By Phil Hecken
The 2010 Major League Baseball season is almost upon us, which means that it’s time for many of us to begin our annual ritual of “tracking the (insert team here).” What is “uni-tracking” you may ask? For those who aren’t familiar with it (or incredibly anal), it’s the practice of painstakingly recording the precise outfit your favorite team wears throughout the season, and the W-L record in those games. For teams like the Yankees or Tigers, there isn’t much “point” to the exercise, since one can basically put them down for 81 home pinstripes (or home whites) and 81 road grays.
Of course, when MLB requires the wearing of the blood of our soldiers red caps, or teams play in a negro league tribute, those teams without much uniform variety mix it up a little. However, for the most part, it’s home and away unis and that’s that.
Then, you have teams like my ‘hometown’ Mets, who last season seemed to be trying to set the record for most uniform combinations in a single season (more on that below). Keeping track of their myriad uniform combinations can be quite entertaining, especially when their on-field play is, shall we say, less-than-stellar. Some interesting trends begin to appear when you analyze the Mets record “by uniform.”
Last season, several of you also took part in “uni tracking” your teams, and for those who sent me their “end of season” wrap ups, I haven’t forgotten about you. Very shortly those write ups will become part of the “Uni Watch archives,” and will appear at the upper right of the column, preserved for all eternity. If you didn’t send me your end of season wrap-ups, there’s still time to get them to me.
This season, I’m hoping more of you will participate in uni tracking. If you’re not sure what that is, it can be as simple or as complicated as you want to make it.
It all begins by keeping some form of record of your team’s uniform combinations — including cap, sleeves and socks, and the record of the team in those games. This can be done on a note pad, in an eXcel spreadsheet, a simple chart…any way. Once you have these data, how you present them is also up to you.
Some folks, like Mike Bergan simply make notes on a schedule. Others, like Alex Poterack create an eXcel spreadsheet (you may need “google docs” to view that), while Doug Keklak take a similar tack. Guys like Scott Curl combine spreadsheets and graphics, while Scott Gladin take a similar approach.
One of our Marlins trackers, Mike Jaworski used spreadsheets to track the record by uniform and the record by pitcher. One of the “worst” uniform (in terms of combinations) offenders, the Astros, was tracked in graphical form by Kenny Montross. Our Canadian tracker, Mike Styczen, tracked the Blue Jays by going this route.
Most trackers keep records both by spreadsheet and by graphical representation, like Brew Crew tracker Andrew Greenwood. One of our lady trackers, Justine DeCotis tracked her Red Sox by caps and stockings as well as by jersey and cap.
So, really, there are infinite ways to track your team. But what do you do with that information? Well, in some cases, it might be just a fun exercise. In other cases, tracking the uniforms actually shows what combinations your team has more or less success while wearing. Sometimes, your team just plain SUCKS while wearing a certain combination — perhaps it’s their “unlucky” combo. Other times, at least based upon record, a teams W-L has nothing to do with the uniform.
The 2009 Mets were terrible by any yardstick, and of course, injuries played a part in that. But they had a better record wearing certain combinations — combinations, incidentally, that they may want to consider wearing more often in 2010. Below is a “shortened” version of the final 2009 uni tracking that will (soon, along with those who’ve sent me their 2009 final tracks) be added to the UW archives.
And now, here’s a quick look at the Mets 2009 season:
Last year, the Mets continued to wear myriad uniform combinations, on a regular (but seemingly random) rotating basis, all of which continued to employ the use of black to varying degrees. This gave them seven possible ‘regular’ uniforms, along with 5 “special” uniforms, for a total of twelve different uniform combinations for the 2009 season.
The Mets seemingly had no rhyme or reason for their uniform selections throughout the course of the season (some teams wear a certain uniform on a certain day of the week, or the starting pitcher sometimes chooses what outfit a team will wear), although they began the season with three distinct preferences, some of which held true throughout the season. At home, they tended to wear their black tops & caps on Fridays, weekdays were predominantly snow whites with black/blue caps, and Saturdays were almost always snow whites with blue caps/socks/sleeves. They began the season by wearing the “official” pinstriped uniform on weekends. This pattern would neither be hard and fast nor would it last throughout the season.
