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It’s a Puzzlement: The Odd Case of Pete Vuckovich

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A few weeks ago I got a note from a reader who pointed me toward this story about former Cy Young winner Pete Vuckovich (bet you forgot he pitched for the Jays and Cards, right?) being inducted into the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. The key uni-related passage is buried in the middle of the article: “Sometimes, Vuckovich wore two different brands of spikes, one Puma and one Adidas.”

I’d never heard anything about that, so I did some quick photo research, and sure enough, look. Only that isn’t Puma and Adidas — he’s got Puma on the left and, uh, someone help me out regarding the right foot (here’s a shot from the same game, which shows a logo on the tongue). Once I started poking around, I discovered that Vuckovich was a real footwear freestyler. Among the combinations I found: Rawlings on the left and Puma on the right (I think that’s what this is too, right?), Rawlings on the left and Adidas on the right, and Nike on the left and what appears to be Adidas on the right. (One footnote: He apparently switched to conventional footwear protocol when working as a pitching coach in the 1990s.)

Weird, right? I wanted to get the scoop from the man himself, so I called the Pirates, where Vuckovich works as a special assistant to the GM, and left a few voicemails. When I didn’t hear back, I called the team’s PR department and asked if they could hook me up with Vuckovich. Unfortunately, I was informed that Vuckovich prefers to lay low and generally declines all interview requests, including this one (odd that he’s so shy, since he was once a broadcaster from 1989-91), so the story behind his inconsistent cleatage will have to go unheard for now. Dang.

Double-dang: I seem to have misplaced the name of the reader who contributed the article that started me down this path. If that person is reading this right now, please get in touch so I can give you proper credit. Thanks. … Update: Turns out it was Doug Keklak. Thanks, Doug.

Raffle Results: The winner of the Classic Old School custom jersey is Steve Johnston. Thanks to all who entered — more raffles coming soon.

Uni Watch News Ticker: The Canucks have officially unveiled their third jersey (which was leaked ages ago, so it’s not exactly a surprise). Photo gallery here, plus Roberto Luongo has a new mask, and this time the “C” is on the side. ”¦ Remember that Tim Hightower helmet hit on Monday night that sent paint chips flying? Here’s a great photo of it (with thanks to Jonathan Pond). ”¦ Basketball leggings appear to have spread to the NCAA (with thanks to Xavier Otero). ”¦ Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: NHL All-Star jerseys are viewable (and, yes, purchasable) here and here. ”¦ Yesterday’s Ticker featured this Texas Tech photo showing bicentennial-style stars being used as merit decals. I had meant to also show this photo (which, like the other one, comes courtesy of Susan N. Freeman), which shows the kicker wearing sock garters or a bionic leg or something. Turns out it was actually a prosthesis! ”¦ Auburn will wear a memorial helmet decal on Saturday to honor senior associate athletics director Virgil Starks , who died of a heart attack at age 46 last weekend. Starks oversaw Auburn’s student-athlete support services, so the decal will have his initials underneath a diploma (with thanks to Brent Hardman). ”¦ Wanna see someone wear 100 soccer jerseys and take them off one at a time? Me neither, but here it is anyway (with thanks to Dan O’Connor). ”¦ Lengthy but interesting explanation of using uniform colors as the basis of signals for a baseball all-star team in a Babe Ruth invitational tourney, courtesy of Don Montgomery: “Since we didn’t have much time to practice as a team, getting the signals memorized was a challenge. So we came up with a signal system that used color as the ‘indicator’ (i.e., all signals are meaningless unless preceded by the correct color code yelled by the coach). The third base coach would yell the color code to the batter, then follow it with the usual finger to cap, brush across chest, or whatever. The unique part was that the indicator color was always the color of the batter’s or runner’s regular team’s uniform. Since our team wore a tournament uniform, no one saw the players’ home colors. So, for example, if Jim Brown is at bat, and Jim Brown’s regular season team was Fox Lounge, which wore red caps and unis, his indicator color was red. The next batter might be Joey Jones from the Bullard Company team, which wore blue, so his indicator was blue. This drove opposing teams nuts, because I could stand in the coaching box with Jim Brown at bat and yell ‘Red’ followed by a finger tomy cap, and Jim would bunt. But when Joey Jones came up, I could do the same thing but it was a bogus sig,n because Joey Jones’s team color and indicator was blue. There was no way for an opposing team from another town to decipher the indicators because they couldn’t possibly know which team which of our players played for during the regular season.” ”¦ Iowa state volleyball championship observations from Jesse Gavin: The breast cancer awareness trope is spreading to the balls, and check out the bizarre side panels for Johnston High. “I might understand these a bit more if they were the Chargers or the Lightning or something, but their nickname is the Dragons,” says Jesse. ”¦ Nick Swisher, now a Yankee, will have to shave his beard. ”¦ Jeff Ash has created three tremendous photo galleries based on old Packers/Bears games from 1941, 1942, and 1951. ”¦ Marshall’s mascot is getting a makeover (with thanks to Matt O’Bryant). ”¦ “At the end of the season, the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles said that they had 1,001 submissions from the fan club for the 2009 Fan Club Day uniforms,” says Jeremy Brahm. “They have now whittled it down to six choices: A, B, C, D, E, or F. I like E, but F looks like a high school uniform, so I think that one will win.” ”¦ Reprinted from last night’s comments: Radio station KIRO in Seattle is becoming an all-sports ESPN affiliate — and here’s how they announced it. ”¦ This is pretty adorable.

