Paul here. August is almost over, which means I’ll be returning to the blog in a few days. But for today: You know how so many MLB players today wear belts with crazy patterns, or non-matching colors, or with their uni number, or with their initials, or with a shiny finish? Almost all of those belts are made by one company, and my Uni Watch Premium article this week is an interview with that company’s sales/marketing director. Whether you like the new belts or hate them, I think you’ll find it really interesting (as I did) to learn how this trend developed.
You can access the first part of the article here. In order to read the entire thing, you’ll need to become a paying subscriber to my Substack, which will also get you access to my complete Substack archives.
Also: Subscribing now means you will get my annual Uni Watch NFL Season Preview, which will be published next Tuesday. As you know, it’s been a very uni-active offseason, so this year’s NFL Preview is a doozy!
I’ll return to the blog on a full-time basis on Friday. See you then.
As the age of uniformity crumbles, I foresee a time when half the team is wearing home whites and the other half colored alternates. Can’t infringe on a millionaire’s right to free expression. I’m
Old man yells at cloud.
I love this. I love baseball’s history but I also want it to have a future. I love that they’re letting players be characters more and more. Personally, following players isn’t really what I’m into. I don’t do social media, so I don’t really get it, but I also understand that baseball can’t just be for me and guys my age and older. It’s such an incredibly fun game, and I absolutely love seeing the kids get into it as spectators, for any reason, even reasons I don’t really understand or need.
I love this comment – thoughtful, balanced, and real.. I don’t love the curt/agist one in response to Randy which to me diminishes your excellent points here.
I’d be interested to find out whether they are more ethical and sustainable than their leather counterparts. Beyond that, I don’t really care, and it’s as much equipment IMO as shoes, gloves or sunglasses.