By Phil Hecken
“The one constant through all the years has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it’s a part of our past. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again.” — Field of Dreams
God I miss baseball. But, pitchers and catchers report (four of the most beautiful words, when strung together like that, in the English language) on or about February 14th, and all will be right in the world again. Or, in the words of W. P. Kinsella, who penned the novel Shoeless Joe (which was the basis for the movie Field of Dreams), “baseball is the most perfect of games, solid, true, pure”¦If only life were so simple.” But until such time as Spring Training officially begins, anyone with the MLB channel has been treated this past week to The Caribbean Series, or “Serie del Caribe.”
The Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe in Spanish) is the annual postseason tournament featuring the champions of the Caribbean winter leagues. First begun in 1949, the series was an annual event until 1960. Following a ten-year hiatus, it was restarted in 1970 and has been played annually ever since. From 1949-1960, tournaments featured the Cuban Winter League, Panama League, Puerto Rican Winter League, and Venezuelan League. Following the resumption of play in 1970, the series features the winners of the Dominican Winter League, Mexican Pacific League, Puerto Rican Winter League, and Venezuelan League.
The 2009 Caribbean Series began on February 2, and continues through this evening, with the champions teams from Dominican Republic, Tigres del Licey (Licey Tigers); Mexico, Venados de Mazatlán (Mazatlan Deers); Puerto Rico, Leones de Ponce (Ponce Lions), and Venezuela, Tigres de Aragua (Aragua Tigers). For those of us with MLB TV, each of the games has been broadcast each evening at 5:00 and 9:00 pm (eastern). Tonight’s games will pit Puerto Rico (visitors) against Venezuela in the early game, followed by the Dominican Republic (away) vs. Mexico in the night-cap.
The format consists of 12 games, in a double round-robin format with each team facing each other twice. Puerto Rico is making its first appearance in the Caribbean World Series since 2007. The games are being played at Estadio Casas GEO in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico. The team with the best record after six days is declared the winner. Since the (thus far) undefeated team from Venezuela (5-0 heading into Saturday’s games) has already “clinched,” Saturday’s games will have no effect on the standings and Venezuela are the 2009 Caribbean Series Champions. (Had there been a tie, a single-game playoff would have taken place on Sunday). Still, if you’re hankering for some baseball, and you have the MLB Network, tune in to the games.
Although the game of béisbol, as played in the Serie del Caribe, is the same game as is played elsewhere in the world, the uniforms worn by the participants, as well as the stadium, size and make up of the crowds, are different than what we are used to seeing on major league fields. Lets begin with an examination of the uniforms for each team.
Dominican Republic: (1-4 thru Friday)The Dominican team feature a two-tone red and blue jersey for their “away” games, with usually very stylin’ low-cut pants. Like the other teams in the tournament, their uniforms are in the same colors as their flag. Their “home” uniforms are similar, sporting a button-down, two-toned shirt in white with red sleeves. Like all teams in the Series, the Tigres feature advertising on their unis. They have a patch (CDD) on their right shoulder, and a big “Orange” (a major telecommunications company) logo on the back. Caps are red and blue with “RD” enblazoned on the crown, and their helmets are solid blue with more advertising on the side of the helmet.
Mexico: (3-2) Although technically the host, Mexico has been sporting both home and away uniforms throughout the tournament. Their home uniform is solid white with striping around the shoulders, while the away uniform is two-toned, in the colors of the Mexican flag. Advertising if rife on their uniforms, with “Milpa Real” (a tostada and corn-meal products brand) on below their wordmark, everyone’s favorite BIMBO (a brand of bread in the US and Mexico) on the helmets, and even something I can’t quite make out pants. Plus, they have the unofficial beer of Mexico on their shoulder blades. Their caps are green with a red and gold inline “M” and their helmets are red. Players have also been wearing a black memorial ribbon on their caps for the series (I believe it is for the father of a coach who recently passed away).
Puerto Rico: (1-4) The Puerto Rican team, which may be the weakest of the four teams (having lost their first four games before winning their first on Friday), has been wearing red vests with blue sleeves for their away games, with white vests and dark sleeves when designated the “home” team. They sport a red cap and a dark blue cap as headwear, as well as a red batting helmet. Their advertising consists of “Seguros Triple S” (a financial holding company) for away games on their shoulders, and DonQ (a Puerto Rican Rum) on the homes, plus a circular Dodge patch on their jersey, and other other patch adverts on each sleeve. Like all teams, their uniforms bear the colors of their flag. The red Puerto Rican cap features a red, white and blue “PR”, a nod to their status as a United States’ territory as well as their flag.
