Jul 1, 2008 11:05 pm US/Central
Good Question: Who Picks Out The Twins' Uniforms?
(WCCO)
Times have changed, from the days a baseball team had a white uniform for home games and a grey uniform for road trips. Now, the Minnesota Twins have five different uniform choices.
"Who decides what uniforms are to be worn for each game, and what is the significance of the particular choice?" asked Richard Tamke via e-mail.
The answer isn't the clubhouse manager, equipment manager or some sort of scheduled rotation.
"The starting pitcher says here's what we're wearing tonight," explained Kevin Smith, Minnesota Twins Vice President.
Some pitchers make the same choice every game. Livan Hernandez always wears the sleeveless jersey at home, and so does the rest of the team.
According to the Twins, Boof Bonser and Nick Blackburn both decide based on past success in that particular jersey. So if they won in blue the night before, they'd wear it again next time.
"Our pitchers get to choose. They're important players, whatever they're comfortable in, the rest of the team's gonna wear," explained Smith. "Baseball rides the crest of superstition on a daily basis…. even down to the wardrobe."
Why so many jerseys?
"This gives our merchandising folks opportunities, as there's a lot for fans to buy. It's a variety," said Smith.
The home jerseys all have the word "Twins" on the front. The road jerseys read "Minnesota." The traditional jerseys are light in color with pinstripes and the alternate jerseys are blue.
"If the home team selects their alternate home jersey, we can't select our alternate road jersey. We have to revert back to the traditional jersey," said Smith.
"When the starting pitcher walks in to, the clubhouse manager will ask him. And then the clubhouse manager goes and hangs the appropriate jersey in all the lockers," explained Andrea Larson, a Twins Spokesperson. "So the player just wears what's in his locker."
Just like in high school sports, the jerseys are owned by the team. So if players want to take one of "their" jerseys home, they have to pay for it.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