 
  
 
Comments (127)

    Paul, I’m surprised you liked “E” the most (link) … you don’t stike me as somone in favor of mixing pinstripes with solid pants.

    … you don’t strike as someone in favor of that combination, either … (is it the weekend yet?)

    I’m going to vote Saucony on that right shoe that Vukovich is wearing. Or maybe Asics Tiger? Both were much more popular brands in the 70s & 80s than they are now.

    Oh, and congrats Steve on the raffle win!

    Thanks for the clarification on the Hightower exploding paint. The visor thing just didn’t sound right.

    For the basketball jersey experts, was there a time when button downs were popular. Just found this auction interesting:

    link

    [quote comment=”299950″]Paul, I’m surprised you liked “E” the most (link) … you don’t stike me as somone in favor of mixing pinstripes with solid pants.[/quote]

    Not me — that’s Jeremy talking.

    [quote comment=”299957″]Larry Hughes wore a legitimate turtleneck in last night’s Bulls/Mavs game:

    link

    That’s no turtleneck. Not even a mock turtleneck.

    As far as the Golden Eagles uniforms go, I like F the best. E would be my winner if it had pinstriped pants and the number on the front was higher to make it symmetrical with the logo.

    “The breast cancer awareness trope is spreading to the balls,”

    I had to read that sentence a few times. Thank goodness there was a picture to explain.

    Vuke is a weird guy, alright…I’ve met him once or twice…he’s nice, but talks about himself in the third person. I asked him for his autograph, and he said “Pete Vukovich doesn’t feel like signing autographs today, thank you.” Strange dude…

    [quote comment=”299957″]Larry Hughes wore a legitimate turtleneck in last night’s Bulls/Mavs game:

    link

    The jerseys are so long and oversized that when it is tucked in you can barely read the number!

    link

    [quote comment=”299957″]Larry Hughes wore a legitimate turtleneck in last night’s Bulls/Mavs game:

    link

    That’s one tiny neck on that “turtleneck”. I think it’s just one of those Under Armor shirts. No turtleneck, though.

    I have not been viewing as much in the past few months as I used to and because of that I hadn’t seen the Canucks jersey until today.

    It’s nice to see that some teams “get it”. This is a nice, simple jersey that other teams should take notice off. It’s not perfect, but the parts I dislike have nothing to do with the Canucks design of it.

    Like most of us I can’t stand the hem non line or the NHL crest on the neck. Other than that…bravo.

    [quote comment=”299952″]Hey, how come there was no Sonics jersey with 710 on it? Oh … wait …[/quote]

    What do you have to go there Bryan? WHY?!

    [quote comment=”299967″][quote comment=”299952″]Hey, how come there was no Sonics jersey with 710 on it? Oh … wait …[/quote]

    What do you have to go there Bryan? WHY?![/quote]

    Are Sonic fans embracing the Blazers now? I find it hysterical that the Pac. NW once had 3 teams…now just 1…will hockey ever comeback to Portland or Seattle?

    link

    Did the Golden Eagles release that template for folks to mark up and submit, or did they take artwork and render it? I’d love to play around with a template if it is out there (MUCH better than the one MLB uses).

    [quote comment=”299969″][quote comment=”299967″][quote comment=”299952″]Hey, how come there was no Sonics jersey with 710 on it? Oh … wait …[/quote]

    What do you have to go there Bryan? WHY?![/quote]

    Are Sonic fans embracing the Blazers now? I find it hysterical that the Pac. NW once had 3 teams…now just 1…will hockey ever comeback to Portland or Seattle?

    link
    Just wondering, does Vancouver say that they are in the Pacific Northwest or do they say Southwestern Canada?

    Swisher may have to shave that blonde goatee, but he strikes me as the kind of guy who will grow a mustache. He seems to need facial hair at all times, and if that’s all that’s allowed, he’ll probably take it. Whether he can dye it blonde is another matter.

    There’s an actual competitive reason link wore two different cleats… a right-handed pitcher’s right foot tends to drag across the mound on each pitch, so the toe of that cleat tends to wear out pretty quickly.

    Some pitchers use link to protect that shoe, while others find them uncomfortable… My guess is that “Vuch” wore a cleat that stood up to the dragging better on his right foot, and whatever was most comfortable on his left.

    [quote comment=”299966″]I believe the other cleat is Pony[/quote]
    Me too. If not Pony, maybe Asics.