Venezuela: (5-0) The final team in the Series, Venezuela, is also the strongest. Interstingly, they have sported basically the same uniform throughout the series, each time wearing a two-button pullover blue top with red cap or a two-toned red and blue cap, regardless of their status as visitors or home (nice socks — you don’t see a lot of sock in these games). Here’s the two-toned cap in a day game (plus socks!) and the solid cap at twilight. Along with the blue jersey, the Venezuelan’s always wear pinstriped pants and blue helmets. Their advertising consists of “movilnet” (a state owned cellular company) on their helmets, and MaltÃn Polar, a popular Venezuelan beverage on their backs. Unlike the other teams, they seem be lacking the yellow from flag anywhere on their uniforms.
I’ve quite enjoyed watching the Serie del Caribe, although that could be due to the baseball withdrawal from which I am currently suffering. It’s great to see the game played again, but it’s hard to get used to seeing it played on foreign soil, and I am most certainly not used to seeing any form of advertising on the uniform. I realize this is just one of the many differences between the winter leagues and the major leagues, but mark me down as “not a fan” of the advertising, especially where a nameplate should be, on the helmet and on the leg. The crowds have been a little sparce, but are generally very enthusiastic. Throughout the stadium, one will see big giant flags and plenty of advertising. The players are generally ‘all business’ on the field, but enjoy a little pre-game relaxation just like they do in the bigs.
As much as I can’t get used to the advertising on the players, it’s even stranger to see it on the hitter’s backdrop! I guess it’s not enough to distract the batter’s eye, but I noticed it as soon as the first fly ball went towards center field. It’s also very strange seeing advertising on the umpire. As if we needed another reason to “kill the ump.”
Ah yes. Baseball is just around the corner.
And now a quick word from Paul: Anyone out there ever submit an unsolicited uniform or logo proposal to a team? If so, did you ever hear back from the team’s front office (even if only via a “No thanks” form letter), or did you get no response at all? If you’ve any sort of experience of this nature, I want to hear from you. Thanks.
Interesting post, Phil.
I think I read (or heard while watching one of the games) that some of the teams sport the same uniforms as during their regular seasons, while others have new, country-specific uniforms for the tournament.
So I take it los Tigres de Aragua are just wearing the uniforms they normally wear during Venezuelan League competition?
Did they bring link along as well?
[quote comment=”313970″]So I take it los Tigres de Aragua are just wearing the uniforms they normally wear during Venezuelan League competition?[/quote]
i believe it was mentioned on the broadcast that yes, these same unis were the ones in which they clinched their Venezuelan league title
[quote]Did they bring link along as well?[/quote]
i think i saw the mascot get into mexico’s dugout in like the 8th inning last night (was late, so no screen grab)
/good catches…no pun intended
[quote comment=”313971″]good catches…no pun intended[/quote]
link.
I did send a cold logo proposal to an amateur team and get denied, then ripped.
I’m enjoying the games as well. They should call the tournament something else, though. I have no better ideas, but Caribbean World Series is an oxy-moron, isn’t it? Granted the MLB version isn’t a true world championship, but they don’t call it the USA/Canada World Series.
[quote comment=”313974″]I’m enjoying the games as well. They should call the tournament something else, though. I have no better ideas, but Caribbean World Series is an oxy-moron, isn’t it? Granted the MLB version isn’t a true world championship, but they don’t call it the USA/Canada World Series.[/quote]
It’s not actually the Caribbean World Series, just the Caribbean Series. No world in there.
As far as the unis go, I really like the Dominicans away jerseys. The white piping really makes it pop. I also like the Mexico caps. The Detroit Tigers have an annual “Fiesta Tigres” night to celebrate the Latin ballplayers. They have never worn a Spanish jersey but God help us if they decide to go the route of the Venezuelan ones!
“The Caribbean Series (Serie del Caribe in Spanish) is the annual postseason tournament featuring the champions of the Caribbean winter leagues.”
No mention of Caribbean “World Series”, hasn’t it always been the Caribbean Series?
Only MLB is arrogant enough to call their league championship a “World Series”. At least the Caribbean Series is a true international competition.
Dominican Republic(Tigres del Licey) and Mexico(Venados de Mazatlan) both wear the uniform of the national team in the Caribbean Series, while Venezuel (Tigres de Aragua) and Puerto Rico (Leones de Ponce) wear the uniform they wore during their league’s regular season. The Caribbean Series is tournament between champion teams of each of the principal winter leagues so the DR and Mexico wearing a uniform with the color of their flags is just pour stupidity(specially for Licey who is the team with most wins in the history of the Caribbean Siries, they should set an example), they should be wearing the team uniform they wore in their respective leagues.
