Let's Go Mets: Ditch the Black

[writing irish]

I'm no Mets fan, but as one who pays attention to the aesthetics of sports uniforms and graphics, I find the campaign among Mets fans to ditch the fuggin-ugly black gear encouraging. Not exactly Darfur or Iraq as far as degree of social relevance, but what the hell.

http://www.ditchtheblack.com/

 

[Oz]

I'm not a Mets fan, either, but I would love to see them ditch the black. It's never quite looked right to me, even now. It's like when the Bucs tried to incorporate red and gray into the color scheme during the 1990s.

 

[dawgpounddiehard]

I signed up... only because I was quite curious why the Mets started with all this black in the first place. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who thinks it's, ugly.

 

[writing irish]

It really looks like ****, and as the petition mentions, the blue/orange scheme isn't just Mets tradition (a couple of World Series wins among other things), it's a tribute to the NL traditions in NYC (Dodgers blue and Giants orange) and it's also the colors of the NYC flag, owing to the New Amsterdam era of NY history. (Remember those so-ugly-they're-cool orange/blue NY license plates?)

 

[BYH]

Typical Mets...going with the black unis when black was in.

Even their "classic" logo is patently unoriginal. What kind of pathetic club borrows colors from its predecessors for its uniform? Do the Ravens have Colts blue and white in their logo?

Morons.

 

[writing irish]

Morons.

 

[buckweaver]

I'm totally on board, Irish.

Won't make me hate the Mets any less, but at least they'll look much cooler as I'm hating them.

 

[writing irish]

I'm totally on board, Irish.

Won't make me hate the Mets any less, but at least they'll look much cooler as I'm hating them.

Indeed. Let's not forget what a bunch of astounding assholes were on that 86 Series team. Gary Carter AND Keith Hernandez? Tools. I was in Boston for that Series and was surrounded by bandwagon Mets fans from NY/NJ/CT in my college dorm...(shudder).

But, there's no reason for New York's NL franchise to wear those hideous threads...not even the Mets deserve that. I remember reading in some discussion of human dignity, "Even the worst human being deserves the right to take a **** in privacy." This falls under that category, more or less.

 

[BYH]

But, there's no reason for New York's NL franchise to wear those hideous threads...not even the Mets deserve that. I remember reading in some discussion of human dignity, "Even the worst human being deserves the right to take a **** in privacy." This falls under that category, more or less.

Whoa. That's deep.

And you're wrong. they don't deserve to take ****s in private.

 

[GB-Hack]

This was a sad byproduct of everyone thinking black uniforms were cool. I can't agree more that it has to go.

I say the same thing about all black jerseys, see Colorado and others.

 

[writing irish]

Black wool in NY and navy wool in Chicago must have been really friggin uncomfortable around August or so.

 

[buckweaver]

Actually, the Giants' all-black unis were introduced by the superstitious McGraw to be used during the 1905 World Series. They wore them once on the road in 1906, but then they weren't seen again until the 1911 Series, when McGraw brought them back because he thought it would give the 'Jints good luck. After they lost that Series to the A's, McGraw put them away and they were never worn again.

The Cubs, meanwhile, only used navy on the road, and it was only for three seasons (1911-13): <a href="http://baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/uniforms.asp?league=NL&city=Chicago&lowYear=1906&highYear=1936&sort=year&increment=15&=Display+uniforms">see unis here</a>

The White Sox also only used navy on the road (1901-16, 1926, 1930-31): <a href="http://baseballhalloffame.org/exhibits/online_exhibits/dressed_to_the_nines/uniforms.asp?league=AL&city=Chicago&lowYear=1901&highYear=1971&sort=year&increment=18&=Display+uniforms">see those here</a>

 

[writing irish]

Thanks for the Windy City sartorial history lesson, Buck. The navy road unis (both Cubs and Sox) actually looked pretty cool, although practicality is another matter. Interesting to see how those Sox unis have the same graphic scheme as the infamous "pajama" Sox unis of the 1970s...same colors and lettering, only difference is the caps and the cut of the clothes themselves.

 

[murciélago]

I like the black unis.

Stop being so racist.

 

[writing irish]

Presumably your irony font is on, murcielago. ???

 

[ThomsonONE]

The Wilpons don't really understand or appreciate the history of the Mets, which is surprising since Fred is a native NYer. The Mets are always looking to follow the latest trend, the exact opposite of the Yankees, who embrace their history.

The Mets should be wearing their '69 era uniforms, and should have some sense of tradition. It is something the fans are craving, yet the tone deaf Wilpon's just don't seem to get it.

When I was a kid Banner Day was a big event, now it's gone. Lindsay Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner were the voices of the franchise for 18 years, now they change announcers every year, and every channel. The list goes on.

I hope the new park will embrace the past, but given the Wilpon's track record I'm a little nervous. How about a ZERVAL sign out in right field?

 

[tommyp]

And Schaefer beer sold by the vendors.

 

[Del_B_Vista]

Could be worse. Could be this:

That HOF exhibit didn't have the Sox jerseys with the shorts. That's worse.

 

[Orange Hat Bobcat]

Looks like a photo from a rec softball league. Yeesh.

That was my Dad's team when he was growing up. Mercifully, he wasn't growing up when they were that.

 

[CitizenTino]

The Wilpons don't really understand or appreciate the history of the Mets, which is surprising since Fred is a native NYer. The Mets are always looking to follow the latest trend, the exact opposite of the Yankees, who embrace their history.

The Mets should be wearing their '69 era uniforms, and should have some sense of tradition. It is something the fans are craving, yet the tone deaf Wilpon's just don't seem to get it.

When I was a kid Banner Day was a big event, now it's gone. Lindsay Nelson, Bob Murphy and Ralph Kiner were the voices of the franchise for 18 years, now they change announcers every year, and every channel. The list goes on.

I hope the new park will embrace the past, but given the Wilpon's track record I'm a little nervous. How about a ZERVAL sign out in right field?

Not to nitpick, but that's "the Wilpons' track record". Unless there is some new character owning the Mets who's calling himself The Wilpon.

Back on subject, I wouldn't have a huge problem with a black shadow on the letters and numbers of the uniforms, but the black hats and jerseys have to go. It's just not a good look.

And don't quote me on this, but I'm pretty sure the NBA has a mandate frowning on teams wearing black uniforms (or maybe just black alternates) because of how many pro franchises started doing it. I mean, when the Utah Jazz is even getting in on it (late '90s black alternates), it's probably time to draw the line.