    [quote comment=”299954″]I’m going to vote Saucony on that right shoe that Vukovich is wearing. Or maybe Asics Tiger? Both were much more popular brands in the 70s & 80s than they are now.

    [/quote]

    If it looks like Saucony (and I thought that, too), then it’s actually SpotBilt, which was the cleats/spikes side of the business

    link (yeah, it’s a football shoe here, but the logo is what I was looking for)

    [quote comment=”299942″][quote comment=”299937″][quote comment=”299934″][quote comment=”299933″][quote comment=”299931″]You should come up with some kind of Uniwatch hand signal.[/quote]

    better yet…

    link[/quote]

    Haha, Phil. I still haven’t gotten my sister membership here… what makes you think I’d buy the shirt?[/quote]

    if you buy the shirt, i’ll give your sister a free plug[/quote]

    Good to know that you’re link.[/quote]

    Reposted so that Phil gets a clean view of my retort.

    [quote comment=”299951″]That homemade Ritchie Allen uniform is great! Takes me back….[/quote]

    wonder if it comes with a pack of cigarettes

    link

    [quote comment=”299964″]I have not been viewing as much in the past few months as I used to and because of that I hadn’t seen the Canucks jersey until today.

    It’s nice to see that some teams “get it”. This is a nice, simple jersey that other teams should take notice off. It’s not perfect, but the parts I dislike have nothing to do with the Canucks design of it.

    Like most of us I can’t stand the hem non line or the NHL crest on the neck. Other than that…bravo.[/quote]

    But they have abandoned their truly original, one of a kind, minimalist logo for some uncalled for tweaked ‘action’ stick. What a strange, wrong decision.

    [quote comment=”299961″]Vuke is a weird guy, alright…I’ve met him once or twice…he’s nice, but talks about himself in the third person. I asked him for his autograph, and he said “Pete Vukovich doesn’t feel like signing autographs today, thank you.” Strange dude…[/quote]

    That’s hilarious! A little sampling of the Serbian mojo.

    [quote comment=”299980″][quote comment=”299964″]I have not been viewing as much in the past few months as I used to and because of that I hadn’t seen the Canucks jersey until today.

    It’s nice to see that some teams “get it”. This is a nice, simple jersey that other teams should take notice off. It’s not perfect, but the parts I dislike have nothing to do with the Canucks design of it.

    Like most of us I can’t stand the hem non line or the NHL crest on the neck. Other than that…bravo.[/quote]

    But they have abandoned their truly original, one of a kind, minimalist logo for some uncalled for tweaked ‘action’ stick. What a strange, wrong decision.[/quote]
    Winner. It’s a Canucks jersey from a mile away, cool Johnny patch, good call to keep the new font with the old-feel jersey (brand consistency), and a crest WITHOUT a word-mark! I wouldn’t mind seeing this and a white version as the primaries, along with perhaps a green orca third jersey or black/red/yellow third uniform.

    [quote comment=”299982″][quote comment=”299980″][quote comment=”299964″]I have not been viewing as much in the past few months as I used to and because of that I hadn’t seen the Canucks jersey until today.

    It’s nice to see that some teams “get it”. This is a nice, simple jersey that other teams should take notice off. It’s not perfect, but the parts I dislike have nothing to do with the Canucks design of it.

    Like most of us I can’t stand the hem non line or the NHL crest on the neck. Other than that…bravo.[/quote]

    But they have abandoned their truly original, one of a kind, minimalist logo for some uncalled for tweaked ‘action’ stick. What a strange, wrong decision.[/quote]
    Winner. It’s a Canucks jersey from a mile away, cool Johnny patch, good call to keep the new font with the old-feel jersey (brand consistency), and a crest WITHOUT a word-mark! I wouldn’t mind seeing this and a white version as the primaries, along with perhaps a green orca third jersey or black/red/yellow third uniform.[/quote]

    Agreed. Did they update the Logo? Yes. I actually like the newer version, but I understand both sides of the argument on that. However, overall, wonderful job of keeping it clean and recognizable.

    [quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman!

    [quote comment=”299962″][quote comment=”299957″]Larry Hughes wore a legitimate turtleneck in last night’s Bulls/Mavs game:

    link

    The jerseys are so long and oversized that when it is tucked in you can barely read the number!

    link

    Yep, this has been going on for years now, It’s even worse on Ben “Tiny Torso” Gordon. Or anyone with a “high-ass”, for that matter. He usually has about an inch of number tucked in to his shorts.

    link

    Mainly it’s that the rear number is so much bigger than the front number, which isn’t necessary at all. Supposedly the front’s larger name + smaller number should be the same overall height/length(whatever), as the back’s smaller name + larger number. But somewhere along the uni manufacturing line, that idea was lost. It’s much lower in the rear.

    link

    But I’m not over looking the fact that players must love the look of a huge jersey. Just one more reason I think the Bulls need a total uni overhaul.

