What see there is a new batting glove that supposedly offers much more protection against being hit by a pitched ball. It’s from a new California company called XProTex (further details here). And if you’re using new batting gloves, you may as well use them to hold a new bat. As you can see, the lower handle is contoured like the handle on an axe, which supposedly generates a sweeter swing. Further details on that one are available here.
New ESPN column today — my annual look at spring training
The Proctor Files, Continued: As usual, sporting goods historian had something to say about each of the catalogs I featured in yesterday’s entry. Here’s his commentary:
Universal Bleachers: We didn’t sell for them. They were a “once-in-40-years” purchase and sold primarily through people who specialized in outfitting new gyms or renovations. We did sell Aalco Backboards from St. Louis and Nevco Scoreboards. I sold a high school in the Rochester area a Nevco football scoreboard in 1973 and it was used for football until 2006, when it was moved to their soccer field. It still works fine.
Snyders: This catalog looks awfully familiar. I can’t place the manufacturer but I can tell you it wasn’t Snyders — they appear to be just a dealer themselves. Several manufacturers used Dodge-Davis flannel products. Some would allow their dealers to private-label their catalog as well as only including the dealer’s label in the finished garments. As I’ve mentioned before, we had some companies that only included our label (Powers Mfg., Stall & Dean), some that included both the manufacturer and the dealer labels (Russell, King-O’Shea), and those that made a special combination label with the dealer’s name and their name (Sand-Knit, Spanjian). I’ll do some more research and try to figure out who Snyders’ actual manufacturer was.
Swingster: They were an in-stock company that made casual/coach’s wear, softball uniforms, and jackets. Their quality and prices were good but delivery was often spotty at peak times. Teams in our area wouldn’t order softball uniforms until March or April. By that time, dealers in the warm-weather states had often depleted Swingster’s inventory for a certain style or color, so we often had to change it with the team’s OK. Too bad you don’t have a Swingster catalog from around 1981 or 1982 — they made complete, color coordinated softball uniforms in four versions of “tequila sunrise” stripes (red, green, royal, and navy). They offered softball jerseys, softball pants, softball/coach’s shorts, coach’s shirts, and mesh-back caps with the tequila sunrise striping. I still have two of the coach’s shirts. I’ll try to get you photos.
By the way, that “coach” wearing the all-gold outfit looks like a reject from a tryout for the Village People. As dealers we complained to several companies about the models they used. Champion Products and Russell at first had their catalogs produced by agencies that used real New York-type runway models. The girls all resembled Twiggy and the guys were real Village People types. The poses and their props were hilarious, like using a piece of black tape for eye black, or a piece of wood to resemble the shaft of a hockey stick. Or having the hockey players wearing football shoulder pads and a pair of gym shorts to resemble hockey pants. After enough dealer complaints, Russell and Don Alleson Athletic hired real-life high school and college athletes to model their uniforms. Big improvement.
Hurry Hard!: As you may have noticed in the Ticker lately, I’ve been hunting (without success) for a vintage curling sweater. That’s because I’ll soon be heading back to Minnesota, where I’ll be participating in the House of Hearts Bonspiel at the Duluth Curling Club. I’ll be getting a full day-plus of personalized instruction from ace curler Tyler George and then competing in the ’spiel for the next few days after that.
The House of Hearts is an annual charity bonspiel that’s sort of like a pro-am, with world-class skips teamed with lesser players, including novices (that would be me). All proceeds go to benefit a Duluth medical-services operation, and I’m hoping to do my part by getting some pledges. No pledge is too small — seriously, just contribute $5 and you’ll make me very proud (although larger pledges are welcome, of course). To contribute, please go to Amazon Payments and either log in to your existing Amazon account or, if you don’t have one, create a new Amazon account. Once you’re logged in, click on “Personal” and then on “Send Money,” and send whatever amount you deem appropriate to plukas64 at gmail dot com. Put “For House of Hearts” in the memo line. Thanks.
I’ll be flying home from Duluth on March 21st, which is significant for two reasons: It’s the date of the next Brooklyn Beefsteak at the Bell House, and it’s also my birthday. This is what’s known as a very happy coincidence. I’ll be getting off the plane, making a quick stop at my apartment, and then heading right to the Bell House, where I’ll be celebrating with a big beefsteak birthday bash.
The last Brooklyn Beefsteak was a hoot (full coverage here), and I encourage all NYC-area readers to attend this time around. There will be two seatings: 2pm and 6pm (my party will be at the 6pm). I won’t be delivering any slideshow presentations this time, although I may reprise my onstage role handling visual aids for Susquehanna Industrial Tool & Die Co., who’ll be performing once again.
I’ll be spending most of the event at a table with my close friends (all of whom will have to listen to my boring stories about curling in Duluth and pretend to be interested because, hey, it’ll be my birthday), but of course I’ll be happy to say hi to any Uni Watch readers I see there.
Uni Watch News Ticker: The Rangers have added a spring training memorial patch for front office employee Bobby Bragan. It’s not yet clear to me whether they’ll keep wearing it during the regular season. … Forget color on color — the Tigers and Florida Southern went gray on gray the other day. Looks like all the Florida Southern players wear stirrups, too, although many of them seem to do so rather grudgingly (with thanks to Ben Kelly). ”¦ Speaking of stirrups, check out Meiji University of Tokyo (with thanks to Randy Policar). ”¦ Two great eBay finds by Mike Hersh: First, scroll down through the entire listing to see the great illustrations on this hat box. But here’s the real prize: a salesman sample curling stone! ”¦ Sidney Crosby’s Olympic stick and gloves are missing. ”¦ Interesting little video about the graphic design of racing cars here (with thanks to Lance Smith). ”¦ Also from Lance: an absolutely amazing collection of vintage supermarket display photos. ”¦ Here’s another one of those photos of Aussie soccer players wearing three-digit uni numbers. ”¦ Michael Vick says he wants to play for the Panthers because he likes their uniforms, which is just one more strike against him (with thanks to Frank Cha). ”¦ Is this completely gorgeous or what? It’s from an amazing site devoted to letterhead design. Highly recommended clicking (big thanks to Craig Ward). ”¦ Here’s some nice 1965 footage of Virginia Tech playing William & Mary in the first game ever at Lane Stadium (nice find by Michael Kennedy). ”¦ Oneonta State’s lacrosse team is wearing some seriously striped jerseys. Additional pics here (with thanks to Tom Langan). ”¦ Matthew Algeo wonders if the Hoofddorp Pioniers — a Dutch baseball team — might be getting a call from the Phillies’ legal team. ”¦ Brett Crane notes that the Angels don’t seem to be wearing the new BP caps, which is particularly interesting because they never went for the last BP cap design (they stayed with this instead of going to the do-rag stretch panels). ”¦ NHL trade deadline news from John Muir, who writes: “According to the Washington Capitals, newly acquired Scott Walker will keep his #24 from Carolina.” ”¦ Disappointed to see that Lastings Milledge, who’d gone high-cuffed throughout his career up until now, was pajama-pantsed yesterday. ”¦ Here’s something I haven’t seen before: an old Wham-O Frisbee catalog (with thanks to Mike Hersh). ”¦ Uni Watch pastry chef Elena Elms reports that over 75 years’ worth of UNC-Chapel Hill yearbooks have been digitized, with lots of good uniform pics and other treatse lurking within. ”¦ Ohio State note from Ben Teaford, who writes: “On Senior Night, they gave out the traditional framed jerseys for the seniors. But for some reason they chose to use a jersey style the team hasn’t worn since this senior class was in their freshman year. Maybe they just had some laying around still. Odd choice.” ”¦ There’s a new site devoted to the evolution of MLB baseballs (with thanks to Matthew Felix). ”¦ Tons of amazing WHA-related stuff — photos, videos, factoids, you name it — at this fantastic site (major thanks to Alan Kreit). ”¦ Gumball helmet king Bill Jones has made a new set of helmets for the top three Olympic hockey teams. ”¦ Many World Cup-bound teams wore their new kits in a series of international friendly matches over the past couple of days. Michael Orr provides a good round-up here. ”¦ In other soccer news, Italy has unviled their new Puma kit (with thanks to Stephen Wong).
Good column on retiring numbers and on athletes changing their numbers in today’s San Diego Union-Tribune. Most interesting information is on an NFL policy I had not heard of before:
“It’s an individual’s prerogative to change his number, as Kobe Bryant has done and as James is trying to do, and that’s a trend worth watching as athletes seek to create new lines of merchandise. One deterrent, (Charger equipment manager Bob) Wick says, is the NFL requires those players who change numbers without changing teams to purchase Reebok’s inventory of obsolete souvenir jerseys.”
Full article can be found at: link
re: Swingster’s “Tequila Sunrise” Togs
Reminds me of a Swingster get-up my Dad special ordered around that time. It was a maroon top, with tequila sunrise trim on the sleeves and collar (not horizontal stripes across the shirt a la the Astros). IIRC, the colors from top to bottom were: dk maroon/maroon/red/orange/yellow. It came with grey coach’s shorts with the same piping. he didn’t buy it because of any team, he just liked the look. We, on the other hand, hated it, and didn’t want to be seen with him in public while wearing the get-up.
Of course, he also loved the Canucks “V for Victory” sweaters of that era…
Thanks for bringing back that memory, Terry and Paul.
