Seibu Lions old logo
link
They work fine in Firefox.
Thank you for the shoutout to the PawSox and Ben Mondor. I have been going to McCoy to see games for 30 years, and the experiance just keeps getting better given the BoSox committment to developing young talent.
It is amazing to me that I can bring my family of four to a game for $20- including parking! Even the food is reasonably priced.
Ben and the PawSox are such an asset to the area; we are lucky to have them. They are a model franchise indeed- and the Providence Bruins should be the first to sign up for the Harvard Business School class.
Miyagi Prefecture (state) is where Sendai is located and so that is why it has Miyagi in it.
Also the stadium was originally called Miyagi Prefecture Baseball Stadium and then shorted to Miyagi Baseball Stadium.
The stadium received licensing rights from Fullcast a human resource provider and was changed to Fullcast Stadium Miyagi for 3 years beginning in 2005, the Eagles first season.
Kleenex’s Japanese operator, Japan Paper Crecia, signed a deal for three years so that is why it is now called Kleenex Stadium Miyagi.
[quote comment=”321468″]I sent paul a picture, but I went to the Rangers-Royals exhibition game yesterday. Rangers wore blue caps, blue jerseys, white pants. Royals wore blue caps, blue jerseys, gray pants. Very frustrating to watch from our seats and quite the talk of our group.[/quote]
A similar game was televised earlier in Spring Training. When I would look up from my computer, I could not tell at a glance who was hitting. It became frustrating enough that I finally turned off the game.
wrigley field los angeles was the home of the 60’s tv show home run derby. i used to love watching it on espn in the early 90’s. banks, mays, colavito, etc. all were on the show.
PawSox best MiLB org? What about Durham Bulls… I never saw the movie based on the PawSox… because there never was one.
Did anybody see Ty Lawson with #25 on last night? I thought for sure that would be on here.
[quote comment=”321481″]PawSox best MiLB org? What about Durham Bulls… I never saw the movie based on the PawSox… because there never was one.[/quote]
Also, the last PawSox’s championship was 25 years ago. Bulls have two in the last 11 years, plus another two trips to the championship series in the last two years.
It;s baseball season! New DIY certainly in order. WPhC!
link
[quote comment=”321482″]Did anybody see Ty Lawson with #25 on last night? I thought for sure that would be on here.[/quote]
missed it when it happened, so didn’t get a screen grab (and quickly trolled the net for one, but couldn’t find one) — if anyone had one, it may have been sent to paul (who’ll run it monday in the ticker); forgot to mention it, sorry
if anyone isn’t sure what happened, link
Jeremy,
Again, many thanks for the NPB uniform info. As my wheelhouse on NPB ball is from the 80’s, one of my all time fave hats was the Kintetsu Buffaloes weird jobber. Was red, with rounded white front panels, edged in blue. The entire team name “KINTETSU BUFFALOES” was spelled out in blue on the front, arched over the Buff’s distinct blue and red eyed buffalo head logo.
Always picked up Wayne Graczyk’s annual pocket “fan book”. But I haven’t for several years. This may spur me on to do so again.
Go Tigers!
[quote comment=”321486″]one of my all time fave hats was the Kintetsu Buffaloes weird jobber. Was red, with rounded white front panels, edged in blue. The entire team name “KINTETSU BUFFALOES” was spelled out in blue on the front, arched over the Buff’s distinct blue and red eyed buffalo head logo.[/quote]
timmy~
this one?
/found that pic the other day while searching for pics, and was wondering about it … didn’t include it because the article was basically focusing on the unis of today … im sure jeremy could tell us all more about it
link
Article ranking NCAA football uniforms for southern schools. It’s so bad I thought it might be a spoof. Two things jump out at you:
“Clemson also looks good when they sport their purple tops” (I am a Clemson grad and hate the purple tops. We killed a team 3 years ago in them but since have gotten killed every time we pull them out)
and:
When talking about South Carolina’s uniforms: “Under Armour does such a good job with their uniform design” Don’t even need to dignify that with a comment.
And these guys also like Florida State’s all-black uni. Oh well, at least it’s good for a laugh!!
You’re saying this one.
link
It would be that the Buffaloes were like the fourth team in the Osaka area behind, Hanshin, Hankyu (then Braves, now Orix) and Nankai (now Softbank). They just took the Expos hat added a couple of additional blue panels on the corners of the white. I’m thinking that those are the horns of the buffalo, but I’ve never found that out.