    Found this:
    link

    Apparently, it’s not quite a bionic leg, but close. Hall lost his foot, just above the ankle, in a farming accident as a child. He kicked with a prosthetic that went up to his knee. There’s a joke in the article about never getting shin splints as long as there’s glue around. Gotta love that kind of attitude.

    Those of us who just woke up and aren’t focusing properly just read that cancer is spreading to the balls. Thanks for that.

    [quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)

    The mystery cleat on Vukovich’s right foot is also a Puma. What appears to be an additional vertical stripe is a shoestring. The logo on the tongue is pretty clearly a leaping Puma logo.

    (…but I could be wrong.)

    [quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.

    Wish I’d kept the papers as proof, but here is my classic Pete Vuckovich equipment story.

    I worked on the sports desk at the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper in Madison in the ’80s. One night, we ran a picture of Vuke from training camp. We picked the photo from a negative and didn’t see it full size until the paper came up.

    Unseen on the negative was that Vuke had drawn the finger on his glove. He was flipping our readers the bird in full color.

    It is the only time in my 30 years in the business that we ever stopped the presses, but we stopped them immediately. One of our production guys grabbed the plates and etched out the finger as best we could. Needless to say, those were the more primitive days before Photoshop.

    [quote comment=”299991″][quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.[/quote]
    All Senators are Congressmen, but not all Congressmen are Senators, folks.
    (Squares and rectangles, anyone?)

    [quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]

    Congress = The Senate and The H.O.R.

    [quote comment=”299994″][quote comment=”299991″][quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.[/quote]
    All Senators are Congressmen, but not all Congressmen are Senators, folks.
    (Squares and rectangles, anyone?)[/quote]
    Exactly

    [quote comment=”299990″]The mystery cleat on Vukovich’s right foot is also a Puma. What appears to be an additional vertical stripe is a shoestring. The logo on the tongue is pretty clearly a leaping Puma logo.

    (…but I could be wrong.)[/quote]

    I agree, it definitely isn’t Pony. Pony stripes looked like this years ago link . The shoe lace is in the way, but it looks like Puma for sure.

    [quote comment=”299997″][quote comment=”299994″][quote comment=”299991″][quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.[/quote]
    All Senators are Congressmen, but not all Congressmen are Senators, folks.
    (Squares and rectangles, anyone?)[/quote]
    Exactly[/quote]
    I stand corrected. Just happy I was able to work in a “Gopher” reference.

    Jordan in post #47 is correct. It is a Puma.
    I had those same spikes (Puma World Series), except in red. they had a gray/whitish tongue flap with the leaping cat logo white on black, with PUMA white on green on top.

    Iowa state volleyball championship observations from Jesse Gavin: The breast cancer awareness trope is spreading to the balls…

    Incorrect. It has nothing to do with breast cancer awareness. The link for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union features pink and black, hence the coloring on the volleyballs used at the state tournament.

    Part of their early-season memo to schools also addresses it: “During the regular season, any legal brand ball may be used. During regional tournaments, the Spalding TF 5000 ball must be used. The state tournament ball will be black, pink, and white.”

    [quote comment=”299999″][quote comment=”299997″][quote comment=”299994″][quote comment=”299991″][quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.[/quote]
    All Senators are Congressmen, but not all Congressmen are Senators, folks.
    (Squares and rectangles, anyone?)[/quote]
    Exactly[/quote]
    I stand corrected. Just happy I was able to work in a “Gopher” reference.[/quote]

    Good Stuby,…now in the words of Jean-Paul Sartre, “Au Revoir Go-Pher!”.

    Most Japanese teams have fan clubs, similar to the booster system in minor league sports here. You pay an annual fee and you get access to things that not everyone gets, tickets, gear, etc.

    They had asked these booster club members to create a design for the special jersey. I don’t know if they had people design it on the postcards that they sent in, but the team must have sent something out as a standard for everyone to work from.

    [quote comment=”299975″]There’s an actual competitive reason link wore two different cleats… a right-handed pitcher’s right foot tends to drag across the mound on each pitch, so the toe of that cleat tends to wear out pretty quickly.

    Some pitchers use link to protect that shoe, while others find them uncomfortable… My guess is that “Vuch” wore a cleat that stood up to the dragging better on his right foot, and whatever was most comfortable on his left.[/quote]
    I’m not so sure about that. Sure, what you say about toe plates is true. However, I don’t recall ever seeing any other players doing such an odd thing as wearing different cleats. Why wouldn’t he just wearing the shoe on his pivot foot on both feet? It’s not as if there’s THAT much of a difference between comfort/fit in a low top, metal spike baseball shoe. I don’t think it’s like a placekicker in football.

