Commemorative sleeve patches are a regular feature on contemporary big league uniforms. It?s a way to honor a significant team achievement from years ago when it hits a milestone number, usually at least 20 years after the fact. It?s also a way to boost souvenir sales, using a secondary logo on a number of “limited edition” type items.
Just being around a certain number of years warrants recognition. The Orioles wore a special patch on their sleeves when they reached their 40th and 50th anniversaries. Other teams have worn patches to celebrate anniversaries of championships; the Birds missed the boat on that one last year, on the 40th anniversary of the 1966 club. Perhaps they?ll do something in 2016 for the 50th.
The Orioles trotted out a special patch honoring Cal Ripken Jr. for the final few days of his active playing career, and his impending Hall of Fame induction may be patch-worthy later this year. They?ve gone the temporary patch route before: For the last opening day at Memorial Stadium in 1991, they wore a special patch, though it was removed almost immediately. Apparently the marketing staff had pushed it through without telling the owner. Oops.
The 2007 season doesn?t offer much in the way of obvious significant team anniversaries, so I thought I?d hit the books and see if there?s anything else we?re missing.
How?s this: a patch commemorating the club?s first-ever .500 finish? The 1957 Orioles went 76-76 under Paul Richards and a .500 finish (or better) by the ?07 club is certainly a goal every local fan strives for after nine straight sub-.500 finishes.
The 1967 Orioles, fresh off a World Series title, dropped into a sixth-place tie with Washington. The most memorable event that year might be when Frank Robinson?s noggin met Chicago infielder Al Weis? knee during a slide. The result was double vision for F Robby, though the club?s problems that year went beyond a single injury. A patch showing Frank seeing stars would be unique, but I can?t imagine he?d be too thrilled.
The 1977 season could?ve been Jim Palmer?s third straight Cy Young Award (20 wins, 319 innings pitched and 22 complete games!), but the Yankees? Sparky Lyle got it. The Orioles won 97 games but finished second in the AL East in those pre-wild card days.Most significant moment? The in-season retirement of the legendary Brooks Robinson, one of the finest human beings, baseball or otherwise, ever put on the planet. They could wear a patch honoring Brooks every year.
The upcoming season will be the 25th anniversary of the 1982 team and one of the great pennant races. It came down to the final day against Milwaukee ? Jim Palmer against Don Sutton. Sutton prevailed, and Earl Weaver retired ? for a few years, anyway. It was also the year I arrived in town. Maybe I?ll wear a patch. Nah.
The 1987 Orioles lost 95 games, and the ?97 club lost in the ALCS, so there?s little to celebrate there. Still, the club?s marketing department is loaded with creative minds; perhaps they?ll surprise us.
Phil Wood has covered baseball in the Washington/Baltimore market for more than 30 years. You can reach him at [email protected].