I watched the racecar design video of the 1970s, which was the beginning of sponsorship in F1 racing, let alone sportscars and rallying in Europe.
For me the 1986 Benetton-BMW car always looked impressive with its design based on its “colors” campaign. Where it appears to be have the paint moving on the car due to its speed.
link
Also, I didn’t realize that the Benetton team painted the tires! It is normal to just have black tires. I know that Pirelli made yellow tires.
I think the OSU senior night jerseys were also the jerseys they wore in their 2007 Final Four run. The 09-10 seniors would have been freshmen during the 06-07 season.
Have a great time in my hometown of Duluth! It will be chilly but it’s beautiful.
Peter Crouch (England’s 6’7 soccer player) looked like the tall kid in little league who didn’t have a shirt that fit him right. Check out those sleeves link
from the ticker:
Michael Vick says he wants to play for the Panthers because he likes their uniforms, which is just one more strike against him
normally…this would be a good thing
there’s really a radio program called gangsta grills? is it a cooking show?
Ebbets Field Flannels has a bunch of new stuff…
“Authentic Caps: We’ve got the New York Mammoths from “Bang The Drum Slowly”. From the PCL we have the 1944 Portland Beavers, 1948 Seattle Rainiers, 1954 L.A. Angels, and 1949 San Diego Padres. From the South there’s the 1936 New Orleans Pelicans and 1967 Birmingham Athletics. The Federal League is represented by 1915 Chicago Whales.
Simply the finest vintage ballcaps in the world. In stock now!
“We have added the following teams to our popular Grounds Crew Jacket line-up: the Rochester Red Wings, Brooklyn Eagles, Sacramento Solons, Mexico City Red Devils, Habana Leones and Mission Reds of San Francisco. Perfect for that early season weather!
“New historic baseball t-shirts include the Mexico City Red Devils, Las Vegas Wranglers, Tri-City Atoms, San Jose Missions, Oakland Acorns, and Eau Claire Bears.
“WHA Hockey T’s are back! Series II includes the Cincinnati Stingers, New York Golden Blades, Ottawa Civics, Calgary Cowboys, Philadelphia Blazers, Michigan Stags and Denver Spurs.”
ebbets.com
—Ricko
Re the Hoofddorp Pioniers, it’s not a baseball club. They don’t play baseball in Holland.
They play “honkball.” And for Europeans, they play it passionately and well. When I lived over there in the aughts, I was shocked at how many Dutch acquaintances followed big-league honkball – lots of Twins, Orioles, and Giants fans, due to Dutch players and/or team colors – and especially with how many older Dutch men jumped at any chance to reminisce about playing honkball during the German occupation in WWII.
Bobby Bragan was Brooklyn Dodger who had signed the infamous Jackie Robinson petition. He later said that Jackie Robinson, “…made me a better man.”
FYI, that “gray on gray” photo is Al Kaline’s grandson Colin Kaline (#3).
A couple of weeks ago, there was a Ticker item that showed a pitcher warming up in the snow with an area plowed from the mound to the plate (I want to say it was in Maryland?). I’m trying to track it down, but I can’t seem to locate it. Can anybody help me out?
Oh, man, those vintage supermarket display pictures are gold.
I attended Senior Night last night in College Park and it’s always awesome to see Puke go down, but even though I love my Terps and I generally like the Under Armour brand….those uni’s are horrible and look even worse flat!
link
[quote comment=”380346″]A couple of weeks ago, there was a Ticker item that showed a pitcher warming up in the snow with an area plowed from the mound to the plate (I want to say it was in Maryland?). I’m trying to track it down, but I can’t seem to locate it. Can anybody help me out?[/quote]
link
[quote comment=”380339″]Have a great time in my hometown of Duluth! It will be chilly but it’s beautiful.[/quote]
It really is a beautiful city in the summer…AKA the month of July.
[quote comment=”380346″]A couple of weeks ago, there was a Ticker item that showed a pitcher warming up in the snow with an area plowed from the mound to the plate (I want to say it was in Maryland?). I’m trying to track it down, but I can’t seem to locate it. Can anybody help me out?[/quote]
Ah, I had that in my email’s sent box for quite a while. Unfortunately I finally deleted it. It was indeed in Maryland. Haven’t found it yet today online.
[quote comment=”380351″][quote comment=”380346″]A couple of weeks ago, there was a Ticker item that showed a pitcher warming up in the snow with an area plowed from the mound to the plate (I want to say it was in Maryland?). I’m trying to track it down, but I can’t seem to locate it. Can anybody help me out?[/quote]
Ah, I had that in my email’s sent box for quite a while. Unfortunately I finally deleted it. It was indeed in Maryland. Haven’t found it yet today online.[/quote]
Never mind…
Mr. Proctor,
You have photos of the tequila sunrise softball unis? The first team I played for wore the royal blue ones. Looked more like a tequila moonrise.
I only have one photo of me wearing it, but I’m standing behind someone so you barely see it. My brother might have some pics, if he can find them.
[quote comment=”380341″]from the ticker:
Michael Vick says he wants to play for the Panthers link, which is just one more strike against him
normally…this would be a good thing
there’s really a radio program called gangsta grills? is it a cooking show?[/quote]
Axtually it’s gangsta grillz with a z
While looking for something else, I came across this thread on baseball-fever.com about Rube Wadell being mentally “retarded.” You can read the thread if you want, but scroll on down to see the numerous unis, coats, and sweaters. (I love the St. Louis Browns stuff.)
Try this link: link
Maryland baseball picture in the snow:
link
Just wondering how long it will take for that stuff on the new batting glove to start showing up on the unis.
One of those batting gloves is $80!! I’m guessing we will see them on a couple of major leaguers, but beyond that??
Well, actually there will probably be the one kid who comes to tryouts loaded with everything his dad could find.
Why that’s the legendary trillion man Mark Titus!
[quote comment=”380354″][quote comment=”380341″]
there’s really a radio program called gangsta grills? is it a cooking show?[/quote]
Axtually it’s gangsta grillz with a z[/quote]
a ha!
so it’s not about cooking then, but rather…mouth bling?
[quote comment=”380358″]Just wondering how long it will take for that stuff on the new batting glove to start showing up on the unis.[/quote]
It seems pretty much like the Nike combat stuff…I saw a post game interview with Vince Carter the other night and it looked like he had a shoulder pad on one shoulder.
B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.
[quote comment=”380338″]I think the OSU senior night jerseys were also the jerseys they wore in their 2007 Final Four run. The 09-10 seniors would have been freshmen during the 06-07 season.[/quote]
Nope.
During the regular season, they wore the “Horns”.
link
During the tournament, they began wearing the SOD gear and Lebron 4’s.
link
link
[quote comment=”380363″]B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.[/quote]
Blah. I’d rather wear those Oneonta lacrosse jerseys: link
[quote comment=”380364″][quote comment=”380338″]I think the OSU senior night jerseys were also the jerseys they wore in their 2007 Final Four run. The 09-10 seniors would have been freshmen during the 06-07 season.[/quote]
Nope.
During the regular season, they wore the “Horns”.
link
During the tournament, they began wearing the SOD gear and Lebron 4’s.
link
link
[quote comment=”380348″]I attended Senior Night last night in College Park and it’s always awesome to see Puke go down, but even though I love my Terps and I generally like the Under Armour brand….those uni’s are horrible and look even worse flat!
link
Well said, Joe. I have a feeling Mr. Shim-Wow is going to look back on that jersey years from now and cringe. Go Terps!
[quote comment=”380365″][quote comment=”380363″]B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.[/quote]
Blah. I’d rather wear those Oneonta lacrosse jerseys: link
A-HA!!! I figured it out! I know what Oneonta’s unis reminds me of!….
link
[quote comment=”380365″][quote comment=”380363″]B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.[/quote]
Blah. I’d rather wear those Oneonta lacrosse jerseys: link
Of course you would. But I think we’ve established that you’re not exactly normal.
[quote comment=”380339″]Have a great time in my hometown of Duluth! It will be chilly but it’s beautiful.[/quote]
link
Long clip, but so worth it.
That Ohio State basketball jersey player is the famous Club Trillion from Bill Simmons fame. The guy tries to get on the floor for some time, but wants to have all zeros as his line.
“and he ends it with one last trillion! That’s a perfect ending for his Disney movie, “Trillion: the Mark Titus Story.” ” Bill Simmons Tweet.
[quote comment=”380350″][quote comment=”380339″]Have a great time in my hometown of Duluth! It will be chilly but it’s beautiful.[/quote]
It really is a beautiful city in the summer…AKA the month of July.[/quote]
Hey now….we have had some great weather lately. Sunny and 40’s all week, by that time we may be hitting 50’s! Although we also have a nice tradition here in March, right around high school tournament time, of a good blizzard and two feet of snow. So I guess we’ll see. Is that event open to the public, would love to come down and take in the activities and say hi?