Tigres del Licey
link
link
link
Venados de Mazatlan
link
link
Them using the Country uniform is like Manchester Unites wearing England uniforms during the Champions League, Or like Yankees wearing American League uniforms in the World Series.
BTW, sorry for my bad english.
[quote comment=”313977″]Or like Yankees wearing American League uniforms in the World Series.
[/quote]
That’d make sense if you were talking about the Red Sox, buddy. =P
[quote comment=”313976″]Only MLB is arrogant enough to call their league championship a “World Series”. At least the Caribbean Series is a true international competition.[/quote]
The two time World Champion Toronto Blue Jays would like to remind you that the World Series is also an international competition.
oops
im shocked, shocked to learn this
[quote comment=”313980″]link
im shocked, link to learn this[/quote]
Never say never. (Or first, or biggest, or greatest …)
Happy stimulus day.
Great post Phil. I’ve been watching the games all week and its been a great reminder that pitchers and catchers report next week. I find it interesting that two teams wear uniforms of their country while the other two wear their regular uniforms from league play but sport a country cap.
Pretty much everything on these uniforms is a trainwreck with two exceptions (both from Mexico): Mexico’s green cap is flat-out gorgeous and it’s very funny that a team with some tubby players has an ad for food on the belly.
“World Series” has sort of slipped into the vernacular, hasn’t it. Kinda means “our championship”, as in “our Super Bowl” (except that the NFL protected that one).
I mean, there’s the College World Series, the Little League World Series, etc., etc., always with the spoken/written qualiferm and an one, too (“Well, our version of it, that is”).
So I guess it comes down to there beig a lot of “world series”…but when someone talks about THE World Series, they mean MLB.
Not arguing pro or con, just saying that’s what seems to have evolved.
—Ricko
“the spoken/written qualiferm and an one, too”
?
supposed to be..
“the spoken/written qualifer, and an implied one, too.”
In defense of MLB, when they coined “World Series” they were, in fact, the only teams in the world playing the game. Was it hyperbole? You bet. But it also was accurate.
—Ricko
[quote comment=”313975″][quote comment=”313974″]I’m enjoying the games as well. They should call the tournament something else, though. I have no better ideas, but Caribbean World Series is an oxy-moron, isn’t it? Granted the MLB version isn’t a true world championship, but they don’t call it the USA/Canada World Series.[/quote]
It’s not actually the Caribbean World Series, just the Caribbean Series. No world in there.
[/quote]
Someone needs to tell MLB network, then. I could have researched it better I guess but that’s what their calling it:
link
[quote comment=”313980″]link
im shocked, link to learn this[/quote]
“Here are your winnings, Captain.”
“Oh, yes, thank you.”
(I assume that was a CASABLANCA quote…sort of)
—Ricko
That’s what they’re calling it. Sorry!
when i saw what today’s post was centered on, i was kinda bummed… but then i kept reading, and dangit, phil did it again! great work, man!
and that dodge ad patch on puerto rico’s jersey is almost as bad as the mets’ new patch. that is a waste of advertising dollars–way too much white space, small logo…wait a sec, am i griping about an ad being not in your face enough? blasphemy! i guess i’m angry that it’s there and still relatively pointless. if you’re going to have ads, at least make them interesting.
[quote comment=”313989″]i guess i’m angry that it’s there and still relatively pointless. if you’re going to have ads, at least make them interesting.[/quote]
Or how about the ad on link? Phil (who I assume is watching these games in the Uni Watchtower’s link can’t even make out what it is, so how is the average ham & egger supposed to?
Gah! I missed a parenthesis in that last one.
Corrected:
[quote comment=”313990″]Phil (who I assume is watching these games in the Uni Watchtower’s link) can’t even make out what it is, so how is the average ham & egger supposed to?[/quote]
Too bad I don’t get the MLB Network. You would think when you pay Comcast for a “Sports Package” that includes channels such as the NHL Network, NFL Network, and NBA TV; surely I would get the network of the other major sport. Unfortunately Comcast does not think with the logic of a normal business/human being and I am Caribbean World Series-less.
[quote comment=”313987″][quote comment=”313980″]link
im shocked, link to learn this[/quote]
“Here are your winnings, Captain.”
“Oh, yes, thank you.”