On the road, there was no set pattern to uniform usage, although they predominantly wore the gray road uniform (this combination was worn more than any other — a total of 59 times — in which they sported a record of 22-37). Their second most popular outfit was the road gray pants with black cap/jersey (worn a total of 18 times, for a record of 7-11). Sometimes they would wear the black jersey/cap combination for an entire road series, other times for portions of a series. One could assume the weather and/or laundry (need to pack two sets of jerseys) played a roll in the limited use of black on the road. More often than not, the Mets would wear their standard gray uniforms for an entire series or road trip.
At home, they most often wore the Snow Whites with blue cap/sleeve/socks, and they won the most games (and had their best record) wearing this combination (17-12 record, a total of 29 wearings), while the Snow Whites with black/blue cap, black socks/sleeves was the second most popular combination (worn a total of 23 times, with a record of 8-15). The black top with black was their third most popular combination (worn a total of 12 times, with a record of 8-4). Although the pinstripes with blue cap/sleeves/socks was designated their “official” uniform, it was only worn a grand total of 9 times (and the Mets sported a 3-6 record while wearing it). The pinstripes with black/blue cap, black sleeves and socks was only worn once (and they were victorious in it).
In their “special” uniforms, they went 1-0 in the “Jackie Robinsons”, 0-2 in the “Los Mets” unis, and 2-1 in the “Cream N Y Big Block” specials. When they wore the red caps, they won in their only home appearance (Memorial Day), while they went 0-4 when they wore the S&S caps on the road.
The following lists the Mets records and uniform combinations by month, including notes where applicable.
OK, that is quite enough about the (not so) Amazin’s. But a new season is here, which means there is a new hope, right? I mean, everyone starts the season off with a 0-0 record. Here’s hoping many of you will get on the uni track train for 2010. I’ll periodically feature your tracking throughout the season, and at the end of this season, all the full-season tracks will become a part of the archives (along with your writeups). Look for the 2009 writeups soon, and if you tracked your team last season, but didn’t send me the final tallies, please feel free to do so. Put in the subject line: “2009 Uniform Tracking (for “team”).”
If you’re interested in tracking this year and didn’t do so last year, you can look here, here, here, and here to see how it all went down last year.
On Target! After twenty-nine seasons inside the HHHomerdome, the Minnesota Twins opened brand new, beautiful Target Field yesterday, after rainy skies threatened to dampen the fans, but not their spirits.
Hey, that’s what happens when you play outdoors now. No matter, the fans showed up in droves, although some may have forgotten proper authentic gear. Of course, there were those who treated “opening” day (the ‘official’ home opener is still 9 days away) as an occasion to break out their formal attire (if only they wore pullovers, they wouldn’t have those placket issues).
Only hours before gametime, skies were dark and rain did fall, but as though on cue, the rain stopped, allowing fans to check out the bronze statue of Rod Carew. Once inside, fans eagerly awaited the moment for which they had been waiting for so many years: the Twins taking the field in an outdoor stadium.
Day quickly turned to night, and the Twins lost, but no matter. Scenes like this are surely a most welcome site in the Twin Cities. “Is this heaven,” an out-of-town fan was said to ask upon entering the new stadium. “No,” replied his friend from downtown, “This is Minnesota.” Indeed.
I’m sure there will be plenty of reviews on Target Field (and hopefully some from one or more of UW’s Minnesota denizens), so I’ll leave that to them. But, like all new parks, Target does have some quirks and interesting features that we’ll explore down the road.
For now, Denard Span will be the answer to several trivia questions, Anthony Slama (who isn’t on the 40 man roster and will begin the season at Triple-A Rochester) took the hill wearing stirrups, and Target Field guardians Minnie & Paul give the first Twins game a big thumbs up.
After a brief respite for spring training, the boys are back and better than ever. Oh boy, are they ever. Here’s Rick:
Excitement, anticipation, optimism…all good. Very, very good. Of course, things change with progress, too. And sometimes we don’t realize that right away.
And with that, enjoy your full color Saturday Benchies.
