Last week, we had a fun “Question of the Week” from Mike Chamernik, and he’s back today with his latest QOTW.
Enjoy!
Question of the Week
by Mike Chamernik
Two memorial patches were unveiled on Monday. While the Reds went with a straightforward approach for Pete Rose — a black circle with No. 14 — the Brewers offered a fitting homage to Bob Uecker, incorporating the plaid motif from his signature sports coats.
What are some of the best memorial patches and uniform tributes from over the years? What are some of the most memorable ones in your team’s history?
Have you ever worn a memorial patch, or any other sort of memento, while playing sports to remember someone? I think of running back Aaron Jones, who wears a necklace that contains his father’s ashes.
Thanks, Mike — great question again.
There have been some excellent memorial patches over the years, but my favorite is probably the Tom Landry fedora patch the Dallas Cowboys wore in 2000. I do like the way the New York Mets handle their memorial patches (several different examples are in that piece).
Can’t wait to hear the readers’ responses! OK guys…fire away!
I love the Dan Rooney patch the Steelers used.
link
I think simple is best. The Doug Scovil electrical tape on helmet tribute by the Eagles was simple but so well done.
Uniform tributes? The Minnesota Twins had two great ones. Purple wristbands for Prince, and the throwbacks full time at home for Harmon Killebrew. Similar to the Killebrew tribute, I liked that the San Francisco 49ers got special permission to wear throwbacks on Week 1 to memorialize Bill Walsh.
I perceive the above as different from memorial patches. Memorial patches are mostly black and mostly somber, for very good reasons. Then on top of that, it’s so…for a lack of a better word…easy to memorialize a former player with a uniform number. I love the rare memorial patch that has a little bit of personality (Bill Walton’s tie-dye strip on the Portland Blazers jerseys, because he loved the Grateful Dead and wore tie-dye all the time), that teaches a little bit of history (the minority owner of the Seattle Kraken who suggested a red eye in the logo), or brings out a formerly private detail for all to see (Steve Olin and Tim Crews of the Cleveland Indians…Olin had an arrow under his ball cap to look to the catcher, but I don’t recall what the star meant to Crews). But in my opinion, the supreme best memorial patch I can recall is the Dallas Cowboys using Tom Landry’s hat. That’s perfect. No notes.
I never played with a memorial patch, but I did have a Minnesota Timberwolves pencil when Malik Sealy got killed. I put a strip of masking tape right under the eraser so I could write a #2 on it. Yes, I mimicked a memorial patch on a school supply. No, that’s not even the earliest sign in hindsight that I am a Uni Watcher.
I’m a huge fan of any memorial that appears simple, but is unique to the organization or something. As a Yankees fan, I just love the beautiful simplicity of the black armband with the number just above it. I was really disappointed when the Yankees did a more common black circle patch when Whitey Ford passed. (and I think that’s the last time they did a memorial patch. I also really liked the black electrical tape on the wings utilized by the Eagles, simple and powerful.
I like some of the more unique and elaborate patches, like the Bob Uecker patch the Brewers will be wearing this coming season, but I generally think that simple, but unique to the team is the ideal medium.
I agree with Phil.
The Landry memorial was perfection. Bold but understated, just like the man himself.
Black arm band, or black circle with the persons number or initials are the simple and effective ways to do it. Though I agree the Landry hat memorial was great, and think if the person had a very specific thing about them that was memorable, and can be easily translated into an appropriate graphic, that works also, the Landry hat logo being the perfect example.
RE: Scovil black taped wing; this is wild, because I was very young at the time, and I always associated that with Jerome Brown’s death. A quick GUD scan shows that was three years earlier. I’m guessing being pretty young at the time the taped wing stuck in my mind, and shocking death of Brown a few years later also stands out, they blended together as a memory from my youth.
The Jim Brown memorial patch that the Browns wore last year was very nicely done.
I trust the Guardians will be wearing a patch for Rocky Colavito this season. Man, he was the idol of every kid around here back in the day. Hope it’s a nice one.
Harry Caray Face in 1998 Cubs
My all-time favorite memorial patches are Uecker (Brewers), Herb Carneal (Twins), Caray (Cubs). For some reason, teams seem more inspired to try to capture the personality of the person being honored when it’s a broadcaster than when it’s a player. For all I know, players place a high value on simple number format that’s so ubiquitous when honoring former players, and that’s fine if that’s the case, but I find the whole genre boring and impersonal.
Vladimir Konstantinov and Sergei Mnatsakanov patch for detroit redwings 97/98
I always thought that one was kinda odd since they didn’t die in that limo crash, although Sergei did pass away last summer. Has there ever been any other uniform memorials for someone that didn’t die?
Yes! The Tampa Bay Lightning had a clover patch with the #12, for active player John Cullen. He needed the 1997-98 season off for cancer treatment. He briefly returned the next season, and he is still alive to this day
The Tim Wakefield #49 in a heart used by the Red Sox last year was pure class.
We all wore 9/11 memorial patches for the 01-02 season in the Montgomery County (Md) house hockey league. With that and an alternate captain A, I kind of felt like a big deal
I also wear a tribute to my late dad on the back of my hockey helmet to this day, sharpie on some white hockey tape
Cleveland’s Bob Feller memorial patch with his pitching silhouette+number was very nice. Likewise their Herb Score memorial included both his number and a microphone honoring both his pitching career and long radio broadcasting one. Last favorite was the Cubs’ Jack Brickhouse one: a simple arch with “Hey Hey” on it.
Sabres French Connection great Rick Martin memorial patch was outstanding with name and number 7 in blue and gold, with a tribute to his French Canadian heritage with the fleur-de-lis.
Looking at other announcers patches in comparison to Bob Uecker
The Dave Niehaus patch by the Mariners wasn’t too Shabby
link
The Vin Scully patch was simple and understated. Much like Vin
link
The Bill King Patch was good. Sort of Like Niehaus but in color.
link
I bought a new Reds home jersey by Rawlings just before the 1988 season and took it to Koch’s in Cincinnati to get stitched. I probably said something to Greg Koch like “letter it exactly like the Reds are done, and put the ASG patch on it.”.
I got it back, stitched to perfection as usual, but unbeknownst to me, they had added the Klu/Roush black memorial band. From my recollection, the memorial was flubbed in some way and it was removed after the first homestand. I didn’t remove the band or the ASG patch and the jersey still hangs in my closet with it.
The A’s Ray Fosse patch a few years ago was very well done. They were able to make it a solid tribute to both his playing and broadcasting careers.