[quote comment=”380372″][quote comment=”380350″][quote comment=”380339″]Have a great time in my hometown of Duluth! It will be chilly but it’s beautiful.[/quote]
It really is a beautiful city in the summer…AKA the month of July.[/quote]
Hey now….we have had some great weather lately. Sunny and 40’s all week, by that time we may be hitting 50’s! Although we also have a nice tradition here in March, right around high school tournament time, of a good blizzard and two feet of snow. So I guess we’ll see. Is that event open to the public, would love to come down and take in the activities and say hi?[/quote]
Duluth is fun, especially Canal Park and the area up around Fitger’s.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”380368″][quote comment=”380365″][quote comment=”380363″]B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.[/quote]
Blah. I’d rather wear those Oneonta lacrosse jerseys: link
A-HA!!! I figured it out! I know what Oneonta’s unis reminds me of!….
link
or this…
link
“Aye, ye be a harpoooner, I take it?”
—Ricko
[quote comment=”380353″]Mr. Proctor,
You have photos of the tequila sunrise softball unis? The first team I played for wore the royal blue ones. Looked more like a tequila moonrise.
I only have one photo of me wearing it, but I’m standing behind someone so you barely see it. My brother might have some pics, if he can find them.[/quote]
I find these recollections interesting. I have seen Majestic’s royal blue version of the Rainbow Guts jersey, plus one from Cooper that is predominantly robin’s-egg blue.
Haven’t seen navy, however — unless it’s like the version Zoo York was selling a few years ago.
Great. New batting gloves. Something for MLB players to fiddle with more often and longer. One reason why the length of MLB games has increased 22 minutes in the last 40 years.
[quote comment=”380376″]Great. New batting gloves. Something for MLB players to fiddle with more often and longer. One reason why the length of MLB games has increased 22 minutes in the last 40 years.[/quote]
Sean Casey and Nomar Garciaparra would like a word with you.
[quote comment=”380377″][quote comment=”380376″]Great. New batting gloves. Something for MLB players to fiddle with more often and longer. One reason why the length of MLB games has increased 22 minutes in the last 40 years.[/quote]
Sean Casey and Nomar Garciaparra would like a word with you.[/quote]
Or Mike Hargrove.
Who was it that called him “the human rain delay”?
—Ricko
I’ve always been hoping that more auto racing content would make it on here. I know Paul probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much as uniforms because of all the corporate sponsorship, but that’s just how the sport operates.
Hargrove was the human rain delay. But now, I swear, everybody has this OCD thing where they have to step out, rip the velcro off their batting gloves and put it back on as if in the intervening 9 seconds, their gloves have become unusable as they were originally fastened.
Get in there and hit, jagov.
[quote comment=”380369″][quote comment=”380365″]Blah. I’d rather wear those Oneonta lacrosse jerseys: link
Of course you would. But I think we’ve established that you’re not exactly normal.[/quote]
I’ve tried normal. It’s okay, every once in a while. Wouldn’t want to make a habit of it, though.
Oh, you asked who called him that. I don’t know. A clever guy, I reckon. Like a Jay Johnstone or somebody.
[quote comment=”380379″]I’ve always been hoping that more auto racing content would make it on here. I know Paul probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much as uniforms because of all the corporate sponsorship, but that’s just how the sport operates.[/quote]
I’ve asked him about it. I don’t think its an issue of dislike- he’s just not as much of an expert and not too many people email in tips and ticker items.
There was a Daytona 500 preview some years back.
I’d love to volunteer for NASCAR stuff, I’m a huge fan, but I really don’t have a ton of time.
Jayski.com is the ultimate source for this stuff anyway. At least NASCAR. His site is very disorganized and hard to follow- but its jam packed with pretty much every car’s design and alternate designs.
[quote comment=”380379″]I’ve always been hoping that more auto racing content would make it on here. I know Paul probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much as uniforms because of all the corporate sponsorship, but that’s just how the sport operates.[/quote]
As you may have seen, that video clip is promoting a new book about racing car design. I’ve now arranged to get a review copy of the book (it’s on the way, not here yet), so I hope to be writing about it soon.
[quote comment=”380384″][quote comment=”380379″]I’ve always been hoping that more auto racing content would make it on here. I know Paul probably wouldn’t enjoy it as much as uniforms because of all the corporate sponsorship, but that’s just how the sport operates.[/quote]
As you may have seen, that video clip is promoting a new book about racing car design. I’ve now arranged to get a review copy of the book (it’s on the way, not here yet), so I hope to be writing about it soon.[/quote]
Very cool (I didn’t watch the whole video yet). Does it focus just on one series? Any NASCAR?
[quote comment=”380380″]Hargrove was the human rain delay. But now, I swear, everybody has this OCD thing where they have to step out, rip the velcro off their batting gloves and put it back on as if in the intervening 9 seconds, their gloves have become unusable as they were originally fastened.
Get in there and hit, jagov.[/quote]
I wouldn’t make it as a big-league pitcher because I’d never plunk a batter on purpose, even in retaliation. However, when I used to watch Hargrove bat, I’d say to myself, “If I was on the mound I’d throw one at him while he’s out of the box doing all that stuff.” He was so aggravating.
Today’s ESPN column is up:
link
Paul,
You might want your ESPN overlords to know that if you go to Page 2 and click on the link for your piece it takes you the “four square” story. (The four square story also takes you to the four square story.)
[quote comment=”380386″][quote comment=”380380″]Hargrove was the human rain delay. But now, I swear, everybody has this OCD thing where they have to step out, rip the velcro off their batting gloves and put it back on as if in the intervening 9 seconds, their gloves have become unusable as they were originally fastened.
Get in there and hit, jagov.[/quote]
I wouldn’t make it as a big-league pitcher because I’d never plunk a batter on purpose, even in retaliation. However, when I used to watch Hargrove bat, I’d say to myself, “If I was on the mound I’d throw one at him while he’s out of the box doing all that stuff.” He was so aggravating.[/quote]
Part of the problem is that the player asks for Time Out and the Umpire gives it to him.
I don’t know what the solution is. “A batter shall not be granted a time out to adjust batting gloves after taking a pitch”? That would help some…and IS common sense.
Oh, I know, I know, there’s probably no way to legislate it.
But it IS aggravating.
(Same reason I hate the basketball hand-slapping after free throws, made OR missed. How about…”Other players shall not make contact of any kind with the shooter at any time during the shooting of more than one free throw unless a time out has been called. Such contact will result in forfeiture of any remaining free throw attempts, and the opposing team shall be awarded the ball at the nearest baseline.”? THAT one is workable.)
—Ricko
Too bad that bonspiel isn’t a week earlier; Paul would be able to catch a first-round WCHA playoff game between curling games. Added convenience: the Duluth Curling Club is in the same building as the Minnesota-Duluth hockey arena (at least until the new hockey arena is completed).
Some of my favorite memories involve running to the Curling Club between periods to swill down a cheap tap beer or two, then running back to the hockey game!
[quote comment=”380387″]Today’s ESPN column is up:
link
aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh
spring
/that is all
[quote comment=”380389″][quote comment=”380386″][quote comment=”380380″]Hargrove was the human rain delay. But now, I swear, everybody has this OCD thing where they have to step out, rip the velcro off their batting gloves and put it back on as if in the intervening 9 seconds, their gloves have become unusable as they were originally fastened.
Get in there and hit, jagov.[/quote]
I wouldn’t make it as a big-league pitcher because I’d never plunk a batter on purpose, even in retaliation. However, when I used to watch Hargrove bat, I’d say to myself, “If I was on the mound I’d throw one at him while he’s out of the box doing all that stuff.” He was so aggravating.[/quote]
Part of the problem is that the player asks for Time Out and the Umpire gives it to him.
I don’t know what the solution is. “A batter shall not be granted a time out to adjust batting gloves after taking a pitch”? That would help some…and IS common sense.
Oh, I know, I know, there’s probably no way to legislate it.
But it IS aggravating.
(Same reason I hate the basketball hand-slapping after free throws, made OR missed. How about…”Other players shall not make contact of any kind with the shooter at any time during the shooting of more than one free throw unless a time out has been called. Such contact will result in forfeiture of any remaining free throw attempts, and the opposing team shall be awarded the ball at the nearest baseline.”? THAT one is workable.)
—Ricko[/quote]
You could limit the amount of timeouts. Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct? Time to clamp down on all the stalling. That’s one way to do it without having to put a clock on the game.
And yeah, the free throw thing is annoying, too. So is all the huddling and hand smacking after every. single. point. in volleyball. Do they really need that much positive affirmation?
[quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different
[quote comment=”380388″]Paul,
You might want your ESPN overlords to know that if you go to Page 2 and click on the link for your piece it takes you the “four square” story. (The four square story also takes you to the four square story.)[/quote]
Thanks. Just alerted the powers that be.
NHL trade deadline news from John Muir, who writes: “According to the Washington Capitals, newly acquired Scott Walker will keep his #24 from Carolina.”
Thank GOD for that report.
[quote comment=”380393″][quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different[/quote]
Technically, of course, that’s true.
But colloquially, the batter holds up a hand, says, “Time?” and the umpire says, “Time!” (or mutters it, anyway) and holds up both hands, palms toward the mound.
Sorta like “tie goes to the runner”. No such rule, per se. Ball has to beat runner to the base, not the other way around. If it doesn’t BEAT him (a “tie” hasn’t done that), he’s safe. As one Ump explained his interpretation of it, “No such thing as a tie. Ball either gets there first or it doesn’t.”
Not sure precisely what rule book says, but that made sense to me.
—Ricko
Re: The time-wasting in baseball–I say, during the at bat, if the batter leaves the batter’s box, it’s an automatic strike; if the pitcher leaves the mound, it’s an automatic ball.