The Pittsburgh Pirates (1957-1970): For 14 years, beginning in 1957 and culminating halfway through the 1970 season, the last at Forbes Field, the Pirates wore a simple, plain, gorgeous home and away set featuring identical home and away (white and gray) vested uniforms, and black stirrups featuring three gold stripes. Worn by Hall of Famers like Bill Mazeroski, Willie Stargell, and Roberto Clemente, the classic stirrups were also worn during the 1960 World Series (as seen on Elroy Face), which the Pirates took from the heavily favored New York Yankees on one of the most famous home runs in baseball history.
For about half of the years of this ‘stirrup run,’ the Pirates kept their pants high (Bob Friend), even as the styles made the pants progressively tighter (Dick Groat). As the mid-sixties approached, however, the stirrups would get pulled higher and the pant legs would creep lower, and many players were “hiding” the top one or two stripes. But it was a beautiful thing while it lasted.
In June, 1970, the Pirates would play their last game at Forbes Field and move to Three Rivers Stadium, changing uniforms and stirrups, and ushering in the polyester double-knit era into the major leagues. We’ll take a look at those stirrups at another time.
Guess The Game From The Scoreboard: Hmmm…what would happen when there’s more runs scored than the scoreboard can handle? What would you do? Today’s guest scoreboard comes from Lance Smith, and that’s the question we have on our hands today. Ready? Guess The Game From The Scoreboard. Date, location and final score, please, and be sure to link to your answer. And, as always, if you enjoy the game, please send me some new scoreboards! Drop me a line. Thanks!
Back again with more Uniform Tweaks, Concepts and Revisions today. Lots to get to, and if you have a tweak, change or concept for any sport, send them my way.
~~~
We begin the show today with Will L. Wyss, who has some interesting logo & helmet changes for the Fighting Illini…er…the Illinois football program:
Hello-
So, here is my uniform tweak, and its not so much Uniform tweak as a whole logo make over. I don’t know how you guys feel about college uniform tweaks, but…
Here is where this all stemmed from, the University of Illinois (for which I am a student) is considering bringing in a new logo. Now, while I am firmly against the idea, the graphic designer in me could not resist. The university believe an eagle would be an easy transition. So, I took our previous, and our current, and walla. The helmets are a blend of the the Philly and the wings of my design… Yeah, thank you…
Will L. Wyss
Next up is Jon Gates, who also has a college football tweak — the Nebraska Cornhuskers:
As a uniform enthusiast from Nebraska, Football is Life. Scarlet and Cream need to make a comeback.
Included are 2 uniforms for my beloved Cornhuskers. Classic, and New Classic
There must have been something in the air, because today’s third tweak is ALSO college football, and this one comes from Patrick Lange, who brings us his vision for the Volunteers of Tennessee:
Something really bothers me about Tennessee using black in their uniforms, however I really love their checkerboard end zones so based on these two factors I decided to make a tweak of their football uniforms.
Patrick Lange
Completing the college week, we have Matthew Hager, who has a basketball tweak for the Dayton Flyers:
I know most of your tweaks are football-related, but since I’m depressed about my alma mater not making the NCAA Tournament, I figured I’d give my Dayton Flyers the makeover they so desperately need.
There you have it. Four colleges, four new concepts. Good stuff gentlemen.
As we approach the greatest day in sports (otherwise known as Opening Day), we get the NCAA Basketball Final Four today, and a few MLB preseason games to get the rust off. So, everyone have a great Saturday.
Shortstop to the third base line — that was my spot. I could take any pitch and go to that hole. — Rodney Cline Carew
The Tennessee uni tweak is absolutely brilliant. I love how clean the orange and white look. And the checkered stripe, as well as the stripe on the sleeve make the uni pop out. Well done.
It’s only April 3 and the season hasn’t even started, but I’m already tired of the Nike MLB undershirts. Too much swoosh!
[quote comment=”383916″]It’s only April 3 and the season hasn’t even started, but I’m already tired of the Nike MLB undershirts. Too much swoosh![/quote]
You got that right. Gonna be sort of the visual hemorrhoid of 2010 baseball season, isn’t it.
(Is this where someone says, “Yeah, maybe it’s the Klingons who should be wearing them”?)
—Ricko
Talk about visual oddities.
Patrick Lange’s Tennessee tweak made me wonder what would happen if checkerboard and stripe switched postions.
