The Stars come out in daytime

By Phil Hecken

I love Negro League throwback games — not only because Majestic apparently doesn’t make the uniforms, thereby ensuring they will likely be done well — and not just because we’re getting a sorely-needed history lesson, but also because some of those uniforms are just so friggin’ awesome. Thus, when I learned the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox would be playing just such a game, and knowing it would fall smack-dab in the middle of the “MLB Extra Innings free preview” week, I was ecstatic.

Unfortunately, the geniuses who determine scheduling decided this would make for a perfect “national” game to be played on FOX, and as such, would not fall beneath the purview of said free preview. And, of course, “national” doesn’t mean everyone gets to see the game, as would be the case with an ESPN Sunday Night game (or several games shown on the MLB TV channel), it simply means that Fox chooses to broadcast this game to a select viewing audience — usually reserved for those in the markets of the two teams involved. And, since I live in New York, this usually means I will either get the Yankees or Mets (or occasionally the Red Sox or Phillies, joy of joys), but almost never will I get a Chicago or Detroit market game. Thus, I was deprived of the pleasure of seeing this one live.

Fortunately, Tod Hess, Tiger fan and one of those in the viewing area, did get to watch the game, and I am pleased to bring you his review of this beautiful looking game that I didn’t get to see. Here’s my buddy, Tod:

Detroit Tigers 17th annual Negro League game
By Tod Hess

For the 17th year the Detroit Tigers hosted a Negro League throw back game on Saturday. The Detroit Tigers wore uniforms for the Detroit Stars. These are not the uniforms the Tigers usually wear during the Negro League games. They usually wear a striped Detroit Stars Uniform. I did some research and the only other time I can find that the Tigers wore that version was in 2003. I was informed by one of the writers covering the game that the uniforms were suppose to cover the period from 1919 until the early 1920’s. I have done numerous searches and can’t find any pictures to back up that claim. In fact almost every picture I find shows the striped jerseys. The Tigers wore high black socks with the uniforms. The Tigers also wore their Sparky Anderson Memorial patch on the uniforms.

Chicago wore the Chicago American Giants road jerseys from 1926. They wore these three years ago against the Tigers in a Negro League game that I attended. As you can see the White Sox had black and white socks. Although some of the players showed less white in their socks than others did. Here is a great shot of the caps worn by the White Sox today. As you can see, both the Tigers and the White Sox had No NOB for the game.

During the broadcast, Fox Sports Josh Lewin commented that the White Sox uniforms reminded him of the mid 70’s White Sox uniforms. After doing some research on it, I believe the American Giants uniforms look more like a cross between this and this. They also interviewed Justin Verlander during one inning. They asked him about the uniforms and he said he liked them. They were light and airy and kind of baggy. He said he might ask for a loose fitting normal uniform.

This game is just part of the festivities, as for the last nine years the Tigers have made the entire weekend a celebration of the Negro Leagues. On Friday, there was a pre-game ceremony honoring the past, present and future of African-American baseball in the city of Detroit. They also had a Detroit Stars Singing Competition Finals. On Saturday, the first 10,000 fans got a Detroit Stars flat bill cap. They also held a Negro League roundtable to discuss the importance and history of the Negro Leagues. Nine former Negro League players and Former Detroit Stars owner Minnie Forbes (on the right) were honored before the game and threw out the first pitch.

Overall, I thought the uniforms were great. Both teams wore their regular batting helmets but since they didn’t wear batting helmets back then, I give them a pass on that. I really loved seeing a Major League Baseball game with no pajama pants. I look forward to next year’s game.

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Thanks, Tod. As many of you are aware, I still firmly believe that one or two teams in each league should employ a monochrome uniform on a few select occasions during the year. The American Giants would certainly be a team after which I would model such a uniform. And even though I’m not a fan of pinstripes on road unis, there’s just something so cool about this look. I also have to say I loved the Tigers playing as the Stars. That’s a great look as well. Of course, having lower leg stylings helps immensely.

What say you, readers? Was this a great looking game, or what?

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For love of the sansabelt…and Hammer too

Unlike the Tigers/White Sox Stars/American Giants game, I was, though magic of the MLB Extra Innings free preview, able to watch yesterday’s Oakland Athletics versus Los Angeles Anaheim California Angels game, which was billed as an “80s throwback.” Since the A’s only wore yesterday’s throwbacks in 1985 & 1986, we’ve narrowed down the time-frame. Looks like the Angels got it right as well.

Depending upon your perspective, or perhaps whether your team got its ass whupped, opinions on the uniforms varied. The aforelinked article notes the Angels pants, “didn’t seem to look or feel right.” In fact, “some were too short, some were too baggy, some were too tight.” And some were too long. Sadly, the scribe who penned that observation didn’t quite pick up on the pajamas.

I rather enjoyed the looks, with the A’s sporting pullovers and sansabelts, with most of the participants opted for solid green hose instead of stirrups, although at least one player did opt for rups. Of course, what is even worse than no rups or solid socks? Yes, you guessed it — the dreaded 2-in-1s, no doubt stolen from Josh Outman’s reassigned locker.

While the A’s unis were pretty accurate, the Angels of that era were beltless and wore red shoes, but I won’t fault Majestic too heavily for another uni screwup, nor will I blame them for using current helmets. It was still a good looking game…well, except for Jerry Blevins.