[quote comment=”380397″]Re: The time-wasting in baseball–I say, during the at bat, if the batter leaves the batter’s box, it’s an automatic strike; if the pitcher leaves the mound, it’s an automatic ball.[/quote]
Plus, enforce the existing 20-second (I think) time limit between pitches when there are no runners on base.
[quote comment=”380393″][quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different[/quote]
I swear when it started to get really bad in the early 90s I had heard some talk of there being an unenforced rule. But between that and the damn pickoff throw to first… cmon guys lets get it down to 2hrs30 just by eliminating all that unnecessary shit.
/i haven’t been getting my uniwatch fix and I’m cranky.
[quote comment=”380363″]B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.[/quote]
So sick of the Mexicans playing all their games on American turf. What’s the deal? dont’ they have a stadium over there????
[quote comment=”380374″][quote comment=”380368″][quote comment=”380365″][quote comment=”380363″]B.F.B.S. ALERT!!!
Last night in Pasadena, CA the Mexican national soccer team wore their all Black road unis. I may be incorrect but I believe this is the first time they have ever worn Black uniforms. Traditionally they wear white unis on the road and green jerseys at home.
link
link
link
link
Some players were also wearing a compression version of the jersey that featured Adidas’ Powerweb technology. That would be the shiny stuff on the jerseys.[/quote]
Blah. I’d rather wear those Oneonta lacrosse jerseys: link
A-HA!!! I figured it out! I know what Oneonta’s unis reminds me of!….
link
or this…
link
“Aye, ye be a harpoooner, I take it?”
—Ricko[/quote]
Or this…. link
[quote comment=”380378″][quote comment=”380377″][quote comment=”380376″]Great. New batting gloves. Something for MLB players to fiddle with more often and longer. One reason why the length of MLB games has increased 22 minutes in the last 40 years.[/quote]
Sean Casey and Nomar Garciaparra would like a word with you.[/quote]
Or Mike Hargrove.
Who was it that called him “the human rain delay”?
—Ricko[/quote]
I thought that was Steve Trachsel????
[quote comment=”380402″][quote comment=”380378″][quote comment=”380377″][quote comment=”380376″]Great. New batting gloves. Something for MLB players to fiddle with more often and longer. One reason why the length of MLB games has increased 22 minutes in the last 40 years.[/quote]
Sean Casey and Nomar Garciaparra would like a word with you.[/quote]
Or Mike Hargrove.
Who was it that called him “the human rain delay”?
—Ricko[/quote]
I thought that was Steve Trachsel????[/quote]
Pretty sure Hargrove was the first. May go as far back as when he was with the Rangers.
link
—Ricko
[quote comment=”380393″][quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different[/quote]
Here is the definition according to the MLB rulebook:
link
I was reading a bit further into the Batter rules and came across this:
Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.
Scenario: Batter hits a screaming line drive directly at the centerfielder who is standing approximately 225 feet away from home.
The ball hits the CF directly in the head which sends it careening off and directly over the outfield fence.
Is that a HR or is it not?
Picture the Jose Canseco play but alot closer to the infield.
[quote comment=”380405″]I was reading a bit further into the Batter rules and came across this:
Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.
Scenario: Batter hits a screaming line drive directly at the centerfielder who is standing approximately 225 feet away from home.
The ball hits the CF directly in the head which sends it careening off and directly over the outfield fence.
Is that a HR or is it not?
Picture the Jose Canseco play but alot closer to the infield.[/quote]
If a ball hits an outfielder in the head hard enough to bounce 80 feet and clear the OF wall, I think there are more pressing issues than the ruling on the field.
[quote comment=”380404″][quote comment=”380393″][quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different[/quote]
Here is the definition according to the MLB rulebook:
link
Nothing in the rules requires umpires to grant every request for time. All that is needed is a directive from the commissioner to umpires to grant time to batters only when the batter shows a manifest need to leave the box. (Such as a broken bat, or an untied shoe.) It would take about two innings of batters raising their back arms to call for time, the umpire doing nothing, the batter stepping out, the pitcher pitching, and the umpire calling a strike for every player in the major leagues to discover that the velcro on his batting gloves works just fine without further adjustment.
[quote comment=”380405″]I was reading a bit further into the Batter rules and came across this:
Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.
Scenario: Batter hits a screaming line drive directly at the centerfielder who is standing approximately 225 feet away from home.
The ball hits the CF directly in the head which sends it careening off and directly over the outfield fence.
Is that a HR or is it not?
Picture the Jose Canseco play but alot closer to the infield.[/quote]
home run!
[quote comment=”380404″][quote comment=”380393″][quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different[/quote]
Here is the definition according to the MLB rulebook:
link
Basically, the only person on the filed who can “call” time and create a stoppage in play is the umpire.
A coach, batter, or fielder may request it be stopped, but only the umpires discretion will warrant whether it is awarded or not.
I had a situation in a little league game this past season.
Runner on first.
The batter-runner hits a ball to left field.
The runner from first slides into second under the tag of the second baseman who had received the throw from the LF.
The kids are 10, so the “collision” at second jarred the 2B a bit, albeit not enough to warrant a time out request by his coach or myself.
Two pitches later, the runner on second attempts a steal of third.
At this time, I notice the 2B shaking his glove hand as if he’s in some discomfort.
The coach of the team in the field vehemently calls T.O. while the play is occurring.
I did not grant it until the runner slid into third and all plays in the field had ended.
Because I had not granted TO during the play, the coach went nuts, accusing me of endangering his players by not being aware of their safety.
He then spent the next 2 minutes debating the rule with me, also imploring me to return the runner to second.
Surprisingly, he only spent 14 seconds checking on the status of jis fielder.
[quote comment=”380408″][quote comment=”380405″]I was reading a bit further into the Batter rules and came across this:
Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.
Scenario: Batter hits a screaming line drive directly at the centerfielder who is standing approximately 225 feet away from home.
The ball hits the CF directly in the head which sends it careening off and directly over the outfield fence.
Is that a HR or is it not?
Picture the Jose Canseco play but alot closer to the infield.[/quote]
home run![/quote]
According to the wording of the rule, it is not a HR but a GR double.
I just read todays ESPN.com article. Interesting how forthcoming the New Era guy was about BP caps being purely a merchandising ploy. On the surface, this seems sort of offensive, but the more I think about it, offering consumers more choices isn’t a bad thing. I plan to go to the Twins Pro Shop one of these days to pick up a new cap for the 2010 season. The more caps to choose from on their shelves, the more likely I am to find one I really like. I’m not a huge fan of the new (or old) BP caps, but if someone likes them and wants to buy one, more power to them.
Anyone agree/disagree? Does it cross the line when the merchandising efforts spill over onto the playing field (even if it is only for spring training and batting practice)?
[quote comment=”380410″][quote comment=”380408″][quote comment=”380405″]I was reading a bit further into the Batter rules and came across this:
Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.
Scenario: Batter hits a screaming line drive directly at the centerfielder who is standing approximately 225 feet away from home.
The ball hits the CF directly in the head which sends it careening off and directly over the outfield fence.
Is that a HR or is it not?
Picture the Jose Canseco play but alot closer to the infield.[/quote]
home run![/quote]
According to the wording of the rule, it is not a HR but a GR double.[/quote]
Is it even possible? Aren’t most centerfield fences 400 feet or more from the plate, meaning you’d need the ball to bounce another 175 feet after hitting the CF in the head? That seems like a lot. Maybe if it hit a rightfielder in Yankee Stadium or something. It is, however, a ground rule double, and not a home run, according to the rule.
[quote comment=”380410″][quote comment=”380408″][quote comment=”380405″]I was reading a bit further into the Batter rules and came across this:
Any fair fly ball is deflected by the fielder into the stands, or over the fence into foul territory, in which case the batter shall be entitled to advance to second base; but if deflected into the stands or over the fence in fair territory, the batter shall be entitled to a home run. However, should such a fair fly be deflected at a point less than 250 feet from home plate, the batter shall be entitled to two bases only.
Scenario: Batter hits a screaming line drive directly at the centerfielder who is standing approximately 225 feet away from home.
The ball hits the CF directly in the head which sends it careening off and directly over the outfield fence.
Is that a HR or is it not?
Picture the Jose Canseco play but alot closer to the infield.[/quote]
home run![/quote]
According to the wording of the rule, it is not a HR but a GR double.[/quote]
yeah… but… HOME RUN!
[quote comment=”380399″][quote comment=”380393″][quote comment=”380392″]Baseball’s the only sport that has unlimited timeouts, correct?[/quote]
technically…baseball has no “clock” so being granted “time” is not really the same thing as calling a timeout in timed sports
and rpm, powers, ump lou or other blue on board could probably tell you what’s in the actual rule book (when i umpired 100 years ago, i never bothered to read it)…as far as granting a batter “time”
“time out” in baseball, i believe, basically means that the play is “dead” (or frozen) until the umpire determines that ball shall be played again
in the absence of a clock, one can’t really say “baseball has unlimited time outs” because their purposes are completely different[/quote]
I swear when it started to get really bad in the early 90s I had heard some talk of there being an unenforced rule. But between that and the damn pickoff throw to first… cmon guys lets get it down to 2hrs30 just by eliminating all that unnecessary shit.