Doesn’t show here so well, but I’d wager the visual effect when seen on a player in motion would be that the outer edges of the stripe were wildly out of focus.
Talk about screwing with our minds.
link
—Ricko
Better sense of the “out-of-focus” illusion when it’s reduced.
link
—Ricko
Is that Rod Carew’s wife?
Re guess the game:
It’s this one.
link
The Reds hit seven homers that game. Fun times.
[quote comment=”383920″]Is that Rod Carew’s wife?[/quote]
His wife is just out of the frame, I believe.
She looks a lot like the woman shown, though, who may be his step daughter.
—Ricko
Scoreboard is from June 1, 1957 game – Cubs at Cincinnati (Crosley Field). Reds won 22-2 as Frank Robinson hit two of the Reds seven HR’s that afternoon. {Ref: link
I am always intrigued by the number of readers that feel Opening Day is the greatest day in sports.
I have to go with Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL.
[quote comment=”383921″]Re guess the game:
It’s this one.
link
The Reds hit seven homers that game. Fun times.[/quote]
Lotta sock stripes that day, too.
Both teams wore that “at last 9 stripes” style that year.
Redlegs had worn them in ’56 on the road, and they were part of a brand new look for the Cubs (’57 was first year of the home pins and the round “C” hat logo they still wear).
Reds also introduced the white home and gray road caps in ’57.
In ’58, both went to solid color stirrups.
Here’s how the teams looked that day.
link
—Ricko
Is there a list somewhere of what teams are being “tracked” for this coming season?
If there’s a team not being followed by a UWer, I’d be willing to track them this season in the interest of having a complete set of data. :)
[quote comment=”383924″]I am always intrigued by the number of readers that feel Opening Day is the greatest day in sports.
I have to go with Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL.[/quote]
So many more aspects of Opening Day, many of them beyond what’s actually happening on the field. It’s a beginning. All teams are involved. Everyone’s still optimistic. It signals the beginning of Spring. And, while football may have eclipsed baseball in the national consciousness, it hasn’t held that kind of lofty position nearly as long as baseball. Not even close. Opening Day has been imbedded in us for a century or more.
Certainly there’s greater import in other days in sports. No one would be crazy enough to ever argue that. I mean, your team can lose on Opening Day and it’s no big deal. You didn’t expect to go 162-0, anyway. But, few are as much FUN as Opening Day. That, I think, is where those who love it so much are coming from.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”383924″]I am always intrigued by the number of readers that feel Opening Day is the greatest day in sports.
I have to go with Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL.[/quote]
However, you will get more of a consensus, from fans, of that good opening day feeling, fresh start etc.. By the time the Conference Championship rolls around, a lot of fans have checked out, cuz it’s only down to four.
[quote comment=”383927″][quote comment=”383924″]I am always intrigued by the number of readers that feel Opening Day is the greatest day in sports.
I have to go with Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL.[/quote]
So many more aspects of Opening Day, many of them beyond what’s actually happening on the field. It’s a beginning. All teams are involved. Everyone’s still optimistic. It signals the beginning of Spring. And, while football may have eclipsed baseball in the national consciousness, it hasn’t held that kind of lofty position nearly as long as baseball. Not even close. Opening Day has been imbedded in us for a century or more.
Certainly there’s greater import in other days in sports. No one would be crazy enough to ever argue that. I mean, your team can lose on Opening Day and it’s no big deal. You didn’t expect to go 162-0, anyway. But, few are as much FUN as Opening Day. That, I think, is where those who love it so much are coming from.
—Ricko[/quote]
I was only speaking for myself in regards to the NFC/AFC Championship games. Obviously, there is not one day that is better than any other. I’m just surprised the consensus of so many Uniwatch readers. Rebirth and shit… I get it.
Wait a minute.
link?
For a minute, I thought they updated the logo and put them on the wrong sides of the river.
link.
Ice Water said…
“I was only speaking for myself in regards to the NFC/AFC Championship games. Obviously, there is not one day that is better than any other. I’m just surprised the consensus of so many Uniwatch readers. Rebirth and shit… I get it.”
Not to mention (if you include Home Openers) 30 monster parties, generally outdoors, all over the country with 40,000 to 50,000 attending each of them (many of them skipping work to be there, too, lol).