And hey, it was MC Hammer bobblehead day. Or would that just be Hammerhead day? For those of us unaware of Stanley Kirk Burrell’s attachment to the A’s, it was longer than Hammer’s career. The always accurate Wikipedia sums it up thusly:

Stanley Burrell Jr. was born in Oakland, California, son of a nightclub manager and a police department assistant. He grew up poor with his mother, a secretary, and eight siblings in a small apartment in East Oakland. The future rapper recalled that six children were crammed into a three-bedroom housing project apartment. The young Burrell sold stray baseballs and danced with a beatbox at the Oakland Coliseum parking lot to earn money for games sometimes. Oakland A’s team owner Charles O. Finley saw the 11-year-old doing splits and hired him as a clubhouse assistant and batboy as a result of his energy and flair.

Burrell served as a “batboy” with the team from 1973 to 1980. In 2010, Hammer discussed his life-long involvement with sports athletes on ESPN’s First Take as well as explained that his brother Louis Burrell (who would later become Hammer’s business manager) was actually the batboy while his job was to take calls and do “play-by-plays” for the A’s absentee owner during every summer game. The colorful Finley, who lived in Chicago, used the child as his “eyes and ears.” Reggie Jackson, in describing Burrell’s role for Finley, took credit for his nickname:

“Hell, our chief executive, the guy that ran our team, uh, that communicated [with] Charlie Finley, the top man there, was a 13-year old kid. I nicknamed him ‘Hammer,’ because he looked like Hank Aaron.”

He acquired the nickname “M.C.” for being a “Master of Ceremonies” which he used when he began performing at various clubs while on the road with the A’s, and eventually in the military.

So there you have it. And perhaps, like me, you learned a little something about Mr. Burrell.

Reader Samuel Lam was at the game and he took a few shots. Check it out.

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L’il Help?

Reader John Freeman has a question for the Uni Watch readership:

“While looking at the review about the Padres uniforms you had a few days ago, I noticed something maybe someone can find out. The Mariners hats in the game against the Padres look different from whats available at New Era and the MLB shop. The ones pictured have the MLB logo in the team colors of blue/yellow on the back of the hat.

“On the website and what I have seen in some hat stores are solid blue on the back. Also on some sites it shows the New Era logo on the side used for some retro hats and the MLB logo on the back in team colors. I know it sounds confusing. Any help from you or the readers of uni-watch is appreciated. The last link only lists the hat with the yellow M and nothing else shows up on the New Era site.

“Note the full color MLB logo on the back which is different from the game hat shown during the game against the Padres.”

Readers? I’m not a cap guy so I’m clueless — any ideas folks?

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Benchies from the Beginning
By Rick Pearson

For nearly three years, “Benchies” has been appearing most weekends at Uni Watch. While Bench Coach Phil fills in for Paul Monday through Friday during August, we present a retrospective. New strips will continue to appear on weekends. For further background, here’s the “Benchies” backstory and bios on the regular Boys of “Benchies.” Enjoy.

And here is the full-size version.

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Friendly reminder:

Paul is on his summer break from the site from now until Aug. 8 (although he’ll still be doing ESPN work, which we’ll link to as it comes up). That means there are a few changes regarding where you should be sending e-mails:

• Phil is writing the lead entries while Paul’s away. You can contact him at his usual address.

• The Ticker is now being compiled by webmaster John Ekdahl. You can still send submissions to the uniwatching at gmail address, but they will go to John, not to Paul.

• If you absolutely need to contact Paul during his summer break, the best way is to send a note to his plukas64 at gmail address. But he may take a little while to get back to you, especially during the period from July 16-21.

• Finally, if you hear about any new college football uniforms during Paul’s break, please send that info to this address. Thanks.

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Uni Watch News Ticker: (mostly compiled by John Ekdahl) Brandan sends along these shots of Salem Red Sox tuxedo jerseys. … Here’s a picture of Uni Watch reader David Cummings following our strict by-laws (seen in the back). … The new Wilkes-Barre/Scranton lacrosse team will be called the Shamrocks. … Recently promoted Geoff Blum of the Arizona Diamondbacks had a noticeable patch on his right pant cheek (thanks to Matt Smith). … Check out this uniform number guide in the 1942 Colgate-Cornell Program (sent from Ryan Dowgin). … More on South Carolina’s new football unis – here are six different possible combinations (Thanks, Robbie Brinkley). … K-Rod is dropping number 75 (Thanks, Paul). … Pretty amazing (and cool) double-dip from Saturday’s Mets romp over the Phillies — Dan Cichalski snapped a photo of this dude. … Amazingly, and completely coincidentally, Terence Kearns was also at the Mets romp over Philly, and took this pic — what are the chances that there’d be two dudes dressed in the identical outfits at the game? Also from TK: check out these socks, seen on yet another fan at the Mets romp over Philly. … Mark Morabito found an article in his local paper, the Harrisburg Patriot-News that ran on July 17th, 2011. Says Mark, “It’s an article about a local baseball team that plays by original baseball rules. There are some interesting pictures of the uniforms they wear. … Brinke sends along this interesting pencil case, shaped like a Chuck.

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“Watching Angels/A’s. Y’know, the sansabelt look isn’t all that bad.” — Ricko Pearson