    As the quote in the article I sent to paul might suggest, I think this was more of an example of vuck just being vuck. (Although I could be wrong, I’m just guessing)

    [quote comment=”300000″]Jordan in post #47 is correct. It is a Puma.
    I had those same spikes (Puma World Series), except in red. they had a gray/whitish tongue flap with the leaping cat logo white on black, with PUMA white on green on top.[/quote]

    Agree. Here is that white tongue flap on Dave Winfield: link

    I believe that the other shoe on Vuckovich is a Pony brand shoe. The used be involved in all sports footwear and have recently been trying to make a comeback in basketball.

    Another neat thing about Vuck, as many of you have noted, he played Clu Heyward, the power hitting first basemen but he was offered that role or the role of Duke Temple, the Yanks’ nasty reliever. Since he was a pitcher, he thought it would be neat to play the role of the slugger.

    Ironically, Temple was played by Steve Yeager, a catcher in real life!!!

    That card of Vuk must be some kind of reprint. All the Jays and M’s in the 1977 Topps set were airbrushed with the logo and colors.

    It also reminded me of something unusual about the ’77 Jays. I can’t remember where I saw them, but a number of the players were shoes by Bauer (yes, that Bauer). They were black, no striping, just a small logo tag sewn just to the left and right were the lace eyelets were.

    I mention it because of the previous discussions about less than mainstream baseball shoes.

    [quote comment=”299958″][quote comment=”299957″]Larry Hughes wore a legitimate turtleneck in last night’s Bulls/Mavs game:

    link

    That’s no turtleneck. Not even a mock turtleneck.[/quote]

    It’s probably some sort of support for his shoulder that was dislocated

    [quote comment=”300006″]I believe that the other shoe on Vuckovich is a Pony brand shoe. The used be involved in all sports footwear and have recently been trying to make a comeback in basketball.[/quote]

    Wilson Chandler of the Knicks was the first player to be endorsed by Pony in some time:

    link

    link

    link

    [quote comment=”300006″]I believe that the other shoe on Vuckovich is a Pony brand shoe.[/quote]

    Negative. If it were Pony the stripe would end up toward the ankle instead of down by the instep (which it does). Base on the photo, the only alternative would be Asics and with the white tongue flap, it is Puma.

    Also, possible (based on the red, white & blue bunting and daylight) that this photo is from the ’82 ALCS (Paul, do you know where this came from?). He pitched game three of the WS a week later and wore Puma on both. Doesn’t the photo in question definitive, but it does show his trend at the time.

    [quote comment=”300013″][quote comment=”300006″]I believe that the other shoe on Vuckovich is a Pony brand shoe.[/quote]

    Doesn’t the photo in question definitive, but it does show his trend at the time.[/quote]

    Doesn’t make….

    [quote comment=”300012″][quote comment=”300006″]I believe that the other shoe on Vuckovich is a Pony brand shoe. The used be involved in all sports footwear and have recently been trying to make a comeback in basketball.[/quote]

    Wilson Chandler of the Knicks was the first player to be endorsed by Pony in some time:

    link

    link

    link

    Here are Pony’s from the Vuk era: link

    [quote comment=”300017″][quote comment=”300016″]link on reggie’s batting glove?[/quote]

    nevermind…i blew it up…it says “JAX”[/quote]

    Obviously from context it’s Jax but Reg need to work on his J’s.

    You ready, Phil?

    [quote comment=”300017″][quote comment=”300016″]link on reggie’s batting glove?[/quote]

    nevermind…i blew it up…it says “JAX”[/quote]

    Dammit Phil, now we gotta find out why is says “JAX”….

    [quote comment=”300019″][quote comment=”300017″][quote comment=”300016″]link on reggie’s batting glove?[/quote]

    nevermind…i blew it up…it says “JAX”[/quote]

    Dammit Phil, now we gotta find out why is says “JAX”….[/quote]

    Short for Jackson

    [quote comment=”300020″][quote comment=”300019″][quote comment=”300017″][quote comment=”300016″]link on reggie’s batting glove?[/quote]

    nevermind…i blew it up…it says “JAX”[/quote]

    Dammit Phil, now we gotta find out why is says “JAX”….[/quote]

    Short for Jackson[/quote]

    NYPost used it often in headlines

    [quote comment=”300019″][quote comment=”300017″][quote comment=”300016″]link on reggie’s batting glove?[/quote]

    nevermind…i blew it up…it says “JAX”[/quote]

    Dammit Phil, now we gotta find out why is says “JAX”….[/quote]

    Nevermind……I shoulda figured Reggie couldn’t be bothered with putting his name or initials on things like most people..

    [quote comment=”300023″]Thanks, L. Bonehead here figured it out…..after I submitted it of course. :0[/quote]

    Who you callin’ L. Bonehead ;-)

    [quote comment=”300025″][quote]You ready, Phil?[/quote]

    i was born ready[/quote]

    Yeah, but are you ready now?

    I didnt have time to read all the posts, so I apologize if this is a repeat, but that pic of the “paint chips” flying off of Tim Hightowers helmet is actually his faceshield shattering. Makes the pic even cooler!

