In a recent issue of the local sports weekly, PressBox, Orioles owner Peter Angelos was asked about the possibility of restoring the city name to the front of the team?s road jersey. He responded by saying, “I don?t really have a problem with that. I might also want to designate the team as Maryland?s baseball team. I have had complaints from Marylanders living outside the Baltimore metro area, complaining we always talk about Baltimore … so maybe a combination might work.”
I?m glad he doesn?t have a problem with it, but I?ve got a problem with the last part of that response.
I don?t believe for a second that “Marylanders living outside the Baltimore Metro area” have issued a single complaint about the prefix “Baltimore.” The idea that someone from Bethesda or Rising Sun or Chestertown would even consider such a thing simply doesn?t ring true. In decades of doing ? and listening to ? sports talk radio in this area, I don?t recall a single listener calling in with that specific complaint. And I can promise the Orioles? distinguished owner that the locals will go apoplectic if you try to rename the team the “Maryland Orioles.”
Anyway, if you?re really unsure about restoring the city?s name to the road uniform front, I?d advise you not to do it. That?s correct ? don?t put “Baltimore” on the front of the road jersey.
Put it on the home shirts instead.
Why not? Other teams ignore the nickname at home. The New York Americans have never worn ahome jersey that said “Yankees.” (They wore a road jersey that said “Yankees” from 1927 to ?30.) Detroit last wore “Tigers” on their home shirt in 1960, a one-year style. The Athletics wore shirts that said simply “Oakland” in 1968 and again in 1985-86. From 1970 to ?91, the Philadelphia Phillies? shirts carried just a big “P,” which, I suppose, could have signified the nickname, but not necessarily.
A home shirt saying “Baltimore” would be immensely popular and profitable as well, inasmuch as the sale of replica jerseys would likely be brisk. The nickname would be represented by the hat logo, and maybe a sleeve patch of some kind. What?s not to like?
Hey, I?m aware that a new uniform does nothing in the way of helping a team win. But with fan sentiment clearly on the side of civic pride, what possible harm could be done by making the city?s moniker front and center at Camden Yards?
In the video advertising the 40th anniversary of the 1966 world champions, there?s a shot of Frank Robinson wearing the “Baltimore” scripted road shirt. It looks terrific, and not just because it?s on the shoulders of a legend. But don?t just take my word for it.
If you?ve ever seen my pal Tom Davis? TV show, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on Channel 54 on Sundays, you?ve seen the jerseys hanging on the set. Tom, the Beau Brumell of Baltimore?s sports media, had them made up at his own expense just to show how cool the city name looks in fabric.
Tom and I were both on the committee that designed the duds the club wore in 1989-94. We?d be more than happy to reprise those roles this offseason.
Phil Wood has covered baseball in the Washington/Baltimore market for more than 30 years. You can reach him at [email protected].