(I assume that was a CASABLANCA quote…sort of)
—Ricko[/quote]
rick, i hope you’re more impressed with me, now? now, if you’ll excuse me, i’ll share my luck with your roulette wheel…
Country-themed uniforms are a recent addition to the Caribbean Series. IIRC, Mexico was the first country to outfit their team with uniforms (maybe 10 or 15 years ago?), and PR did it as well once they fielded an “all star” team for the series (sometime in the 1990’s). DR started doing the country-themed thing fairly recently (within the last 10 years), and for a while, they wore a uniform that had “soy dominicano” (I’m Dominican) across the chest. Venezuelan teams have always worn their team colours. One small addition was the “road” cap Venezuela wore this year, which was a burgundy (official Venezuelan sports colour)cap with a “V” logo.
I agree with previous posters that uniforms in the Caribbean have degenerated into softball-like things that act as billboards…it’s a shame
Here’s some of what it used to look like:
Navegantes del Magallanes, Venezuela – 1979
link
Luis Aparicio, Aguilas del Zulia, Venezuela – Mid 70’s
link
Alou brothers, Leones del Escogido, DR – 1970’s?
link
Tigres del Licey, DR – 1980
link
The last link should’ve been:
link
apologies…
Did anyone else see the CBS broadcast of the UCLA vs. ND basketball game? While introducing the UCLA starting line up with head shot pictures, they had the U of Arizona logo behind each Bruins player head shot. Nice attention to detail CBS.
Outstanding job, Phil. I have been watching a lot of these games on the MLB Network, and have been eagerly awaiting some Uni Watch commentary on the headache-inducing uniforms.
A uniform-related entry on the link.
To wit: Don’t change the Michigan home design. Ever. I wonder if the author is a Uni Watcher?
Just found a pretty cool shirt at Target, but am wondering what it is supposed to be representing. My early Google research says possibly the 1979 Tournament of Champions chess tourney. Or is it just a dumb shirt? Anyone know?
link
[quote comment=”313980″]link
im shocked, link to learn this[/quote]
The one thing that I have always found intriguing (moronic?) about the MLB drug policy as it existed back then was that steroids were expressly prohibited by the league, but there was no mechanism in place to punish or otherwise enforce the ban on steroids.
It’s like saying, OK, marijuana use is prohibited unless you have a doctor’s OK for medicinal purposes.
“OK, well what sort of penalty or punishment is going to be handed down if someone gets caught smoking pot without a doctor’s OK?”
“Penalty? Oh, there’s no penalty involved. You just can’t use it.”
“Riiiiiiiiiight… but what if someone gets caught using. How are they going to be penalized?”
“Well, again, there will be no penalty involved if you get caught using. You just can’t use it. Period.”
“Uhm…. doesn’t it strike you as odd that we have regulations on the books in an attempt to control illegal drug use, but no penalty phase if you get caught breaking the regulation?”
“Next question.”
Doesn’t make any sense; then again, pot smokers of the world didn’t have a strong union backing them up when it came time to come up with the rules, regulations and penalties.
I like how the Mexico and Dominican Republic teams represent their own leagues and countries in this series. It’s like how little league teams get new uniforms as they move up in the LLWS. In the regionals, I believe, they represent their state, then once they get to the actual LLWS, their uniforms have their region name, usually. The international teams have their country name, IIRC.
the Venezuelan’s always wear pinstriped pants???
Phil – wtf? plural of Venezuelan would not require the much-talked about apostrophe.
Just sayin’ since you are a stickler for such things.
Great post as always.
[quote comment=”313992″]Too bad I don’t get the MLB Network. You would think when you pay Comcast for a “Sports Package” that includes channels such as the NHL Network, NFL Network, and NBA TV; surely I would get the network of the other major sport. Unfortunately Comcast does not think with the logic of a normal business/human being and I am Caribbean World Series-less.[/quote]
Interestingly I don’t have the sports package and I do get MLB network, not the other 3.
Johnny O had submited a proposed road jersey wordmark change to the Brewers. Instead of “Brewers” it would read “Milwaukee” and the sleeve patch would be their primary logo. I gave him a hand on the rendering but I haven’t heard an update on it.
Sent in a uni and logo design for when the Cincinnati Stingers were ramping up, sent you info Paul.
it’s heresy to have the mexican team wearing the corona endorsement in mexicali, which is tecate territory. it would be like a u.s. team playing at coors field with a big “budweiser” logo
Modified color-on-color: Oregon women’s hoops team is wearing full pink uniforms (with yellow accents and green numbers) at Arizona, who are wearing road blues at home (which might have pink borders around numbers and neck/sleeves) and pink warmups.