    Bill Simmons in his mailbag this week has accepted nomination as the national Sports Czar in the Obama administration. Part of his program: “a purple Masters-type sports coat for the winning March Madness coach (presented to him by last year’s coach as Jim Nantz orgasmically looks on)”
    How will Comrade Paul respond to this provocation from his ESPN fellow-traveler?

    Cool picture from link (link): To my eye, it looks like #1 is using #2’s bat. Should be a rare type of photo because to use somebody else’s bat is generally considered a jinx. Who is that guy anyway? (Sorry, Ricko’s got a couple of years on me. I’m only 19, so I don’t recognize that player.)

    [quote comment=”300028″]I didnt have time to read all the posts, so I apologize if this is a repeat, but that pic of the “paint chips” flying off of Tim Hightowers helmet is actually his faceshield shattering. Makes the pic even cooler![/quote]

    Ok, so it WAS the faceshield? I’ve gone from decal, to visor, to paint, now back to the faceshield. From that pic. it almost looked like a paint chip off the helmet.

    Also, that 49ers decal is positioned quite high.

    [quote comment=”300031″]Cool picture from link (link): To my eye, it looks like #1 is using #2’s bat. Should be a rare type of photo because to use somebody else’s bat is generally considered a jinx. Who is that guy anyway? (Sorry, Ricko’s got a couple of years on me. I’m only 19, so I don’t recognize that player.)[/quote]

    looks like dick green

    who was always a favorite basecall card for a kid to collect, since his name was listed by LAST, FIRST

    [quote comment=”300031″]Cool picture from link (link): To my eye, it looks like #1 is using #2’s bat. Should be a rare type of photo because to use somebody else’s bat is generally considered a jinx. Who is that guy anyway? (Sorry, Ricko’s got a couple of years on me. I’m only 19, so I don’t recognize that player.)[/quote]

    “Not sure I agree with your detective work there, Norm” (Fargo quote). Looks to me like a sloppy 1. The top serif (is that the right term for this?) is a little rounded, but I could be wrong. Besides that’s Dick Green and there is nothing that could jinx his hitting, he stunk already. He was the best defensive second baseman of the early 70’s, however.

    [quote comment=”300036″][quote comment=”300031″]Cool picture from link (link): To my eye, it looks like #1 is using #2’s bat. Should be a rare type of photo because to use somebody else’s bat is generally considered a jinx. Who is that guy anyway? (Sorry, Ricko’s got a couple of years on me. I’m only 19, so I don’t recognize that player.)[/quote]

    “Not sure I agree with your detective work there, Norm” (Fargo quote). Looks to me like a sloppy 1. The top serif (is that the right term for this?) is a little rounded, but I could be wrong. Besides that’s Dick Green and there is nothing that could jinx his hitting, he stunk already. He was the best defensive second baseman of the early 70’s, however.[/quote]

    Agreed. Take from a guy with poor handwritting, among other things, it’s a badly drawn 1.

    [quote comment=”300036″][quote comment=”300031″]Cool picture from link (link): To my eye, it looks like #1 is using #2’s bat. Should be a rare type of photo because to use somebody else’s bat is generally considered a jinx. Who is that guy anyway? (Sorry, Ricko’s got a couple of years on me. I’m only 19, so I don’t recognize that player.)[/quote]

    “Not sure I agree with your detective work there, Norm” (Fargo quote). Looks to me like a sloppy 1. The top serif (is that the right term for this?) is a little rounded, but I could be wrong. Besides that’s Dick Green and there is nothing that could jinx his hitting, he stunk already. He was the best defensive second baseman of the early 70’s, however.[/quote]

    Looked him up, hard to believe he never won a GG. During his era, Davey Johnson and Bobby Grich won ’em. Probably another case of offense influencing the vote. I saw him he was awesome.

    [quote comment=”300038″][quote comment=”300036″][quote comment=”300031″]Cool picture from link (link): To my eye, it looks like #1 is using #2’s bat. Should be a rare type of photo because to use somebody else’s bat is generally considered a jinx. Who is that guy anyway? (Sorry, Ricko’s got a couple of years on me. I’m only 19, so I don’t recognize that player.)[/quote]

    “Not sure I agree with your detective work there, Norm” (Fargo quote). Looks to me like a sloppy 1. The top serif (is that the right term for this?) is a little rounded, but I could be wrong. Besides that’s Dick Green and there is nothing that could jinx his hitting, he stunk already. He was the best defensive second baseman of the early 70’s, however.[/quote]

    Looked him up, hard to believe he never won a GG. During his era, Davey Johnson and Bobby Grich won ’em. Probably another case of offense influencing the vote. I saw him he was awesome.[/quote]

    Don’t let his 1973 Topps card fool you, he was a great fielder: link

    [quote comment=”300039″]larry…it’s “tom”

    norm was marge’s husband[/quote]
    Phil, I think it was “Lou”.