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Plus check out the three tone batting helmet.
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Plus you had to take a Kintetsu train to get to their Fujiidera Stadium in the burbs.
Here is the overhead shot of their stadium, now.
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Here is Nishinomiya Stadium where the Hankyu Braves used to play.
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Nagoya Stadium is still there, but not as big as before.
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I saw Ty Lawson briefly wearing #25 with NNOB. Looked like the jersey was actually his size too. Did anyone see the ‘Nova player make Tyler Hansoffmebro turn his arm over to show the cut? I guess they got the blood cleaned up quickly because after the next timeout Lawson was back in his own uni.
[quote comment=”321488″]http://www.southernpigskin.com/index.php/site/southern_uniform_rankings/
Article ranking NCAA football uniforms for southern schools. It’s so bad I thought it might be a spoof.[/quote]
this one stood out for me:
[quote]5. Georgia — A fresh look that has for the most part stayed the same the last 40 years.[/quote]
wha?
[quote comment=”321476″]If you have Google Chrome, you cannot see these two links
Shinjo
link
Seibu Lions old logo
link
They work fine in Firefox.[/quote]
For me, they do not work in Firefox 3.08..but they do in Chrome and IE8.
Opening Day tradition here in Nashville… Jonathon’s Sports Bar in Franklin opens early for our close group of friends, servers make special breakfast for us, cold beers ALL day long, and when the crowd starts filtering in for the Championship Game, we get tons of odd looks because we’re watching with one eye open…
This is year six…
Timothy Bradley wore Montreal Canadiens inspired trunks last night in his fight. The bout was held in Montreal, unsurprisingly.
link
Wish I had screen grab capability because the Oklahoma St. pitcher is wearing some bitchin’ striped stirrups against Texas.
Or if anyone has Fox Sports Midwest and want to contribute.
Is anyone else incredibly annoyed when people say (or type) NC2A?… It is actually easier to type NCAA, because you just hit “A” twice instead of having to reach for the “2” key. It always sounds stupid when people say it, but typing it seems even stupider to me.
[quote comment=”321496″]Is anyone else incredibly annoyed when people say (or type) NC2A?… It is actually easier to type NCAA, because you just hit “A” twice instead of having to reach for the “2” key. It always sounds stupid when people say it, but typing it seems even stupider to me.[/quote]
No, what I find annoying is when people complain about the writing styles of contributors to a free site.
After Pretty Boy Paulie did his MLB mockups this week there was some discussion of the old Miami Marlins. I knew I had photos from an ebay auction and an old Ebbets Field Flannels catalog showing the royal blue and orange unis from the ’50s International League.
Finally cobbled them together. Here you go, 1956 Miami Marlins jerseys, home and road:
link
—Ricko
[quote comment=”321490″]I saw Ty Lawson briefly wearing #25 with NNOB. Looked like the jersey was actually his size too. Did anyone see the ‘Nova player make Tyler Hansoffmebro turn his arm over to show the cut? I guess they got the blood cleaned up quickly because after the next timeout Lawson was back in his own uni.[/quote]
Actually, Lawson wore 3 jerseys. There was the one that got blood on it, the 25 and then a clean one that didn’t have a Final Four patch on it (distinguishing it from the original).
My wife didn’t care when I was explaining this to her last night. She was annoyed by the horrible shooting and basically unwatchable second half.
Great set of weekend posts. I appreciate all the work that went into them.
If there’s a better team name out there than “Nippon Ham Fighters” I don’t know what it is.
[quote comment=”321500″]Great set of weekend posts. I appreciate all the work that went into them.
If there’s a better team name out there than “Nippon Ham Fighters” I don’t know what it is.[/quote]
Yeah, when I first heard of them I wondered if it meant they fought hams or they were hams you could rely on in a fight.
—Ricko
Now of course I know it’s a corporate name. Sorta like the Butterball Turkey Battlers. Or something.
…or, if you’re a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, counting the days to the Steelers open training camp dreaming that this is your year)?
We have the Penguin playoffs to look forward to before we start counting down to Latrobe.
[quote comment=”321502″]Now of course I know it’s a corporate name. Sorta like the Butterball Turkey Battlers. Or something.[/quote]
It is pretty funny how often you’ll see them referred to as the “Ham Fighters” by those who don’t know better.
Why, if I had a nickel for every time I saw one of those references, I’d probably have enough money to park at a meter in the Loop for about 15 minutes.