—Ricko
[quote comment=”383924″]I am always intrigued by the number of readers that feel Opening Day is the greatest day in sports.
I have to go with Conference Championship Sunday in the NFL.[/quote]
Not only is it opening day for the baseball season, but it’s usually championship night for the NCAA basketball tournament, so you have a great sports day that runs for several hours.
From everything I’ve seen, Target Field looks like a great ballpark. However. that upper deck out in right-center just freaks me out, it looks partially collapsed link
I attended my very first MLB games in Minnesota in the early 90’s. Although the experience was a great one, it was somewhat dampened by the fact that it was a beautiful weekend outside and we were stuck watching the games in a domed stadium. Didn’t matter though – we had a fun weekend and what a city Minneapolis was! Great people! Congrats on the new stadium – it looks fantastic.
[quote comment=”383933″]From everything I’ve seen, Target Field looks like a great ballpark. However. that upper deck out in right-center just freaks me out, it looks partially collapsed link
Yeah. Are they trying to hark back to the link?
*folded-up*
[quote comment=”383926″]Is there a list somewhere of what teams are being “tracked” for this coming season?
If there’s a team not being followed by a UWer, I’d be willing to track them this season in the interest of having a complete set of data. :)[/quote]
um…not that i know of
but if you look back at the four “midseason” tweaks columns (at the bottom of the main article), you can see who had been tracked last season; you may want to pick another team
last year, there were a couple “multiple” trackers of the same team, so it’s not a problem if someone else is tracking a team you would wish, but if you want to “fill in the gaps” i’d pick a team which wasn’t tracked last season
thanks for the interest…shoot me an email and let me know who you’re interested in tracking
re: PIRATES STIRRUPS…
Trouble is, the stirrup on the left is the real deal, while the one on the right is what some people think—seem to insist—they looked like (It’s 5-in. stirrup TCK makes, too, unfortunately, and what leads to the “soccer sock” look Zito wears)…
link
Would be great if that were a Pirates uni and sock from the ’20s or ’30s.
But it isn’t.
—Ricko
Phil
I would love to track the O’s for the site (although from what I remember last year it should be pretty boring) Whites at home, Grays on the road and Blacks on Friday with the O’s cap. Lets see if they switch it up.
[quote comment=”383935″][quote comment=”383933″]From everything I’ve seen, Target Field looks like a great ballpark. However. that upper deck out in right-center just freaks me out, it looks partially collapsed link
Yeah. Are they trying to hark back to the link?[/quote]
good thought jimbo…
btw…in case you didn’t get the “graphic” or ricko’s benchies…target field features multiple “knotholes” along the 5th street side of the facility allowing fans to watch the action without buying a ticket
hopefully, ricko or one of the other minnesotans will visit the park soon and can give a review…i love the idea of the ‘knotholes’
conjures up images of ebbets and sportsman’s
Wow, what a post! The Mets wore 12 different uniform combinations in 2009? Wonder what’s in store for their uni combos in 2010? The off-white uni’s should be interesting.
[quote comment=”383940″][quote comment=”383935″][quote comment=”383933″]From everything I’ve seen, Target Field looks like a great ballpark. However. that upper deck out in right-center just freaks me out, it looks partially collapsed link
Yeah. Are they trying to hark back to the link?[/quote]
good thought jimbo…
btw…in case you didn’t get the “graphic” or ricko’s benchies…target field features multiple “knotholes” along the 5th street side of the facility allowing fans to watch the action without buying a ticket
hopefully, ricko or one of the other minnesotans will visit the park soon and can give a review…i love the idea of the ‘knotholes’
conjures up images of link and sportsman’s[/quote]
Or link, or
Pac BellSBClink.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, when did the Red Sox wear green caps last year? Was it some kind of environmental awareness promotion? I don’t recall that one.
Twins baseball outdoors.
It’s about time. The place–if the pictures are any indication–looks great. Finally.
I grew up going to games at the old, Erector Set Met, which I loved, and vowed never to set foot in Calvin Griffith’s blackmail bubble. And I never did. True, I left the state after the thing was only three years old, but I remained true to my words.
Two World Series Championships and all, that dome was a joke.
Even if the Twins are terrible for years to come, at least fans will get to watch a game in an actual stadium.