/i haven’t been getting my uniwatch fix and I’m cranky.[/quote]
The purposes are exactly the same – to buy yourself some time.
And you’re right, Hot Rodd, they don’t enforce the existing rules. Do that and you won’t have to make any additional rules.
Hmm, where else would that apply?
link
[quote comment=”380411″]I just read todays ESPN.com article. Interesting how forthcoming the New Era guy was about BP caps being purely a merchandising ploy. On the surface, this seems sort of offensive, but the more I think about it, offering consumers more choices isn’t a bad thing. I plan to go to the Twins Pro Shop one of these days to pick up a new cap for the 2010 season. The more caps to choose from on their shelves, the more likely I am to find one I really like. I’m not a huge fan of the new (or old) BP caps, but if someone likes them and wants to buy one, more power to them.
Anyone agree/disagree? Does it cross the line when the merchandising efforts spill over onto the playing field (even if it is only for spring training and batting practice)?[/quote]
I’ll have to agree with you here. This is almost a perfect win-win-win scenario – The traditionalists see no change to the regular season hat, those wanting some variety get a different hat and the teams and manufacturers make money. No reason we can’t all be happy, eh?
[quote comment=”380415″][quote comment=”380411″]I just read todays ESPN.com article. Interesting how forthcoming the New Era guy was about BP caps being purely a merchandising ploy. On the surface, this seems sort of offensive, but the more I think about it, offering consumers more choices isn’t a bad thing. I plan to go to the Twins Pro Shop one of these days to pick up a new cap for the 2010 season. The more caps to choose from on their shelves, the more likely I am to find one I really like. I’m not a huge fan of the new (or old) BP caps, but if someone likes them and wants to buy one, more power to them.
Anyone agree/disagree? Does it cross the line when the merchandising efforts spill over onto the playing field (even if it is only for spring training and batting practice)?[/quote]
I’ll have to agree with you here. This is almost a perfect win-win-win scenario – The traditionalists see no change to the regular season hat, those wanting some variety get a different hat and the teams and manufacturers make money. No reason we can’t all be happy, eh?[/quote]
I beg to differ. BP caps (and BP jerseys) are bad news, for a variety of reasons:
1) I should not have to see my favorite team’s players (or, really, any other players) dressed like clowns, which is what they look like in the BP attire.
2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week — would that just be more “choice”? Or would that be an attempt to coerce fans into buying “official” and “authentic” merch that nobody needed in the first place? Now, the notion of a different cap for each day of the week may sound silly, but the concept of BP caps sounded silly 15 years ago too. A solution to a non-problem.
3) BP caps are clearly pitched to a younger demographic. As such, they reinforce the increasing notion that on-field attire should be driven (a) by the retail marketplace and (b) by the youngest members of that marketplace. Instead of asking, “What cap looks good?,” the question now is “What cap will sell?” And since younger fans are more apt to buy caps and jerseys, that means younger fans’ aesthetic sensibilities are increasingly driving what the rest of us have to see. If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.
Look, if you want to sell a bunch of “fashion” merch to hordes of clueless rubes, be my guest. But keep that shit off the field — even during BP and spring training.
Are those Italy soccer unis for the men or the women? The closeup of the blue jersey looks like the mannequin has boobs. Or I think that shot’s of a mannequin.
I grew up watching Hargrove in Texas and cannot remember when he did not go through his ritual.
But I saw the all-time human rain delay several years ago when I went to watch one of my USF students in a women’s softball tournament one weekend. The University of Iowa 3B went over and gave the Hawkeye pitcher a pep talk after EACH and EVERY pitch. I still don’t why the umpire didn’t stop it after a while.
Signed,
Not the Randy Miller with the Indianapolis Colts tweaks.
[quote comment=”380400″]So sick of the Mexicans playing all their games on American turf. What’s the deal? dont’ they have a stadium over there????[/quote]
After reading this, link would you want to play there, regardless of whose side you’re on?
Kari Lehtonen’s new mask
link
[quote comment=”380416″][quote comment=”380415″][quote comment=”380411″]I just read todays ESPN.com article. Interesting how forthcoming the New Era guy was about BP caps being purely a merchandising ploy. On the surface, this seems sort of offensive, but the more I think about it, offering consumers more choices isn’t a bad thing. I plan to go to the Twins Pro Shop one of these days to pick up a new cap for the 2010 season. The more caps to choose from on their shelves, the more likely I am to find one I really like. I’m not a huge fan of the new (or old) BP caps, but if someone likes them and wants to buy one, more power to them.
Anyone agree/disagree? Does it cross the line when the merchandising efforts spill over onto the playing field (even if it is only for spring training and batting practice)?[/quote]
I’ll have to agree with you here. This is almost a perfect win-win-win scenario – The traditionalists see no change to the regular season hat, those wanting some variety get a different hat and the teams and manufacturers make money. No reason we can’t all be happy, eh?[/quote]
I beg to differ. BP caps (and BP jerseys) are bad news, for a variety of reasons:
1) I should not have to see my favorite team’s players (or, really, any other players) dressed like clowns, which is what they look like in the BP attire.
2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week — would that just be more “choice”? Or would that be an attempt to coerce fans into buying “official” and “authentic” merch that nobody needed in the first place? Now, the notion of a different cap for each day of the week may sound silly, but the concept of BP caps sounded silly 15 years ago too. A solution to a non-problem.
3) BP caps are clearly pitched to a younger demographic. As such, they reinforce the increasing notion that on-field attire should be driven (a) by the retail marketplace and (b) by the youngest members of that marketplace. Instead of asking, “What cap looks good?,” the question now is “What cap will sell?” And since younger fans are more apt to buy caps and jerseys, that means younger fans’ aesthetic sensibilities are increasingly driving what the rest of us have to see. If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.
Look, if you want to sell a bunch of “fashion” merch to hordes of clueless rubes, be my guest. But keep that shit off the field — even during BP and spring training.[/quote]
Interesting points, Paul, especially your third point, which really is really just another example of how sports are being marketed and even broadcast nowadays. Team, league and network execs know the hardcore fans are going to watch games and buy merch regardless, so the key to growing revenue is to target the casual fans, or to your point, the younger fans. That’s why we endure BP caps, but on a larger scale, that’s why the “entertainment” at games is practically designed to take attention OFF the playing field, court, ice or whatever; why we increasingly have broadcast gimmicks like the Dennis Miller and Tony Kornheiser eras, in-booth guests, etc. The list could go on and on.
I’d have to disagree with your second point to some extent. When I’m at the pro shop, I won’t feel obligated to buy the Twins’ “official” or “on-field” cap, jersey or whatever. If people are collectors or completists, that’s their choice – no one is forcing them. However, I do agree you can introduce “fashion” merchandise without actually dressing the players up in it.
[quote comment=”380416″]2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week .[/quote]
like those nifty “blood of our soldiers red” caps they wear on MEMORIAL day (of all days), the fourth, and 9/11?
will they be white next year, thereby completing the three year cycle of red/white/blue…what will they wear in 2011…because, clearly another ON FIELD cap is needed
agree with PL 100% on this…
As much as it might be ‘the promotion of needless consumption’ and ‘just a way to make money by selling more merch,’ the process of designing all that merch employs a lot of design-educated Americans who otherwise wouldn’t have design jobs at all, thereby turning those four plus years of higher learning into ‘needless consumption,’ something that they paid for but from which they receive no benefit.
[quote comment=”380416″]1) I should not have to see my favorite team’s players (or, really, any other players) dressed like clowns, which is what they look like in the BP attire.
2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week — would that just be more “choice”? Or would that be an attempt to coerce fans into buying “official” and “authentic” merch that nobody needed in the first place? Now, the notion of a different cap for each day of the week may sound silly, but the concept of BP caps sounded silly 15 years ago too. A solution to a non-problem.
3) BP caps are clearly pitched to a younger demographic. As such, they reinforce the increasing notion that on-field attire should be driven (a) by the retail marketplace and (b) by the youngest members of that marketplace. Instead of asking, “What cap looks good?,” the question now is “What cap will sell?” And since younger fans are more apt to buy caps and jerseys, that means younger fans’ aesthetic sensibilities are increasingly driving what the rest of us have to see. If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.[/quote]
1) Subjective opinion. I don’t like them either, but some people do.
2) Isn’t buying the regular hat, or going to the game when you can watch it on TV or buying an overpriced hot dog “needless consumption” as well? If someone likes a BP hat better than the regular hat, shouldn’t they have the freedom to buy it? It’s not as if the clubs are saying you HAVE to have every hat that’s produced – that would be reinforcing the culture of needless consumption. I don’t see any coercion here. If someone feels compelled to buy everything, that’s on him or her.
3) If the younger fans, who are the future of the sport, overwhelmingly reject the traditional hat in favor of the BP hat, wouldn’t it be bad marketing to ignore that? How about when teams switched from pillbox hats to the “traditional” cap? If teams ignored the wishes of younger generations we’d still see this: link I’m all for tradition, but that’s a malleable notion. The only thing that’s constant is change.
Again, I don’t want to see every team adopt this look in the regular season, but I don’t have a problem with it outside of that. And if some teams’ fans overwhelmingly say, “Our team should dress like that all the time!” so be it. Unlike humanity’s fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are set in stone, fashion isn’t.