[quote comment=”321497″][quote comment=”321496″]Is anyone else incredibly annoyed when people say (or type) NC2A?… It is actually easier to type NCAA, because you just hit “A” twice instead of having to reach for the “2” key. It always sounds stupid when people say it, but typing it seems even stupider to me.[/quote]
No, what I find annoying is when people complain about the writing styles of contributors to a free site.[/quote]
Free beer? Aw, I’d love one. Thanks.
Wait. It’s in a plastic cup? Go fuck yourself.
Ham Fighters, sorry I’m a Brewer but I don’t drink the stuff. Yes, bad joke.
Actually, the Swallows were originally owned the Japanese National Railroad and hence one of the trains was called the Tsubasa (Swallow) because they ran as fast as a swallow.
Well with Yakult who makes yogurt and yogurt beverages, Swallows gives it a double meaning.
I HAVE to watch Major League before opening day happens. That is on the agenda for this evening.
“Juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust a bit outside!”
I love Uecker!
[quote comment=”321503″]…or, if you’re a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, counting the days to the Steelers open training camp dreaming that this is your year)?
We have the Penguin playoffs to look forward to before we start counting down to Latrobe.[/quote]
yeah, but the point is well taken. Phil, you could have removed the underscore!!!
[quote comment=”321508″][quote comment=”321503″]…or, if you’re a Pittsburgh Pirates fan, counting the days to the Steelers open training camp dreaming that this is your year)?
We have the Penguin playoffs to look forward to before we start counting down to Latrobe.[/quote]
yeah, but the point is well taken. Phil, you could have removed the underscore!!![/quote]
I meant strikethrough!
bad enough we have Citi Field, PNC Park, Minute Maid Park (of course Wrigley Field gets a pass), but could anyone imagine the Smithsonian Washington Nationals or the Colorado Prudential Rockies????
WTF is with the court for the women’s NCAA final four?
goddam that’s annoying
on another note, baseball’s back so they put it on the deuce
looking forward to another season for joe morgan’s
inaneinimitible stylingsHoly NOB confusion Batman!
link
Is it common for a MLB team to have both cool-flo and traditional style batting helmets being worn by different players on the same team in the same game? Or is this common and baseball season has been gone too long for me?
I remember awhile back Paul mentioned something about hosting a job board on the site, but I never heard a follow up. I tried a site search and couldn’t find any info. Anyone know if that is still a possibility?
[quote comment=”321513″]Is it common for a MLB team to have both cool-flo and traditional style batting helmets being worn by different players on the same team in the same game? Or is this common and baseball season has been gone too long for me?[/quote]
Yes, yes, and yes.
How is it possible that (a) ESPN isn’t showing us a replay of Escobar’s double that was almost a HR, and (b) the umpires didn’t stop to look at a replay? Isn’t that EXACTLY the kind of play for which the replay rule was instituted?
[quote comment=”321514″]I remember awhile back Paul mentioned something about hosting a job board on the site, but I never heard a follow up. I tried a site search and couldn’t find any info. Anyone know if that is still a possibility?[/quote]
I asked if people were interested in a “classified ads” section. There was indeed a lot of interest. My original thought was that we’d start this when our site redesign was ready to go. But that has been delayed (probably for another month), so maybe we should just start the classified section now. Thanks for reminding me!
I’ve got a lot on my plate this week, but I’ll try to get the classifieds up and running.
[quote comment=”321517″][quote comment=”321514″]I remember awhile back Paul mentioned something about hosting a job board on the site, but I never heard a follow up. I tried a site search and couldn’t find any info. Anyone know if that is still a possibility?[/quote]
I asked if people were interested in a “classified ads” section. There was indeed a lot of interest. My original thought was that we’d start this when our site redesign was ready to go. But that has been delayed (probably for another month), so maybe we should just start the classified section now. Thanks for reminding me!
I’ve got a lot on my plate this week, but I’ll try to get the classifieds up and running.[/quote]
Thanks for the quick response Paul.
I look forward to it.