The game is on FSN for me.
[quote comment=”314004″]Johnny O had submited a proposed road jersey wordmark change to the Brewers. Instead of “Brewers” it would read “Milwaukee” and the sleeve patch would be their primary logo. I gave him a hand on the rendering but I haven’t heard an update on it.[/quote]
The response I got back the other day was highly disappointing. I was going to wait until Monday to post, but I can do so now. After submitting Pretty Boy Paulie’s great rendering of the Brewers road uni with “Milwaukee” on it, here is the response I got back from Jill Aronoff who is the Director of Merchandise Branding for the
Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Club:
“Hi John,
Thank you for your illustrations and ideas. There are many elements that go into a uniform design including how comfortable the jersey is for the player and how much movement it allows the player at bat. Our graphics and branding team works very closely with MLB on our uniforms as they provide us with guidance on design and fit. Together we create a great looking jersey that is comfortable and allows the maximum movement for the players.
Thank you again for your passion for the Brewers. I hope you enjoy the 2009 Brewers season.
~Jill”
….pure garbage. She doesn’t know who she is dealing with. I wrote back a somewhat mean e-mail claiming I know what I am talking about and she never once answered my question. I was just curious if the Brewers were or would look into adding the city name on the road unis. Instead I get some stupid automatic and BS response. Oh well…I tried. Maybe she will e-mail me back, and if she does, I will let you all know.
[quote comment=”313999″]Just found a pretty cool shirt at Target, but am wondering what it is supposed to be representing. My early Google research says possibly the 1979 Tournament of Champions chess tourney. Or is it just a dumb shirt? Anyone know?
link
According to Target’s and Mossimo’s websites, it’s just a vintage Mossimo t-shirt. Why it’s 1979-specific and has that logo? No clue. No event used that logo, nor was there any sort of international event in Montreal that year.
The Durham Bulls are changing their uniforms this year. I don’t have a picture and I don’t have a link, but their yearly magazine references a ‘New Road Cap’ multiple times throughout it and includes a picture. Its the standard Bulls blue, but the logo is completely grey’d out.
Looks like TB is trying to strong-arm the Bulls into adapting to their colors. I don’t like it.
I got my tickets for NBA All Star weekend (both Saturday and Sunday) last night. I’ll post pictures if there is an interest.
Jason
true color-on-color going on in Pittsburgh as Duquesne is hosting Xavier and wearing their red unis on a “red out” night at the Palumbo Center
Just a word of caution: Be careful giving Corona too much props when Mazatlan is representing Mexico. The pride of the city, outside of their dear Venados (dear deer…Heyy-o), is Pacifico beer. It’s a great source of civic pride, and I’m sure the locals are none too happy about the enemy being on the backs of their jerseys. Then again, they’re not really uptight people.
No picture, but Bruins Goalie Manny Fernandez has changed his pads from the color scheme of white-black-yellow to simply white-black. My guess on this is Tim Thomas has the exact same colored and styled pads (different brand though – I think Nike-Bauer – compared to Fernandez’s Reebok pads). If you follow hockey you’ve probably noticed this/know what I’m talking about.
I for one have seen highlights of games before, and was unsure who was the goalie until I could see the mask they were wearing or hear their name mentioned.
Just felt like pointing that out. Usually a team’s goalies don’t wear “identical” pads and equipment. At least I don’t think so (as of now).
So, I’m watching some past Super Bowl highlights off the DVR….who else forgot Puma made NFL jerseys?!
[quote comment=”314007″]Modified color-on-color: Oregon women’s hoops team is wearing full pink uniforms (with yellow accents and green numbers) at Arizona, who are wearing road blues at home (which might have pink borders around numbers and neck/sleeves) and pink warmups.
The game is on FSN for me.[/quote]
For all the flack Oregon gets about uniforms, these are actually pretty good … if you like the pick thing. Photos are posted on the Tucson paper’s site — just look for the “Multimedia Center” on the right.
link
Sorry — “the PINK thing”, not the “PICK” thing.
A friend and I drove over to Mexicali from Tucson for doubleheaders to the Serie Del Caribe on Friday and Saturday.
I am so glad we took the time and effort to go. The atmosphere was wonderful and really festive. People were appreciative that we came as there were not too many folks from the States.
There was no last call in the 7th inning and beer was poured right until the last pitch. I have also never seen so much banter in the rest rooms as there were a line for the men’s room but not the women’s rest room.