The Ohio State uni’s that were given out were in fact from the Final Four run with Oden, Conley, and team. They were used during the regular season.
Check here vs. Illinois
link
was going out to mail some a la cartes, and find out the costs of shipping to brussels when i see a package. ricko you mothervilker, thank you so much! if let’s go bowling will be diy’d into my bowl hat, and this is going to be diy’d into my michigan hat. i am thinking a felt merit sticker for every win against michigan since i went to school. do you like that idea?
[quote comment=”380426″]was going out to mail some a la cartes, and find out the costs of shipping to brussels when i see a package. ricko you mothervilker, thank you so much! if let’s go bowling will be diy’d into my bowl hat, and this is going to be diy’d into my michigan hat. i am thinking a felt merit sticker for every win against michigan since i went to school. do you like that idea?[/quote]
All your base are belong to us.
[quote comment=”380424″][quote comment=”380416″]1) I should not have to see my favorite team’s players (or, really, any other players) dressed like clowns, which is what they look like in the BP attire.
2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week — would that just be more “choice”? Or would that be an attempt to coerce fans into buying “official” and “authentic” merch that nobody needed in the first place? Now, the notion of a different cap for each day of the week may sound silly, but the concept of BP caps sounded silly 15 years ago too. A solution to a non-problem.
3) BP caps are clearly pitched to a younger demographic. As such, they reinforce the increasing notion that on-field attire should be driven (a) by the retail marketplace and (b) by the youngest members of that marketplace. Instead of asking, “What cap looks good?,” the question now is “What cap will sell?” And since younger fans are more apt to buy caps and jerseys, that means younger fans’ aesthetic sensibilities are increasingly driving what the rest of us have to see. If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.[/quote]
1) Subjective opinion. I don’t like them either, but some people do.
2) Isn’t buying the regular hat, or going to the game when you can watch it on TV or buying an overpriced hot dog “needless consumption” as well? If someone likes a BP hat better than the regular hat, shouldn’t they have the freedom to buy it? It’s not as if the clubs are saying you HAVE to have every hat that’s produced – that would be reinforcing the culture of needless consumption. I don’t see any coercion here. If someone feels compelled to buy everything, that’s on him or her.
3) If the younger fans, who are the future of the sport, overwhelmingly reject the traditional hat in favor of the BP hat, wouldn’t it be bad marketing to ignore that? How about when teams switched from pillbox hats to the “traditional” cap? If teams ignored the wishes of younger generations we’d still see this: link I’m all for tradition, but that’s a malleable notion. The only thing that’s constant is change.
Again, I don’t want to see every team adopt this look in the regular season, but I don’t have a problem with it outside of that. And if some teams’ fans overwhelmingly say, “Our team should dress like that all the time!” so be it. Unlike humanity’s fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are set in stone, fashion isn’t.[/quote]
I’m not interested in fashion; I’m interested in good design. Fashion, by definition, is always changing. Good design is good design, and bad design is bad design, the end.
Anyway, you’re overlooking the larger point: We’re talking about A UNIFORM — the whole point of a UNIFORM is that it’s UNIFORM, so that it radiates identity, recognition, and authority. When you take the keys to that car and hand them to the guys marketing street fashion to adolescents, you’ve defeated the whole point of what a uniform is about.
[quote comment=”380426″]was going out to mail some a la cartes, and find out the costs of shipping to brussels when i see a package. ricko you mothervilker, thank you so much! if let’s go bowling will be diy’d into my bowl hat, and this is going to be diy’d into my michigan hat. i am thinking a felt merit sticker for every win against michigan since i went to school. do you like that idea?[/quote]
Well, so much for keeping it between us. LOL
And, yes, I like that idea for the “stickers”. Wondered how you’d determine how many to employ.
And you WILL post photos of the finished product, right? That’s the condition. Cuz it’s a DIY “adaptation” that was just crying out to be produced.
You’re welcome, of course. What the heck, you let me grab a handful of stirrups at the UW Deep Freeze.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”380428″][quote comment=”380424″][quote comment=”380416″]1) I should not have to see my favorite team’s players (or, really, any other players) dressed like clowns, which is what they look like in the BP attire.
2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week — would that just be more “choice”? Or would that be an attempt to coerce fans into buying “official” and “authentic” merch that nobody needed in the first place? Now, the notion of a different cap for each day of the week may sound silly, but the concept of BP caps sounded silly 15 years ago too. A solution to a non-problem.
3) BP caps are clearly pitched to a younger demographic. As such, they reinforce the increasing notion that on-field attire should be driven (a) by the retail marketplace and (b) by the youngest members of that marketplace. Instead of asking, “What cap looks good?,” the question now is “What cap will sell?” And since younger fans are more apt to buy caps and jerseys, that means younger fans’ aesthetic sensibilities are increasingly driving what the rest of us have to see. If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.[/quote]
1) Subjective opinion. I don’t like them either, but some people do.
2) Isn’t buying the regular hat, or going to the game when you can watch it on TV or buying an overpriced hot dog “needless consumption” as well? If someone likes a BP hat better than the regular hat, shouldn’t they have the freedom to buy it? It’s not as if the clubs are saying you HAVE to have every hat that’s produced – that would be reinforcing the culture of needless consumption. I don’t see any coercion here. If someone feels compelled to buy everything, that’s on him or her.
3) If the younger fans, who are the future of the sport, overwhelmingly reject the traditional hat in favor of the BP hat, wouldn’t it be bad marketing to ignore that? How about when teams switched from pillbox hats to the “traditional” cap? If teams ignored the wishes of younger generations we’d still see this: link I’m all for tradition, but that’s a malleable notion. The only thing that’s constant is change.
Again, I don’t want to see every team adopt this look in the regular season, but I don’t have a problem with it outside of that. And if some teams’ fans overwhelmingly say, “Our team should dress like that all the time!” so be it. Unlike humanity’s fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are set in stone, fashion isn’t.[/quote]
I’m not interested in fashion; I’m interested in good design. Fashion, by definition, is always changing. Good design is good design, and bad design is bad design, the end.
Anyway, you’re overlooking the larger point: We’re talking about A UNIFORM — the whole point of a UNIFORM is that it’s UNIFORM, so that it radiates identity, recognition, and authority. When you take the keys to that car and hand them to the guys marketing street fashion to adolescents, you’ve defeated the whole point of what a uniform is about.[/quote]
In theory, I never had a problem with MLB teams doing things a bit differently in Spring Training. The atmosphere is terribly laid back (players running in the outfield during games, for example).
The key phrase there was “a bit”.
As usual, they’ve taken something and overdone it ad nauseum. The BP shirts and the slightly altered hats (adding a colored visor or something) were tolerable and actually did sort of say, “Spring Training! Cool.” But it’s now truly slid over into “excessive to the point of being almost self-parodying” column.
—Ricko
My 2c – the players and the umpires have to have some regard for the context of the play.
Bases loaded, critical situation, late in the game, pennant race players get a little more latitude in stepping out, adjusting, etc.
Late in the season, both teams 30 games out, 8th inning of a blowout with nobody on base, get in there and take your hacks.
Which is why I hear the idea of a “pitch clock” floated from time to time and I think its a bad idea, unless the ump has the discretion to speed it up at times and turn it off at others.
[quote comment=”380431″]My 2c – the players and the umpires have to have some regard for the context of the play.
Bases loaded, critical situation, late in the game, pennant race players get a little more latitude in stepping out, adjusting, etc.
Late in the season, both teams 30 games out, 8th inning of a blowout with nobody on base, get in there and take your hacks.
Which is why I hear the idea of a “pitch clock” floated from time to time and I think its a bad idea, unless the ump has the discretion to speed it up at times and turn it off at others.[/quote]
You’re absolutely right. It’s one thing to sort of gather yourself at a critical moment, and another to feel your gloves need adjusting because you’ve gone through the ordeal of taking a pitch.
The only solution may have to come from the players themselves. If they come to see it excessive and the attitude becomes “get in there and hit” then it will change.
But I don’t see that happening, sadly.
—Ricko
I don’t have a problem with the spring training/ BP caps. How well is this merchandise selling, anyway? It’s not like the caps are destroying the identity of the teams; the caps all seem to be done in team colors and with graphics and logos already associated with the teams. So brand identity – and uniformity, if you will – is kept intact, much more so than if these were “fashion” caps.
Whatever the case, I’ll continue to stick with my policy when it comes to buying ballcaps: I will only buy a team’s cap if it’s the primary home cap. Any alts, including roads, don’t get my business.
[quote comment=”380403″][quote comment=”380402″][quote comment=”380378″][quote comment=”380377″][quote comment=”380376″]Great. New batting gloves. Something for MLB players to fiddle with more often and longer. One reason why the length of MLB games has increased 22 minutes in the last 40 years.[/quote]
Sean Casey and Nomar Garciaparra would like a word with you.[/quote]
Or Mike Hargrove.
Who was it that called him “the human rain delay”?
—Ricko[/quote]
I thought that was Steve Trachsel????[/quote]
Pretty sure Hargrove was the first. May go as far back as when he was with the Rangers.
link
—Ricko[/quote]
I think that was printed on the back of one of Hargrove’s baseball cards – possibly late 1970’s. I’d check but my cards are put away right now as my basement is torn up for the construction of my new basement manquairum stirrup display.