And whoever pushed for the giant Minny and Paul logo in the outfield should get season tickets for life.
[quote comment=”383942″][quote comment=”383940″][quote comment=”383935″][quote comment=”383933″]From everything I’ve seen, Target Field looks like a great ballpark. However. that upper deck out in right-center just freaks me out, it looks partially collapsed link
Yeah. Are they trying to hark back to the link?[/quote]
good thought jimbo…
btw…in case you didn’t get the “graphic” or ricko’s benchies…target field features multiple “knotholes” along the 5th street side of the facility allowing fans to watch the action without buying a ticket
hopefully, ricko or one of the other minnesotans will visit the park soon and can give a review…i love the idea of the ‘knotholes’
conjures up images of link and sportsman’s[/quote]
Or link, or
Pac BellSBClink.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hey, when did the Red Sox wear green caps last year? Was it some kind of environmental awareness promotion? I don’t recall that one.[/quote]
They wore them Game 2 of a doubleheader versus the Twins on April 23, in honor of Earth Day. The jerseys were recycled from St. Patrick’s Day: they still had the shamrock.
[quote comment=”383943″]Twins baseball outdoors.
It’s about time. The place–if the pictures are any indication–looks great. Finally.
I grew up going to games at the old, Erector Set Met, which I loved, and vowed never to set foot in Calvin Griffith’s blackmail bubble. And I never did. True, I left the state after the thing was only three years old, but I remained true to my words.
Two World Series Championships and all, that dome was a joke.
Even if the Twins are terrible for years to come, at least fans will get to watch a game in an actual stadium.
And whoever pushed for the giant Minny and Paul logo in the outfield should get season tickets for life.[/quote]
Hard to explain, but even only seeing the stadium on TV, for someone who has lived with domeball for so many years, there is a sense that that little part of life around here is right again. That we’re back in step with things, that the gears mesh.
It’s like a huge, shared, grateful sigh. Maybe some relief in it, that indoor baseball is behind us, finally. A small joy.
It just makes us smile, I guess.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”383945″][quote comment=”383943″]Twins baseball outdoors.
It’s about time. The place–if the pictures are any indication–looks great. Finally.
I grew up going to games at the old, Erector Set Met, which I loved, and vowed never to set foot in Calvin Griffith’s blackmail bubble. And I never did. True, I left the state after the thing was only three years old, but I remained true to my words.
Two World Series Championships and all, that dome was a joke.
Even if the Twins are terrible for years to come, at least fans will get to watch a game in an actual stadium.
And whoever pushed for the giant Minny and Paul logo in the outfield should get season tickets for life.[/quote]
Hard to explain, but even only seeing the stadium on TV, for someone who has lived with domeball for so many years, there is a sense that that little part of life around here is right again. That we’re back in step with things, that the gears mesh.
It’s like a huge, shared, grateful sigh. Maybe some relief in it, that indoor baseball is behind us, finally. A small joy.
It just makes us smile, I guess.
—Ricko[/quote]
must be nice to have a beautiful park…unlike this
before paul & i moved (because, ya know, there were lots of empty seats), here was our view
2009 mets…good times, good times
[quote comment=”383940″][quote comment=”383935″][quote comment=”383933″]From everything I’ve seen, Target Field looks like a great ballpark. However. that upper deck out in right-center just freaks me out, it looks partially collapsed link
Yeah. Are they trying to hark back to the link?[/quote]
good thought jimbo…
btw…in case you didn’t get the “graphic” or ricko’s benchies…target field features multiple “knotholes” along the 5th street side of the facility allowing fans to watch the action without buying a ticket
hopefully, ricko or one of the other minnesotans will visit the park soon and can give a review…i love the idea of the ‘knotholes’
conjures up images of link and sportsman’s[/quote]
link is a report on the knotholes. Looks like you’re going to be disappointed, Phil.
[quote comment=”383947″]
link is a report on the knotholes. Looks like you’re going to be disappointed, Phil.[/quote]
well, that’s kinda what i was expecting, not this or heaven forbid, something like this
just thought it conjured up those images…in my head, anyway
[quote comment=”383946″][quote comment=”383945″][quote comment=”383943″]Twins baseball outdoors.