    [quote comment=”300039″]larry…it’s “tom”

    norm was marge’s husband[/quote]

    Acutally, it appears to be “Lou”:
    “I’m not sure I agree with you a hunnert percent on your policework, there, Lou.”
    Got it from here: link

    But you’re right about Norm. As soon as you said that, it reminded me of watching it on Galavision, couldn’t understand a thing except for “Ola, Norm”.

    [quote comment=”300041″][quote comment=”300039″]larry…it’s “tom”

    norm was marge’s husband[/quote]
    Phil, I think it was “Lou”.[/quote]

    Good work Stuby. I needed to look at the script.

    [quote comment=”300043″][quote comment=”300041″][quote comment=”300039″]larry…it’s “tom”

    norm was marge’s husband[/quote]
    Phil, I think it was “Lou”.[/quote]

    Good work Stuby. I needed to look at the script.[/quote]

    christ…score one for the stoob

    i knew it wasn’t norm, tho

    that’s a GREAT fuckin movie, btw…haven’t seen it in years…highly recommend it

    [quote comment=”299997″][quote comment=”299994″][quote comment=”299991″][quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.[/quote]
    All Senators are Congressmen, but not all Congressmen are Senators, folks.
    (Squares and rectangles, anyone?)[/quote]
    Exactly[/quote]
    I know, I know, but call a Senator “Congressman” and see what he says.

    That’s what I was trying to get across with the smiley.

    [quote comment=”300045″][quote comment=”299997″][quote comment=”299994″][quote comment=”299991″][quote comment=”299989″][quote comment=”299984″][quote comment=”299968″][quote comment=”299944″]link[/quote]

    link threw at his own kid in a father/son game.[/quote]

    Seriously, thus is the dude that played Clu Haywood?

    link

    That’s like finding out Fred Thompson was a real Congressman![/quote]

    Senator. ;)[/quote]
    Gopher from the Love Boat was the Congressman.[/quote]
    All Senators are Congressmen, but not all Congressmen are Senators, folks.
    (Squares and rectangles, anyone?)[/quote]
    Exactly[/quote]
    I know, I know, but call a Senator “Congressman” and see what he says.

    That’s what I was trying to get across with the smiley.[/quote]

    And while were getting stuff straight, Gopher was Rep. Fred Grandy.

    [quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.

    [quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    Speaking of colors, anybody know why teams started painting fences blue? I know the Mets had that light green color scheme when Shea opened. The Norfolk Tides (AAA) had burgandy walls. Any other color schemes besides the ones already mentioned?

    [quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    That stadium was too amazing to me. I don’t know why, but I am absolutely enamored by it.

    I have a mancrush on Tiger Stadium.

    The photos of Pete Vuckovich in his vintage Brewer’s gear make me wonder how much drinking they must have done in Milwaukee to change the uni’s to their current mediocrity.

    Blah. I miss the ball and glove (hidden M_ilwaukee B_rewers).

    Also, the new NHL all-star unis look okay, but a definitely look more like a RBK jersey, rather than a sweater. I’ve got one of these –
    link
    worn in St. Paul a few years ago.
    link
    Wearing it feels like hockey. The new “sweaters” feel like a football jersey or something. They are, however, easier to wear outdoors in the summer.

    Although, neither rank up there with the goodness of plaid – displayed by the Milwaukee Admirals –
    link
    WOW.

    [quote comment=”300049″][quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    That stadium was too amazing to me. I don’t know why, but I am absolutely enamored by it.

    I have a mancrush on Tiger Stadium.[/quote]

    …Had

    Nice title for today’s entry – reminds me of that famous George Plimpton piece on the Met’s pitcher who pitched wearing one shoe and one hiking boot…

    (am I the only one who enjoys figuring out the references in the daily titles? I totally missed Gram Parsons yesterday)

    [quote comment=”300044″][quote comment=”300043″][quote comment=”300041″][quote comment=”300039″]larry…it’s “tom”

    norm was marge’s husband[/quote]
    Phil, I think it was “Lou”.[/quote]

    Good work Stuby. I needed to look at the script.[/quote]

    christ…score one for the stoob

    i knew it wasn’t norm, tho

    that’s a GREAT fuckin movie, btw…haven’t seen it in years…highly recommend it[/quote]

    Yet another film that I HAVE NOT seen!

    [quote comment=”300049″][quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    That stadium was too amazing to me. I don’t know why, but I am absolutely enamored by it.

    I have a mancrush on Tiger Stadium.[/quote]

    I’m with you on that. I know there was great consternation over replacing it. Certainly a replacement was in order (due to structural issues) but it seems easier to develop a concept that mimics the original rather than build the complete opposite (which they did).

    I know this isn’t “Hockey Talk” but the ‘Ning just fired Barry Melrose. This organization has become a total joke in just months. They hired him for all the wrong reasons and probably fired him for the same. Having a “Hollywood” type running the show has turned into them into the Yanks (Steinbrenner), Skins (Snyder) and Mavs (Cuban) rolled into one.

