Sneak peek (updated)
I was invited to the third floor of the warehouse today to take a look at the new Orioles uniforms, which will be unveiled at Wednesday's noon rally at The Gallery at Harborplace.
I can't provide any specifics at this time, but keep checking masnsports.com before Wednesday at noon.
I will say that some changes to the home, road and alternate jerseys and caps will be quite noticeable, others more subtle. The club wanted to strike a balance between giving a nod to its past and being contemporary and looking toward the future.
The Orioles informed Major League Baseball in March that they wanted to alter their uniforms, and had to provide all the specifics by the end of May. Trust me when I say that most of you will approve, though you can't please everyone.
I'll shoot down a few rumors:
The Orioles haven't added Yankee pinstripes.
They haven't changed their name to "Rays."
The logo on the caps hasn't been changed to a cartoon Larry Bird, which would only make sense in Boston.
The players won't wear gray road jerseys whenever the Red Sox come to Camden Yards.
Though hoping to distract fans from 11 straight losing seasons, the Orioles won't change every uniform number to 2,131.
Aubrey Huff's road jersey won't have "Horse(bleep) Town" stitched across the chest.
None of the jerseys have "Teixeira" on the back.
Brian Roberts' jersey doesn't include a Cubs logo.
The road jersey doesn't say "Baltimore/Washington"
Manager Dave Trembley's uniform pants don't include extra padding to keep his thighs from scraping together while walking to the mound to make his fifth pitching change of the night.
Pitching coach Rick Kranitz's pants don't come with a cell phone holder attached to his belt to make it easier to call the bullpen.
Update: I forgot to mention earlier that the team's President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail, manager Dave Trembley and several current and former players - including Nick Markakis, George Sherrill, Jeremy Guthrie and Hall of Famer Jim Palmer - will attend Wednesday's rally. There is no admission charge.
Also, fans can purchase replica jerseys at The Gallery and the team stores at Camden Yards and York, Pa. beginning at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday. Some department stores also should have the items in stock by Thursday, if you want to start your holiday shopping early.
Good stuff Roch!
Btw, I would buy an Aubrey Huff road jersey with "Horse(bleep) Town" stitched across the chest.
Hey Roch. It looks like Holliday is going to the A's. What do you think? I thought it was kind of odd for a rebuilding team to go after a guy they only get for 1 season.
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Very strange, considering the way they've been stripping down the club. Or maybe they were saving up $$$ to sign Holliday to a long-term deal. - Roch
I think the best hat the O's ever had was the block 'B' from 1963. Only a one year wonder. I hate the script 'O' on the hat, but others seem to like like it a lot. I always hated the 'cartoon bird' (how about the 'Natty Boh guy)w/ the white panel and the orange brim, but my 19 year-old thinks it's the greatest...31 flavors. I'm assuming from past blogs there will be Baltimore across the away uniform. It's about time. Gotta work on that Texeira jersey...fills a big whole for years to come, most likely, but you can never be sure. I also thought Glen Davis (oh no, you didn't bring up THAT name) would be the answer.
Can we petition to have our fan jerseys during the Boston & New York series read "Call It CAMDEN YARDS Or Go The Flock Home" with a picture of the angry Oriole Bird underneath it?!?
I don't know what's more sad -- the fact that so many people are looking forward to the uniform changes OR that I actually took a whole day off from work so I could be there in person.
They should design a jersey for Garrett Olson that melts down just before the 5th inning. That's one meltdown to preclude another.
Unless they got the guy who designs the Oregon Ducks' unis, they should stay with what they had, with the "Baltimore" change.
I guess, I'm a little late with that. Like six months late.
I wonder if it's true that Jackie Brandt designed the block letter unis. I think Steadman always said that.
Roch, I suggest you start growing your eyebrows. There has been a distinct hole in the bushy eyebrows department since John died.
In small print " Visit north of Pratt Street at your own risk."
The cartoon bird was the "championship" logo and the only logo this team ever had that was worth a damn. Petey's fascination with that stiff beyond-retarded "stuffed pigeon" logo is a testament to his unfailingly horrid instincts regarding all things Orioles baseball.
Sincerely,
Pat Gillick
The Gallery at Harbor Place... isnt that the small mall? Im not so familiar with that area.
i hope none of the jerseys say "R. Hernandez" either.
"sorry, Ramon, you won't be issued a Baltimore jersey this year... we are saving all of our 'Z' lettering for Matusz and David Hernandez. 'Z' is not as popular a letter as one might think, unless of course you're a 7'8" white guy who plays for the Cavaliers and that's what you go by. And, well, you're not. And no, you're not LeBron Hernandez, either."
wow, i didn't realize i disliked the guy THAT MUCH.
With the new uni's what happens when "Turn Back the Clock" night rolls around??
Will all the O's jerseys sport Billy Ripken's #3 on the back with "F- Face" across the front?
As the O's appear to be in a change mood (in more ways than one) imo it's time to change out the in-game music selection(selector?)starting with "Thank God I'm a Country Boy". This 1974 John Denver hit belongs in the memory books along with Memorial Stadium, Wild Bill Hagy, Sunday doubleheaders and everything else from the crazy 70's.