It’s about time. The place–if the pictures are any indication–looks great. Finally.
I grew up going to games at the old, Erector Set Met, which I loved, and vowed never to set foot in Calvin Griffith’s blackmail bubble. And I never did. True, I left the state after the thing was only three years old, but I remained true to my words.
Two World Series Championships and all, that dome was a joke.
Even if the Twins are terrible for years to come, at least fans will get to watch a game in an actual stadium.
And whoever pushed for the giant Minny and Paul logo in the outfield should get season tickets for life.[/quote]
Hard to explain, but even only seeing the stadium on TV, for someone who has lived with domeball for so many years, there is a sense that that little part of life around here is right again. That we’re back in step with things, that the gears mesh.
It’s like a huge, shared, grateful sigh. Maybe some relief in it, that indoor baseball is behind us, finally. A small joy.
It just makes us smile, I guess.
—Ricko[/quote]
must be nice to have a beautiful park…unlike link
before paul & i moved (because, ya know, there were lots of empty seats), here was our link
2009 mets…good times, good times[/quote]
Good god, are there better seats than those?
Any Final Four uni-thoughts? As the only non-blue team, it was certainly easy to pick out the MSU fans around downtown Indy yesterday.
must be nice to have a beautiful park…unlike this
Good god, do you even remember Shea?! Citi is light years ahead of Shea in every aspect, except capacity and use of blue.
There were PLENTY of views with rails in the way there too… and the food was terrible, the bathrooms were small, the hallways cramped, the seats facing the wrong way, the views of the chop shops past the wall, little outfield seating, nosebleeds in the deck…
Give it a rest, Citi is fantastic, a winning season would’ve made it a gem in most everybody’s eyes. I’m sure there will be problems with Target, but Twins fans won’t spend a year b*tching and whining about it.
I can’t wait to be back in the LF Deck at Citi on Monday.
[quote comment=”383951″]must be nice to have a beautiful park…unlike this
Good god, do you even remember Shea?! Citi is light years ahead of Shea in every aspect, except capacity and use of blue.[/quote]
i remember shea, sometimes quite fondly, other times, no so…good times had there to be sure
was it the best place to see a game? hell no…i remember getting vertigo in the upper left field deck for the todd pratt homerun, which i couldn’t even see clear the wall because of the sightlines, peeing off the top balcony because the walk to the bathrooms was literally a mile, not being able to see the game when i got a beer and a dog, parking in the chopshop alley because i didn’t want to pay for parking, etc etc
but is
citinew shea any better? i guess that remains to be seen, but dammit, it could have been so much betterblack outfield walls? drop shadow on the retired numbers? the new apple that didn’t work (not that they needed it much)…gary sheffield…”no” obstructed views???
everything about 2009 was wrong
but everything will be right with the world come monday
[quote comment=”383952″][quote comment=”383951″]must be nice to have a beautiful park…unlike this
Good god, do you even remember Shea?! Citi is light years ahead of Shea in every aspect, except capacity and use of blue.[/quote]
i remember shea, sometimes quite fondly, other times, no so…good times had there to be sure
was it the best place to see a game? hell no…i remember getting vertigo in the upper left field deck for the link homerun, which i couldn’t even see clear the wall because of the sightlines, peeing off the top balcony because the walk to the bathrooms was literally a mile, not being able to see the game when i got a beer and a dog, parking in the chopshop alley because i didn’t want to pay for parking, etc etc
but is
citinew shea any better? i guess that remains to be seen, but dammit, it could have been so much betterblack outfield walls? drop shadow on the retired numbers? the new apple that didn’t work (not that they needed it much)…gary sheffield…”no” obstructed views???
everything about 2009 was wrong
but everything will be right with the world come monday[/quote]
It’s not so much the ballpark itself that’s magical, but the memories created in it.
but is citi new shea any better?
Absolutely. It doesn’t have any of those issues I mentioned. Did they drop the ball with not making it “Mets” enough, sure. Have they made numerous improvements to change that? Yes.
If a black wall, drop shadows on retired numbers, and the name of the club section are the worst of its problems, then it’s only a Met fan who would give it a thumbs down.
Is it magical? No… not yet. But the structure is a helluva lot and watching a ballgame there (its main function) is a much more enjoyable experience than a decrepit Shea.