This…
link
…indicates Hargrove had the nickname as early as ’78 when with the Rangers.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”380428″]Anyway, you’re overlooking the larger point: We’re talking about A UNIFORM — the whole point of a UNIFORM is that it’s UNIFORM, so that it radiates identity, recognition, and authority. When you take the keys to that car and hand them to the guys marketing street fashion to adolescents, you’ve defeated the whole point of what a uniform is about.[/quote]
I’m with you that a uniform should have a semblance of constancy to it, but the reason I included the plaid woolen pillbox-wearing Giants uni was to show that that constancy has never been constant. Even the Yankees haven’t had the same uni from the get go.
I just don’t see any grand evil scheme at work here. I don’t think they’re blatantly out to change the teams’ uniforms, although if they stumble onto a design where several million people say, “Cool, how ’bout making that the full-time uni?” then they’d be wise to at least listen to that.
And if marketing to adolescents makes them some money, well, maybe then they’ll only raise ticket prices 2 percent instead of ten percent. Maybe.
I still think it’s a win-win – they leave the everyday unis alone…for the most part, people who want something different get their wish, design jobs are saved, the economy hums, world peace is achieved, etc.
Sorry, just feeling overly optimistic today for some reason…
[quote comment=”380436″]And if marketing to adolescents makes them some money, well, maybe then they’ll only raise ticket prices 2 percent instead of ten percent. Maybe.[/quote]
Oh boy. Jim, you are what’s known in the biz as “a live one.”
Isn’t it interesting that tickets were much more reasonably priced (often less than a movie!) back when there was no such thing as merchandised caps and jerseys? Just sayin’….
Just a little news tidbit from a former Tacoma Rainiers employee.
Towards the end of the season last year, I was asked to design a new set of home and away jerseys and caps for the club as part of my other duties, and, while some of my best designs were not used (namely a new and improved banner-tail script), the Rainiers will be debuting new unis during the 2010 season.
On my last visit to the office before I left the club, I saw the official drawings, and they were a bit unimaginative.
As a purist, I had wanted to feature the red and blue prominently, as a throwback to the Seattle Rainiers of old. Instead, the club chose to go with navy and silver as the colors for the old wordmark and replaced the teal on the aways with white. The new away cap, which I had wanted to feature the classic script R, were instead redesigned to include a stylized T coming out of the top of Mt. Rainier, which, to me, looks a bit too much like the volcano is erupting. Bad news for the Northwest.
The batting practice jerseys will look very classic, being navy mesh with the script R on the left breast in navy, with a white outline.
[quote comment=”380437″][quote comment=”380436″]And if marketing to adolescents makes them some money, well, maybe then they’ll only raise ticket prices 2 percent instead of ten percent. Maybe.[/quote]
Oh boy. Jim, you are what’s known in the biz as “a live one.”
Isn’t it interesting that tickets were much more reasonably priced (often less than a movie!) back when there was no such thing as merchandised caps and jerseys? Just sayin’….[/quote]
I did say “maybe”…I’m not totally naive.
When merchandise first came out, it was as reasonable as ticket prices were. I could go to Pirate games for a buck back in the 70s and get all kinds of hats and pennants and what not at decent prices.
What’s caused the price increases is television. The huge contracts lead to more money in the owners’ pockets, which leads to the players wanting a bigger share, which leads to the owners raising prices to maintain their profit share, and the cycle repeats itself as each network contract gets bigger.
If I were a real live one, I would buy every new item that comes out each year. Instead, I have my regular black Pirates hat and my regular red Nationals hat, and if they both changed hats next year, I’d still wear my old ones (now if they come out with an adjustable version of the ’71 Pirates hat for under 20 bucks, that’s another story). I don’t fall for all the latest marketing gimmicks in baseball, but I don’t blame the teams for coming up with them either.
[quote comment=”380436″]I just don’t see any grand evil scheme at work here.[/quote]
insert “this way to the egress” icon here
[quote comment=”380437″][quote comment=”380436″]And if marketing to adolescents makes them some money, well, maybe then they’ll only raise ticket prices 2 percent instead of ten percent. Maybe.[/quote]
Oh boy. Jim, you are what’s known in the biz as “a live one.”
Isn’t it interesting that tickets were much more reasonably priced (often less than a movie!) back when there was no such thing as merchandised caps and jerseys? Just sayin’….[/quote]
There’s no doubt sports have ratcheted-up the seemingly required spending to think of yourself as a “true fan”. Forty or fifty years ago you couldn’t find an actual MLB hat, much less a game jersey, to buy retail anywhere. Over the decades (especially the last two, perhaps) leagues have made more and more—and progressively more expensive–gear available to the public. Flooding the marketplace, actually.
There was a time when, to legimately think of yourself (and others) as a “fan”, only meant buying tickes when you could, and caring about the team.
Now it’s about loyalty to the brand. And the customary way to demonstrate brand loyalty is to spend money on that brand…and to show that you do, and that you’re willing to spend plenty.
The net result is that the climate now (even among fans themselves) is that being a “true fan” is a spendy thing, including the cost of tickets and that, well, that’s just the way it is. The prevailing attitude is that you simply can’t honestly profess to be a fan if don’t wear a jersey to the game that cost $100 or more.
Sports have created a world where spending is just expected. It’s part of following your favorite team. And fans have been led, gradually, to a point where they say, “Yeah, so?”
Now, many of HERE may not feel that way. But it definitely is the mindset out there. I mean, people can’t even watch a game on TV at Champs without wearing their special, expensive team gear.
That’s marketing success. And that involves LOTS of manipulation and reorientation of thinking.
—Ricko
As for the new batting gloves pictured there were a couple girls wearing them this past weekend at the Cathedral City Classic hosted by Oregon State. During the UNLV-Texas A&M softball game. UNLV’s shortstop wore them while hitting, as did A&M’s pitcher. They fit a bit higher up the wrist than traditional batting gloves. The padding is similar to that of the Mizuno (I believe) batting gloves that came out in the early-90s and worn by Ricky Henderson. The only difference is the little rubber circles that separate the individual padding. The palm also has a slick surface to it. If I can I will try and get a photo of them being worn at our games this weekend.
I like to wear baseball caps and I only wear “new era.” When the weather is hot the 5950’s are just not comfortable. I like the BP caps cause you can wear them in hot weather and they are still comfortable.
That said. I would not go near the last few years design. The original kind of mesh like design was fine. Then they changed the material and it took a year or 2 to get the fit and block of the hat right. My favorite was the blue/red DC Nats one. I still have a couple of those.
This years some I like, most I don’t. The back part of it is not the stretch material like the horrific ones on the side..there is just a piping line. The material on the hat is the same all around. I wish they did not have the piping but I will admit to buying and I will wear a Nats one.
I would buy and wear a Mets one but I don’t like the 2 tone brim.
What I also like is Paul’s annual Spring Training column which is always a great read.
[quote comment=”380424″][quote comment=”380416″]1) I should not have to see my favorite team’s players (or, really, any other players) dressed like clowns, which is what they look like in the BP attire.
2) What you call “consumer choice” I call “reinforcing a culture of needless consumption.” What if they create a different cap design for each day of the week — would that just be more “choice”? Or would that be an attempt to coerce fans into buying “official” and “authentic” merch that nobody needed in the first place? Now, the notion of a different cap for each day of the week may sound silly, but the concept of BP caps sounded silly 15 years ago too. A solution to a non-problem.
3) BP caps are clearly pitched to a younger demographic. As such, they reinforce the increasing notion that on-field attire should be driven (a) by the retail marketplace and (b) by the youngest members of that marketplace. Instead of asking, “What cap looks good?,” the question now is “What cap will sell?” And since younger fans are more apt to buy caps and jerseys, that means younger fans’ aesthetic sensibilities are increasingly driving what the rest of us have to see. If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.[/quote]
1) Subjective opinion. I don’t like them either, but some people do.
2) Isn’t buying the regular hat, or going to the game when you can watch it on TV or buying an overpriced hot dog “needless consumption” as well? If someone likes a BP hat better than the regular hat, shouldn’t they have the freedom to buy it? It’s not as if the clubs are saying you HAVE to have every hat that’s produced – that would be reinforcing the culture of needless consumption. I don’t see any coercion here. If someone feels compelled to buy everything, that’s on him or her.
3) If the younger fans, who are the future of the sport, overwhelmingly reject the traditional hat in favor of the BP hat, wouldn’t it be bad marketing to ignore that? How about when teams switched from pillbox hats to the “traditional” cap? If teams ignored the wishes of younger generations we’d still see this: link I’m all for tradition, but that’s a malleable notion. The only thing that’s constant is change.
Again, I don’t want to see every team adopt this look in the regular season, but I don’t have a problem with it outside of that. And if some teams’ fans overwhelmingly say, “Our team should dress like that all the time!” so be it. Unlike humanity’s fundamental rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, which are set in stone, fashion isn’t.[/quote]
1. Vilk, I agree with your rebuttal to #1 wholeheartedly. One man’s Mona Lisa is someone else’s wasted canvas.
I DESPIZE the look of the 3930’s, but I have friends that love them.
2. I too, pine for the days of old when you would see wool plackets all over the ballfield and men in suits and fedoras in the bleachers.
Styles evolve. As for “needless consumption”, I disagree. Noone is forcing us to purchase BP caps or other paraphernalia. On the contrary, I love the fact that we have options.