[quote comment=”321516″]How is it possible that (a) ESPN isn’t showing us a replay of Escobar’s double that was almost a HR, and (b) the umpires didn’t stop to look at a replay? Isn’t that EXACTLY the kind of play for which the replay rule was instituted?[/quote]
all they showed was the fan who ‘almost’ caught the ball…who THEN made a swirling motion with his index finger (like the umps do to signal a HR)…methinks the ball was gone
/also…thoughts on the bravo’s blue jerseys and helmets? is this their traditional “opening night” attire now?
christ…wear the grays ferchrissakes
[quote comment=”321519″][quote comment=”321516″]How is it possible that (a) ESPN isn’t showing us a replay of Escobar’s double that was almost a HR, and (b) the umpires didn’t stop to look at a replay? Isn’t that EXACTLY the kind of play for which the replay rule was instituted?[/quote]
all they showed was the fan who ‘almost’ caught the ball…who THEN made a swirling motion with his index finger (like the umps do to signal a HR)…methinks the ball was gone[/quote]
Exactly! How could they not show that replay (to us OR to the umps)?!
[quote comment=”321519″]/also…thoughts on the bravo’s blue jerseys and helmets? is this their traditional “opening night” attire now?[/quote]
Remember, the blue caps/helmets are their standard road headwear now (and I like them). But the blue jerseys are a major mistake, I agree.
My personal tradition for the beginning of every baseball season is watching the Sandlot. It always makes me tear up at the end when Benny “The Jet” steals home. :)
By the way, I LOVE Wrigley Field in Chicago. I think it is the most classic amazing ballpark around today. I’m making sure to get out again before they decide to undergo any bogus “improvements.” Going to Wrigley is like going back in time, the park is so pure and unchanged from baseball’s glory age. And no, it is not just the outfield and ivy, it is Wrigley as a whole. Yeah, the bathrooms are a joke, but the place is so classic. I hope it stays as it is forever. And FYI, I’m not a biased Cubs fan saying this, I’m a Brewers fan from Milwaukee. But I absolutely love the place.
[quote]the blue caps/helmets are their standard road headwear now (and I like them). But the blue jerseys are a major mistake, I agree.[/quote]
i do know that, and i like them very much as well (mainly because, for the most part, i dislike two toned caps)…but seriously, STOP the alt jersey on opening day/night
Well… its nice to see that Brett Myers is beginning this April like he left off the last…
At least they look good with the gold trim
[quote comment=”321521″]My personal tradition for the beginning of every baseball season is watching the Sandlot. It always makes me tear up at the end when Benny “The Jet” steals home. :)[/quote]
“They say The Jet’s lost a step or two,but I wouldn’t be surprised to see some fireworks here.”
That line is probably my favorite in the whole movie. This part ALWAYS chokes me up too.
As far as the Brave’s blue helmets… I friggin’ love them. Would like them to go either cool-flo, or traditional, and not both… but oh well. I really don’t mind the blue alt unis, but I agree it should not be worn on opening day/night.
[quote comment=”321523″]but seriously, STOP the alt jersey
on opening day/night[/quote]Fixed.
[quote comment=”321526″][quote comment=”321523″]but seriously, STOP the alt jersey
on opening day/night[/quote]Fixed.[/quote]
thanks james!
[quote comment=”321522″]By the way, I LOVE Wrigley Field in Chicago. I think it is the most classic amazing ballpark around today. I’m making sure to get out again before they decide to undergo any bogus “improvements.” Going to Wrigley is like going back in time, the park is so pure and unchanged from baseball’s glory age.[/quote]
Ah, yes. Who could ever forget when Gabby Hartnett knocked the “Homer in the Gloamin'” right into the Bud Light Bleachers?
[quote comment=”321527″][quote comment=”321526″][quote comment=”321523″]but seriously, STOP the alt jersey
on opening day/night[/quote]Fixed.[/quote]
thanks james![/quote]
What makes it look particularly bad is the red stripes on the pants and around the belt loops, and yet the only red above the waste is on the tomahawk.
[quote comment=”321474″]
Opening Day really isn’t that big a deal to me. I mean, I’ll probably watch the Jays/Tigers game on Monday night, but I just don’t really get into the season until the end of June. The season is too long, and the NHL playoffs are too good. Baseball can easily be ignored in April and May…well, for me, anyway.
[/quote]
I could take someone saying the baseball season is too long a lot more seriously if hockey weren’t being played into June. Baseball season is just too good and hockey playoffs are just too boring. :)
[quote comment=”321473″]
I have some thoughts on what they should do with the place to make it viable long-term. Basically they need to tear down everything in foul territory and rebuild it from scratch (except for the marquee, of course — definitely preserve that). Really, nobody gives a shit about that portion of the ballpark. The only things people are in love with are the ivy, the bleachers and the scoreboard.[/quote]
Speak for yourself. The proximity of the seats, even in the upper deck, makes this a wonderful place. You rebuild it and the upper deck will be a mile from the action.