    Matt, go rent Fargo, tonight!

    [quote comment=”300055″]I know this isn’t “Hockey Talk” but the ‘Ning just fired Barry Melrose. This organization has become a total joke in just months. They hired him for all the wrong reasons and probably fired him for the same. Having a “Hollywood” type running the show has turned into them into the Yanks (Steinbrenner), Skins (Snyder) and Mavs (Cuban) rolled into one.

    Matt, go rent Fargo, tonight![/quote]

    And they put a convicted criminal in charge!!!

    [quote comment=”300049″][quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    That stadium was too amazing to me. I don’t know why, but I am absolutely enamored by it.

    I have a mancrush on Tiger Stadium.[/quote]

    Mr. Globin, I’m right there with ya. Particularly, BEFORE the blue makeover. That just looks like baseball.

    Someone should check and see if Vukovich wore different brand cleats as a Fake Yankee in Major League

    [quote comment=”300057″][quote comment=”300049″][quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    That stadium was too amazing to me. I don’t know why, but I am absolutely enamored by it.

    I have a mancrush on Tiger Stadium.[/quote]

    Mr. Globin, I’m right there with ya. Particularly, BEFORE the blue makeover. That just looks like baseball.[/quote]

    I actually prefer “Herr Kobold”.

    [quote comment=”300055″]I know this isn’t “Hockey Talk” but the ‘Ning just fired Barry Melrose. This organization has become a total joke in just months. They hired him for all the wrong reasons and probably fired him for the same. Having a “Hollywood” type running the show has turned into them into the Yanks (Steinbrenner), Skins (Snyder) and Mavs (Cuban) rolled into one.

    Matt, go rent Fargo, tonight![/quote]

    Tonight’s marguee film is “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.

    I’ll either go to the library and get the “Dontcha’ Know” film for free or Netflix it!

    I still have to finish 30 Rock Season 2, I’m halfway done before I get into “Dexter”.

    [quote comment=”300052″]Nice title for today’s entry – reminds me of that famous George Plimpton piece on the Met’s pitcher who pitched wearing one shoe and one hiking boot…
    [/quote]

    ahhh…yes

    the curious case of sidd finch

    (matt…go read the article)

    [quote comment=”299971″]Did the Golden Eagles release that template for folks to mark up and submit, or did they take artwork and render it? I’d love to play around with a template if it is out there (MUCH better than the one MLB uses).[/quote]

    I agree…except for the pants legs being pulled all the way down… :(

    [quote comment=”300060″]
    Tonight’s marguee film is “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.[/quote]

    “Marquee”, Matt, “marquee”. No G’s required. ;o)

    [quote comment=”300061″]link[/quote]

    Phenomenal! If there were enough people around here that liked -40 C, I’d put one up in my backyard. Alas… no one likes the cold like I do.

    [quote comment=”300064″][quote comment=”300060″]
    Tonight’s marguee film is “Forgetting Sarah Marshall”.[/quote]

    “Marquee”, Matt, “marquee”. No G’s required. ;o)

    [quote comment=”300061″]link[/quote]

    Phenomenal! If there were enough people around here that liked -40 C, I’d put one up in my backyard. Alas… no one likes the cold like I do.[/quote]

    there’s people where you live?

    Watching Bears-Packers from week 9 of 1985 on NFL Network right now. Interesting year for the Pack’s unis – the G on the sleeves inside the stripes, the low G on the helmet (no more than an inch and a half over the earhole), wide NOB spacing, and the always awesome numbers-on-pants at the hip.

    [quote comment=”300051″][quote comment=”300049″][quote comment=”300047″][quote comment=”300035″][quote comment=”300032″]Same site: Mr. Lukas, link![/quote]

    Is that the old Tiger Stadium?[/quote]

    Yep. That’s Tiger Stadium before it had the blue overhaul. The scoreboard, flag and deep sloping outfield walls are all give aways.[/quote]

    That stadium was too amazing to me. I don’t know why, but I am absolutely enamored by it.

    I have a mancrush on Tiger Stadium.[/quote]

    …Had[/quote]

    Hey, it’s still there, rotting away. Sadly I never got to see a game there but I could stare at pictures of it for hours on end.

    Tiger Stadium is halfway torn down. The outfield walls and stands are gone. Only foul territory stands remain. Waiting on “save stadium” club to come up with money to try and turn what’s left into a historical landmark or preserve what’s left and develop around it.

    might i suggest a very well-written and polite letter to Pete Vuckovich to find out the footwear issue? if you want to get to the bottom of the pete v. dual shoe thing (which i am dying to know the reason – does he have 2 different feet? an odd superstition? 2 shoe deals?) and he doesn’t give interviews, perhaps he will respond to a letter? it might take a while, and lord knows in our age, (when was the last time any of us wrote an actual letter) but since it has been since the late 70s that this happened, whats a few weeks to find out the answer?

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