[quote comment=”383954″]but is citi new shea any better?
Absolutely. It doesn’t have any of those issues I mentioned. Did they drop the ball with not making it “Mets” enough, sure. Have they made numerous improvements to change that? Yes.
If a black wall, drop shadows on retired numbers, and the name of the club section are the worst of its problems, then it’s only a Met fan who would give it a thumbs down.
Is it magical? No… not yet. But the structure is a helluva lot and watching a ballgame there (its main function) is a much more enjoyable experience than a decrepit Shea.[/quote]
Decrepit? Nonsense. Shea was still in perfect working condition. Is CitiField an improvement? Perhaps in some respects. But as one who just goes to watch the game, I can’t say it’s a significantly better experience.
[quote comment=”383954″] it’s only a Met fan who would give it a thumbs down.[/quote]
oh…i forgot…they didn’t build it for met fans
/my bad
Douchebaggery?
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Ehhh – UA is a good corporate neighbor – providing jobs, etc right in that neighborhood – and it’s very temporary. The grass will grow out.
[quote comment=”383957″]Douchebaggery?
link
Ehhh – UA is a good corporate neighbor – providing jobs, etc right in that neighborhood – and it’s very temporary. The grass will grow out.[/quote]
Agree 100%, UA is sponsoring a volleyball championship at the Convention Center that has filled hotel rooms and resturaunts downtown. I love that the idiots that are paying 500,000+ for Row Homes in Baltimore think that Federal Hill is some sort of National Monument, now if they tried this out at Fort McHenry I would be angry. Suck it up yuppies.
[quote comment=”383958″][quote comment=”383957″]Douchebaggery?
link
Ehhh – UA is a good corporate neighbor – providing jobs, etc right in that neighborhood – and it’s very temporary. The grass will grow out.[/quote]
Agree 100%, UA is sponsoring a volleyball championship at the Convention Center that has filled hotel rooms and resturaunts downtown. I love that the idiots that are paying 500,000+ for Row Homes in Baltimore think that Federal Hill is some sort of National Monument, now if they tried this out at Fort McHenry I would be angry. Suck it up yuppies.[/quote]
Glad Frank put a fine point on it for me. Some of my best friends are the yuppie idiots in that association, and i didn’t want to be the one calling them out!!
Myles Brand autograph on the sideline of the final four court? Uh, no. Not a good choice.
[quote comment=”383950″]Any Final Four uni-thoughts? As the only non-blue team, it was certainly easy to pick out the MSU fans around downtown Indy yesterday.[/quote]
Only non blue team? Clearly you haven’t noticed that WVU’s new school colors are black and gold.
Oh man, that shot of Clemente in the Lumber Company-era uniform just put a cherry on the top of my day! That’s still my all-time favorite uniform.
yesterday JAson and War Damn Eagle both mentioned that they were Burnley fans. do you guys know of a website that sells their socks? The online team shop has been out for a while.
On the Tennessee tweaks, the only part I really like is the sleeve stripes.
The checkerboard helmet/pants stripe seems good in theory and would look nice up close, but would probably blend and appear yellow-ish from a distance.
Hate the orange facemask.
Yes, I know the Mets had 12 combinations last year… but the Red Sox had 13.
Home white
Home white with red cap
Home white with green cap (worn once for Earth Day, also worn in Spring Training for St. Patrick’s Day)
Road gray with blue socks
Road gray with red socks
Road gray with blue socks and NNOB (worn once on April 15, Wakefield almost had a no-hitter)
Road gray with red socks and red cap
Home red
Home red with red cap
Road blue with blue socks
Road blue with red socks
Road blue with red socks and red cap
Road blue with blue socks and regular cap (worn once vs. Toronto’s throwbacks)
In another Red Sox uni note, last year’s new home alts hold the record for earliest leak ever, as they were leaked FOUR AND A HALF YEARS before they first appeared on the field, in the Dropkick Murphys’ “Tessie” music video (though they had NOBs to avoid confusion with the then-current Sox with those numbers)
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as sweet as the 60s Pirates set is ….. this ’70 uni and especially these ‘rups are awesome.
Requiescat in pace, Roberto.