MLB JERSEYS, MILB LOCALES
These days, minor league teams issue their own ballclub’s jerseys to rehabbing major leaguers, often getting decent dollars for them upon their sale. There were some times in the not too distant past, however, when such was not the case.
In the early 1990s, my first trip to see the Modesto A’s play (during a visit with the in-laws) found the A’s hosting the San Jose Giants in California League ball. Because of the close geographies, San Francisco starter Luis Aquino took the mound for a rehab start for S Jose. The A-ball Giants, however, did not provide him with San Jose road grey shirt…he brought his major league Giants gamer with him.
Also, while I was not actually at this game, photographic evidence exists of Cubs hurler Rick Sutcliffe, circa 1990, in the bullpen of the Peoria Chiefs of the Midwest League (A-ball again) with his Cubs road grey jersey on.
I’m certain more examples exist…anyone who has such a story can e-mail me at sox83cubs84@hotmail.com to share it.
ONE AND DONE
As it turns out, the Gene Upshaw GU 63 memoriam patch worn in week 1 by all 32 NFL teams is ONLY being worn in week 1…this past Sunday’s games found the patch no longer on the jerseys.
SO THEN, WHAT, PRAY TELL, IS THIS?
An auction closed a couple of days ago on eBay that, while a team-issued jersey, became a thicket of questions otherwise. A seller had a 2008 Colts road jersey of Koyle Whiteside. Since Whiteside’s last year playing for the Colts was in 2004, I can only assume he attempted a comeback in camp…one that failed, as he is not on the regular season roster. This preseason jersey had the Upshaw patch on it…problematic for at least two reasons. First, the Upshaw patch was only worn for Week 1 of the regular season…not preseason, and not Week 2. On top of that, in Week 1, the Colts were home hosting the Bears, meaning that the patch appeared on their home blue shirts…not their road whites. Sadly, someone not privy to this information paid $154.50 for this totally convoluted piece.
IF NOT THEN, WHEN?
While the White Sox players and coaches did wear the green-themed home unies last Friday as part of their Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, the unies would qualify, at most, as “bench worn”. The team did dress up for a game, but never got the contest started, as a torrential rain that started before the schedule 7:11 PM first pitch cancelled the game. Whether or not these will get worn in one of the Pale Hose’s three remaining home games (four if the cancelled game not played on Sunday with Detroit has playoff implications for the White Sox), only time will tell.
ONE TEAM STILL WEARING PATCH
As it turns out, Gene Upshaw’s former team, the Oakland Raiders, are still wearing the memoriam patch for the late Hall of Famer.
AND, SPEAKING OF THE RAIDERS…
While the football world is abuzz with the news that Chad Ocho Cinco (nee Johnson) is getting a $4 million dollar bill from the No Fun League on behalf of Reebok for merchandise rendered useless by his name change, it almost happened before, albeit at a less costly rate.
After the 2006 season, Raiders WR Jerry Porter wanted to change
his number from 84 to 81…until the NFL told him, in writing that he would be billed $210,000 for unsold #84 Porter jerseys and the like made by Reebok.
Apparently, this is NFL/Reebok policy, as explained by league spokesman Greg Aiello: “The more popular the player, the more expensive the switch”. (Originally reported by AP).
NFL UNIFORM CHANGES
The Lions and Steelers have something in common for their 2008 uniform choices. Both will be using Throwback unie as their alternate styles. The Steelers will wear the retro design they used in 2007 as a third jersey, to be worn twice during 2008. The Lions are also going to wear their 1950s-style throwbacks as a third style, also to be worn twice, one occasion being Thanksgiving Day. To accommodate the new alternate threads, the Lions will retire their black alternate uniforms.
A REMINDER…
While the Baseball Almanac website is as good as it gets for baseball history and information, those who use the site to get past years’ uniform numbers need to remember two things: first, coaches are NOT listed; second: managers have their own specific link. If your jersey’s year/number/team combo doesn’t show up on the regular roster page, it could be due to one of these two factors.
WILL BIG Z TOSS ANOTHER NO-NO IN THE WORLD SERIES…?