3. To quote Paul,”If BP caps look silly to me, how do you think they looked to my father? Or your father? Baseball is supposed to be for everyone — not just for people who waste money on overpriced merch.”
Again, opinion is subjective. According to the “father” theory, then the 27 Yankees should beat the Big Red Machine who should wallop the 96-2000 Yanks.
[quote comment=”380444″]According to the “father” theory, then the 27 Yankees should beat the Big Red Machine who should wallop the 96-2000 Yanks.[/quote]
what?
[quote comment=”380441″][quote comment=”380437″][quote comment=”380436″]And if marketing to adolescents makes them some money, well, maybe then they’ll only raise ticket prices 2 percent instead of ten percent. Maybe.[/quote]
Oh boy. Jim, you are what’s known in the biz as “a live one.”
Isn’t it interesting that tickets were much more reasonably priced (often less than a movie!) back when there was no such thing as merchandised caps and jerseys? Just sayin’….[/quote]
There’s no doubt sports have ratcheted-up the seemingly required spending to think of yourself as a “true fan”. Forty or fifty years ago you couldn’t find an actual MLB hat, much less a game jersey, to buy retail anywhere. Over the decades (especially the last two, perhaps) leagues have made more and more—and progressively more expensive–gear available to the public. Flooding the marketplace, actually.
There was a time when, to legimately think of yourself (and others) as a “fan”, only meant buying tickes when you could, and caring about the team.
Now it’s about loyalty to the brand. And the customary way to demonstrate brand loyalty is to spend money on that brand…and to show that you do, and that you’re willing to spend plenty.
The net result is that the climate now (even among fans themselves) is that being a “true fan” is a spendy thing, including the cost of tickets and that, well, that’s just the way it is. The prevailing attitude is that you simply can’t honestly profess to be a fan if don’t wear a jersey to the game that cost $100 or more.
Sports have created a world where spending is just expected. It’s part of following your favorite team. And fans have been led, gradually, to a point where they say, “Yeah, so?”
Now, many of HERE may not feel that way. But it definitely is the mindset out there. I mean, people can’t even watch a game on TV at Champs without wearing their special, expensive team gear.
That’s marketing success. And that involves LOTS of manipulation and reorientation of thinking.
—Ricko[/quote]
That is why I love working in the garage on a Wednesday night in June and hearing Howie Rose call a Mets game, just to ,albeit infrequently, say “Put it in the books”.
Waldman and Sterling are AWFUL, but there is nothing better than driving my kids around and giving baths and reading books and taking the garbage out, knowing that there is a ballgame waiting for me when I’m done.
That is where my fandom lies
[quote comment=”380445″][quote comment=”380444″]According to the “father” theory, then the 27 Yankees should beat the Big Red Machine who should wallop the 96-2000 Yanks.[/quote]
what?[/quote]
fail?
As far as Sidney Crosby’s stick and glove being missing…boo-frickin’-hoo.
My heart is breaking…
Thanks for the WHA website. Those are some great stories.
I haven’t seen any pictures of the Red Sox wearing the new batting practice caps yet this year, either. Every photo I’ve seen has been of the Sox wearing their normal game caps.
I’m sure somebody in the NYC market can fill me in on this, watching Rangers game on Vs. right now, what’s with the ‘$5 foot-long’ signage all over the glass?? Like there isn’t enough ad-creep already??? Put the sponsors on the scoreline or whatever if they must…
[quote comment=”380447″]fail?[/quote]
multiple choice:
matt : analogies ::
a) vilk : pt barnum
b) ricko : blue pony
c) nets : basketball
d) lukas : stirrups
e) phil : sarcasm
:o)
[quote comment=”380419″][quote comment=”380400″]So sick of the Mexicans playing all their games on American turf. What’s the deal? dont’ they have a stadium over there????[/quote]
After reading this, link would you want to play there, regardless of whose side you’re on?[/quote]
yes, I’ve read this before and being Argentine I am keenly aware that San Jose CR, Honduras, El Salva and Mexico City are cauldrons with the ocassional ziploc baggie of urine, et al.
Jim, you follow Assoc. Football so that you are aware this is part and parcel of the WC qualifying thing…. but for some stupid reaason it bothers me that the complicit USSF allows the Mexican FA to play their game here as IF Mexicans owned this country.
[quote comment=”380429″][quote comment=”380426″]was going out to mail some a la cartes, and find out the costs of shipping to brussels when i see a package. ricko you mothervilker, thank you so much! if let’s go bowling will be diy’d into my bowl hat, and this is going to be diy’d into my michigan hat. i am thinking a felt merit sticker for every win against michigan since i went to school. do you like that idea?[/quote]
Well, so much for keeping it between us. LOL
And, yes, I like that idea for the “stickers”. Wondered how you’d determine how many to employ.
And you WILL post photos of the finished product, right? That’s the condition. Cuz it’s a DIY “adaptation” that was just crying out to be produced.
You’re welcome, of course. What the heck, you let me grab a handful of stirrups at the UW Deep Freeze.
—Ricko[/quote]
If I interpreted this ‘pig latin’ correctly, RPM has a new bowler hat??? That f’ing suuhhhhweeeeeeeeet. I’ll need a snap of that. Do you look like Steed from the Avengers now??
[quote comment=”380446″][quote comment=”380441″][quote comment=”380437″][quote comment=”380436″]And if marketing to adolescents makes them some money, well, maybe then they’ll only raise ticket prices 2 percent instead of ten percent. Maybe.[/quote]
Oh boy. Jim, you are what’s known in the biz as “a live one.”
Isn’t it interesting that tickets were much more reasonably priced (often less than a movie!) back when there was no such thing as merchandised caps and jerseys? Just sayin’….[/quote]
There’s no doubt sports have ratcheted-up the seemingly required spending to think of yourself as a “true fan”. Forty or fifty years ago you couldn’t find an actual MLB hat, much less a game jersey, to buy retail anywhere. Over the decades (especially the last two, perhaps) leagues have made more and more—and progressively more expensive–gear available to the public. Flooding the marketplace, actually.
There was a time when, to legimately think of yourself (and others) as a “fan”, only meant buying tickes when you could, and caring about the team.
Now it’s about loyalty to the brand. And the customary way to demonstrate brand loyalty is to spend money on that brand…and to show that you do, and that you’re willing to spend plenty.
The net result is that the climate now (even among fans themselves) is that being a “true fan” is a spendy thing, including the cost of tickets and that, well, that’s just the way it is. The prevailing attitude is that you simply can’t honestly profess to be a fan if don’t wear a jersey to the game that cost $100 or more.
Sports have created a world where spending is just expected. It’s part of following your favorite team. And fans have been led, gradually, to a point where they say, “Yeah, so?”
Now, many of HERE may not feel that way. But it definitely is the mindset out there. I mean, people can’t even watch a game on TV at Champs without wearing their special, expensive team gear.
That’s marketing success. And that involves LOTS of manipulation and reorientation of thinking.
—Ricko[/quote]
That is why I love working in the garage on a Wednesday night in June and hearing Howie Rose call a Mets game, just to ,albeit infrequently, say “Put it in the books”.
Waldman and Sterling are AWFUL, but there is nothing better than driving my kids around and giving baths and reading books and taking the garbage out, knowing that there is a ballgame waiting for me when I’m done.
That is where my fandom lies[/quote]
Well said MP…. I’ll echo those sentiments… there’s nothing better than listening to a Met’s game while washing a car, laying on a hammock/ sitting on the deck or after bathing the baby…. those ocassions—not nights rushing to make it to Shea or dealing w/ the 2.5 hour commute—are my fandom. I’ve gotten to the point where I don’t have to prove my ‘fan-ness’ to anyone, especially by the purchasing of pointless accutrements.
In the ESPN article, you mentioned that the stretch panel had been moved to the back of the new BP caps. I don’t know if it’s actually a stretch panel on the player exclusives, but I have the Red Sox version sitting right beside me, and it’s just a red panel of the same material the rest of the cap is made of, and not the shiny spandexy material from the stretch caps.
You know it is Spring when Uni Watch has a Spring Training column, and you hear Bob Uecker’s voice on the radio. He had a doozey today.
Bob Uecker: “Sandoval over there at third base base today. Man, is that guy a player.”
Cory Provus: “Yeah. He led the Giants last year in home runs, RBI’s, AVG…..
Uecker: …and tacos!
Permanent Stirrup.
link
Harvey Kuenn’s prosthetic leg at the 4th Base in West Milwaukee.
[quote comment=”380457″]You know it is Spring when Uni Watch has a Spring Training column, and you hear Bob Uecker’s voice on the radio. He had a doozey today.
Bob Uecker: “Sandoval over there at third base base today. Man, is that guy a player.”
Cory Provus: “Yeah. He led the Giants last year in home runs, RBI’s, AVG…..
Uecker: …and tacos![/quote]
surprised he didn’t say “sandoval led the league in most offensive categories, including nose hair”
Phil, is it just me or did that comment just come out in a different font?
[quote comment=”380450″]I’m sure somebody in the NYC market can fill me in on this, watching Rangers game on Vs. right now, what’s with the ‘$5 foot-long’ signage all over the glass?? Like there isn’t enough ad-creep already??? Put the sponsors on the scoreline or whatever if they must…[/quote]
vitual.