How is next week the official start of Sunday Night Baseball? Isn’t it Sunday Night now?
[quote comment=”321530″][quote comment=”321474″]
Opening Day really isn’t that big a deal to me. I mean, I’ll probably watch the Jays/Tigers game on Monday night, but I just don’t really get into the season until the end of June. The season is too long, and the NHL playoffs are too good. Baseball can easily be ignored in April and May…well, for me, anyway.
[/quote]
I could take someone saying the baseball season is too long a lot more seriously if hockey weren’t being played into June. Baseball season is just too good and hockey playoffs are just too boring. :)[/quote]
Too boring?
Wow. That’s the last thing I’d ever expect in terms of an adjective.
[quote comment=”321533″][quote comment=”321530″]hockey playoffs are just too boring. :)[/quote]
Too boring?
Wow. That’s the last thing I’d ever expect in terms of an adjective.[/quote]
yeah…you can say a lot of bad things about the NHL playoffs, but calling them boring isn’t one of them
/too long, too many teams, too many games, too many overtimes…
but not boring ;)
[quote comment=”321531″][quote comment=”321473″]
I have some thoughts on what they should do with the place to make it viable long-term. Basically they need to tear down everything in foul territory and rebuild it from scratch (except for the marquee, of course — definitely preserve that). Really, nobody gives a shit about that portion of the ballpark. The only things people are in love with are the ivy, the bleachers and the scoreboard.[/quote]
Speak for yourself. The proximity of the seats, even in the upper deck, makes this a wonderful place. You rebuild it and the upper deck will be a mile from the action.[/quote]
Now that’s one of those good/bad tradeoffs I’m talking about. Sure it’s great that the upper deck is so close to the field, but on the other hand, a good number of the seats in the upper sections of the lower deck suck because the support beams for that upper deck get in the way. Oh, but they’re not sold as “obstructed view” seats because you can see all the action on one of those terrific TVs they have mounted behind all of the supports.
Oh, and have you ever tried to get up to the upper deck during a rain delay? It’s not fun.
So does Dustin Pedroia really wear one of those replica Majestic t-shirts when he’s hanging around his house?
[quote comment=”321536″]So does Dustin Pedroia really wear one of those replica Majestic t-shirts when he’s hanging around his house?[/quote]
i don’t think he wears pants tho
[quote comment=”321536″]So does Dustin Pedroia really wear one of those replica Majestic t-shirts when he’s hanging around his house?[/quote]
Yeah, and is the MVP award really so ugly?
[quote comment=”321538″][quote comment=”321536″]So does Dustin Pedroia really wear one of those replica Majestic t-shirts when he’s hanging around his house?[/quote]
Yeah, and is the MVP award really so ugly?[/quote]
It is ugly…
link
…yes. But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
[quote comment=”321540″][quote comment=”321538″][quote comment=”321536″]So does Dustin Pedroia really wear one of those replica Majestic t-shirts when he’s hanging around his house?[/quote]
Yeah, and is the MVP award really so ugly?[/quote]
It is ugly…
link
…yes. But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
I thought they made Cy Youngs consistent with the pitcher’s handedness. That’s a right hand in the award, and unless I’m thinking of the wrong Randy Johnson, he’s a lefty. What gives? Lame.
[quote comment=”321540″]But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
Are you serious? That’s the coolest trophy in sports!
[quote comment=”321540″][quote comment=”321538″][quote comment=”321536″]So does Dustin Pedroia really wear one of those replica Majestic t-shirts when he’s hanging around his house?[/quote]
Yeah, and is the MVP award really so ugly?[/quote]
It is ugly…
link
…yes. But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
It seems like League MVP trophies are a pretty crappy lot.
There’s the link: absolutely horrible.
The link: so ugly it’s gorgeous.
And the best of the bunch: the link.
[quote comment=”321534″][quote comment=”321533″][quote comment=”321530″]hockey playoffs are just too boring. :)[/quote]
Too boring?
Wow. That’s the last thing I’d ever expect in terms of an adjective.[/quote]
yeah…you can say a lot of bad things about the NHL playoffs, but calling them boring isn’t one of them
/too long, too many teams, too many games, too many overtimes…
but not boring ;)[/quote]
Sure, the playoffs are long, but they’re grueling. It really is something to play a highly physical sport like hockey for another possible 28 games after the season ends. There’s a reason cup champs have hangovers the next season, and it’s because it takes a toll on the body. The NHL playoffs are probably the greatest test in North American pro sports.
