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Good morning, Uni Watchers. Welcome to Memorial Day 2025.
As you’re likely aware, the first national observance of Memorial Day took place on May 30, 1868. Originally called Decoration Day, it was established by Commander in Chief John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic to honor Union soldiers who died in the American Civil War. This national observance followed various local ones.
But the important sentiment behind Memorial Day remains: If you are mourning a fallen member of the military, please accept our sympathies. We’ve added a black band to our logo as a gesture of remembrance.
After several years of misinterpreting the meaning of Memorial Day, for the past six years, MLB has gotten it right, as all teams and on-field players and personnel who are playing today (24 out of 30 teams will be in action) will be will wear the traditional Memorial red poppy on the left side of their jerseys with “Lest We Forget” language included.
If you’re curious as to why a poppy, in 1915, after the Second Battle of Ypres, Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a doctor in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, wrote the poem “In Flanders Fields.” The poem references poppies growing among soldiers’ graves in Flanders. Inspired by it, Moina Michael wore a silk poppy at a conference in 1918 and gave more to others. The National American Legion adopted the poppy as a symbol of remembrance in 1920.
Some of you may have noticed today’s date: May 26th. In addition to being Memorial Day, today is Founder’s Day — the 26th anniversary of the very first Uni Watch column, and the first anniversary of Paul retiring from Uni Watch and passing the baton to me. Paul and I both have some thoughts to share about how this first year has gone, but we don’t want to intrude on the solemnity of Memorial Day, so we’ll both share those thoughts with you tomorrow, which will be Founder’s Day (Observed).
That’ll do it for the early lede. For those who like to play, below there are some Guess The Games.
Following this article, we will have a Ticker, and possibly an article later in the day. I’m actually going to be quite busy with some personal matters today, but tomorrow will be a very special day.
Guess the Game from the Scoreboard
Guess The Game…
…From The Scoreboard
Today’s scoreboard comes from Brook Bailey.
The premise of the game (GTGFTS) is simple: I’ll post a scoreboard and you guys simply identify the game depicted. In the past, I don’t know if I’ve ever completely stumped you (some are easier than others).
Here’s the Scoreboard. In the comments below, try to identify the game (date and location, as well as final score). If anything noteworthy occurred during the game, please add that in (and if you were AT the game, well bonus points for you!):
Please continue sending these in! You’re welcome to send me any scoreboard photos (with answers please), and I’ll keep running them.
Guess the Game from the Scoreboard
Based on the suggestion of long-time reader/contributor Jimmy Corcoran, we’ve introduced a new “game” on Uni Watch, which is similar to the popular “Guess the Game from the Scoreboard” (GTGFTS), only this one asked readers to identify the game based on the uniforms worn by teams.
Like GTGFTS, readers will be asked to guess the date, location and final score of the game from the clues provided in the photo. Sometimes the game should be somewhat easy to ascertain, while in other instances, it might be quite difficult. There will usually be a visual clue (something odd or unique to one or both of the uniforms) that will make a positive identification of one and only one game possible. Other times, there may be something significant about the game in question, like the last time a particular uniform was ever worn (one of Jimmy’s original suggestions). It’s up to YOU to figure out the game and date.
Today’s GTGFTU comes from Jimmer Vilk.
Good luck and please post your guess/answer in the comments below.
And finally...
…that’s it for the early lede. As noted above, we’ll have a Ticker from Jamie to follow, and possibly an article or two.
Please keep in your hearts the many we are honoring today — not the government, not the Armed Forces, not our veterans — no, today is the day we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Our war dead. It’s a solemn day and one which we’d do well to more fully appreciate for its true meaning. While it may have become a day for bar-be-ques, sales and not to mention the unofficial “kickoff” to summer, that’s not what today was originally about.
All-Star Game, St Louis, MO July 14, 2009. I was there. American won 4-3.
GTGFTS: 14 Jul 2009, All-Star Game. American League 4 – 3 National League.
GTGFTU: 28 Nov 1974, Week 12, Thanksgiving Day game. Broncos 31 – 27 Lions in their last game at Tiger Stadium.
Have a good Memorial Day!
If only the Broncos had worn orange pants…it would have made the final game at Tiger Stadium a beautiful matchup.
I think the UW logo looks great with the BFBS outline.
It’s the very opposite of black for black’s sake. It’s there for a reason.
r/woooosh
Caught between the rock of today’s solemnity and the hard place of exuberance at how good that UW logo looks.
much like when the north stars added black to their uniforms
All-Star Game, St Louis, MO July 14, 2009. I was there. American won 4-3.
GTGFTS: 14 Jul 2009, All-Star Game. American League 4 – 3 National League.
GTGFTU: 28 Nov 1974, Week 12, Thanksgiving Day game. Broncos 31 – 27 Lions in their last game at Tiger Stadium.
Have a good Memorial Day!
If only the Broncos had worn orange pants…it would have made the final game at Tiger Stadium a beautiful matchup.
I think the UW logo looks great with the BFBS outline.
It’s the very opposite of black for black’s sake. It’s there for a reason.
r/woooosh
Caught between the rock of today’s solemnity and the hard place of exuberance at how good that UW logo looks.
much like when the north stars added black to their uniforms
link