I don’t think there are too many teams, either. There were 16 teams in the playoffs when there were only 21 in the NHL…now that there are 30, 16 seems like an alright number.
/Leafs in 2012, book it, done
[quote comment=\”321543\”][quote comment=\”321540\”]But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
Are you serious? That\’s the coolest trophy in sports![/quote]
I’m a fan of the Conn Smythe Trophy, myself.
[quote comment=”321546″][quote comment=\”321543\”][quote comment=\”321540\”]But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
Are you serious? That\’s the coolest trophy in sports![/quote]
I’m a fan of the Conn Smythe Trophy, myself.[/quote]
I like the link and Prince of Wales, personally.
[quote comment=”321543″][quote comment=”321540″]But the Cy Young award is far worse in my opinion:
link
Are you serious? That’s the coolest trophy in sports![/quote]
You really think so? Well, to each his own I guess. The hand coming out of the pitcher’s mound just kind of makes it look creepy to me.
Speaking of awards though… anyone got pics of the Stiller’s SB ring, or the Phil’s WS ring?
The Fenway Sports Group bought the link a couple of years ago and waited for the player development contract to run out with the Astros. As soon as that happened, they renamed the team the Salem Red Sawks, and really played up the fact that things were going to be done in a major league way… and they held up that end of the bargain: they shook down the city to get money for improvements, they renamed the stadium (to make it a “ballpark”), they upped the ticket prices (even on the Kids Club–doubled even!), they placed tarps over some of the seats to make the ballpark “more intimate” like Fenway [Oh yeah, just what I want–drunk yahoos sitting even closer to my kids and yelling obscenities], and they even repainted the stadium to look more like Fenway. (They are even thinking of putting a replica Green Monster in left field.) Also, they introduced a bunch of new swag with the Salem Red Sawks logo. Only one problem–they supplier’s silk screener must have been color blind–there are no red socks on the logos. They are all blue–link
It’s midnight now so this probably won’t get answered but…I was watching an internet clip today of a Probert-Coxe fight (well that sounded odd) and Coxe was wearing the yellow Canucks jersey, Probie in red. Is there a site/database similar to Dressed to the Nines for hockey unis?
[quote comment=”321550″]It’s midnight now so this probably won’t get answered but…I was watching an internet clip today of a Probert-Coxe fight (well that sounded odd) and Coxe was wearing the yellow Canucks jersey, Probie in red. Is there a site/database similar to Dressed to the Nines for hockey unis?[/quote]
Not quite the same, but link is a decent site. Sorry, I’m html illiterate.
[quote comment=”321483″][quote comment=”321481″]PawSox best MiLB org? What about Durham Bulls… I never saw the movie based on the PawSox… because there never was one.[/quote]
Also, the last PawSox’s championship was 25 years ago. Bulls have two in the last 11 years, plus another two trips to the championship series in the last two years.[/quote]
Don’t know how any claim of “best” can be quantified but the last, ABOSOLUTE LAST, criteria in evaluating the quality of a minor league franchise is on-field results. Can’t begin to tell you how out of touch this notion is. The only possible explanation that a minor league club could influence the results is that they are so horse**** in operation that they players actually suffer because of poor facilities, etc. In this day and age affiliated minor league clubs would not have decades long association with one organization if that were the case (the PDC sees to that).
[quote comment=”321481″]PawSox best MiLB org? What about Durham Bulls… I never saw the movie based on the PawSox… because there never was one.[/quote]
This doesn’t make much sense either. No publicity is bad, but I can tell you folks IN minor league baseball at the time looked at Bull Durham as a backhanded compliment. It was based on a number of outdated sterotypes of MiLB. The movie portrayed the contemporary experience as people remember it from decades earlier. Just because Durham was the setting of a “spoof” movie doesn’t crown them “best”.
[quote comment=”321556″][quote comment=”321481″]PawSox best MiLB org? What about Durham Bulls… I never saw the movie based on the PawSox… because there never was one.[/quote]
This doesn’t make much sense either. No publicity is bad, but I can tell you folks IN minor league baseball at the time looked at Bull Durham as a backhanded compliment. It was based on a number of outdated stereotypes of MiLB. The movie portrayed the contemporary experience as people remember it from decades earlier. Just because Durham was the setting of a “spoof” movie doesn’t crown them “best”.[/quote]
fixed