A's New Black Alts?

by oakland ehs on Jan 19, 2008 3:32 PM PST Comment 60 comments

I remember last season hearing some rumblings about the A's getting a new black alternate jersey for this season... while I'm not looking forward to another black uniform disaster, am still curious to see it, as much as I think it's not going to look good.

Anyone hear anything about it? Think it will be released at fanfest?

Or perhaps it's been scrapped?

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I sure hope its scrapped, cause the black jerseys

sucked ass. Don't bring those out again. I'd rather see Gold jerseys again than those black ones.

by Zonis on Jan 19, 2008 4:21 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I hear they are definitely bringing them back

This time outlined with yellow instead of white.

by Hawk on Jan 19, 2008 4:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Ugh

The black is so awful looking. Terrible decision.

RagingHarden: Yeah if you get 20 starts out of me I'll be shocked. Like, I'll wreck my drawers.

by walk off bunt on Jan 19, 2008 4:55 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Even worse...

..black clothing draws in heat, so in a California summer, wearing black while playing sports is an insane thing to be doing.

See Raiders, Oakland.

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Jan 19, 2008 5:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oakland generally doesn't get that hot ...

I'd say it has more potential to help cold weather games over the first couple of months of the season.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 19, 2008 5:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh be serious,

an Oakland summer is only different from an Oakland winter in that there's more rain.

"Life is a horizontal fall" -Jean Cocteau

by King Richard on Jan 19, 2008 5:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ya think maybe...

...they'll play in Arizona ever?

Texas?

Colorado?

San Diego?

I played soccer at a reasonably high level, and twice played for teams that experimented with black shirts, only to ditch them quickly when players started wilting in hot weather.

Hey, maybe you can send the A's out wearing cotton.

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Jan 19, 2008 8:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Well, since they're alternates

to be used at the team's occasional choosing, one would hope the A's are smart enough not to so choose for their afternoon games in Texas.

But the black jerseys suck anyway. If they must choose something other than road greys, home whites, or the existing green alternates, I'm with Zonis, I'd vote for gold.

There is an A in Whimsy.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jan 19, 2008 9:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bring on the gold!

"The more self-centered and egotistical a guy is, the better ballplayer he's going to be."- Bill "The Spaceman" Lee

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jan 20, 2008 1:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Coastal San Diego

is pretty mild ... frankly it has just about the best weather in the world ... the team doesn't play their this year, though. Doesn't play in Colorado, either. (At least until late October, at which point they're unlikely to be wearing alternate uniforms and the weather will have chilled a bit)

As FSU notes, I'm sure they'll have the good sense not to wear them when visiting Texas or Arizona or on particularly hot days anywhere else ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 19, 2008 10:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I lived in San Diego for three years.

The weather is absolutely perfect. My wife and I lived in an apartment for over a year before either one of us noticed that it didn't have heating or cooling.

"You may glory in a team triumphant, but you fall in love with a team in defeat."--The Boys of Summer

by alox on Jan 20, 2008 12:43 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Where did you play soccer?

I have run for some very serious track clubs in my life and at one point the club decided to use black singlets. They switched to red right away.

As far as the alternate jersey, I am sure they simply would not wear it during hot weather games.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 20, 2008 5:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Sydney Australia.

Granted, hot joint.

But still, the difference between black and white in terms of drawing in heat was noticeable.

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Jan 21, 2008 10:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I was in Sydney in 1996

I ran a race there.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 21, 2008 10:26 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about the difference between black

and another dark color, like dark green?

I would imagine they're similar (perhaps black is a bit worse) ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 21, 2008 10:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

the more light it reflects...

..the less heat it conducts.

Personally, I think Metallic Silver would be a good option.

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Jan 22, 2008 10:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah ... I understand the basic science ...

Metallic Silver (or white) >>>>> than Black

But what I'm wondering is where on the scale between those extremes is a color like dark green, that the team already wears? From looking at it, I'd think it would be a lot closer to black than to white.

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 22, 2008 10:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

You're probably right.

We should play Jack Cust at shortstop for a week, just so we can feel good about Crosby again.

by Ozzz on Jan 22, 2008 2:40 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think these are it...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Authentic-Oaklan...

by Syphon on Jan 19, 2008 4:57 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Not bad

I think it looks kind of cool. I'm a fan of home whites and road grays and think the A's wear the green alternates too much already, but at least will mix it up a bit. As long as they don't over do it like many teams do. I think more retro uniform days would be fun too, 70's and 80's pullover style even.

Wonder if they'll adjust the black alternate hat then too, with a yellow/gold A's instead of the green?

Gas to Chicago- $23.87 A's/White Sox Tix- $28 Watching the A's whipping the Sox in July 05'- Priceless

by WiscoFan on Jan 19, 2008 5:07 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

The green alternates are the best.

by OldhamA on Jan 21, 2008 10:33 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hope those are not it

They look stupid, and black and yellow are Pirates colors.

"I Will Not Relent, I Am Driven"... Clutch

Bring Back The Bash!!!

by Shippee33 on Jan 19, 2008 5:08 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

...and yet,

I saw the Pirates wearing RED with black trim multiple times last season.

"The more self-centered and egotistical a guy is, the better ballplayer he's going to be."- Bill "The Spaceman" Lee

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jan 20, 2008 1:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Those are ok

I liked the old black ones better. I have one and now they are hard to find.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 19, 2008 5:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I have a Tejada

black jersey. I wear it more than my Crosby green jersey. I dug the old black alts.

by somebodyelse on Jan 21, 2008 9:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate to reply to myself

but I wear just about anything more often than my Crosby jersey.

by somebodyelse on Jan 21, 2008 9:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like it

But then again, I like a lot of non-traditional stuff like SABRmetrics, alternate uniforms, interleague play, the wild card, and night game world series games.

Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.4 WARP3: Priceless

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Jan 19, 2008 7:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

have you ever even seen

a World Series day game?

by Brian in 317 on Jan 19, 2008 10:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes ... and they're all a serious break from

traditions ... established before field lighting became commonplace ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 19, 2008 10:46 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

no I haven't

But I typically hear people (either old farts or really traditional fans) that bitch about how there are no more World Series day games.

These are the type of people that are also pissed that Wrigley Field put in lights in the 1980s.

Juan Pierre: 44 Million Dollars, Juan Pierre's 3.4 WARP3: Priceless

by Travis Buck Nuckin on Jan 20, 2008 12:32 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm an old fart

Who saw a few day WS games back in the day, but missed many because of school. I think it would be cool to have some weekend day games in the WS. It's kind of boring that they're always at night.

by Brian in 317 on Jan 20, 2008 10:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Bah

I never got what people were complaining about with that, and this is coming from someone who was a Cubs fan in 1987. Heck, I went to the 3rd night game they had there. I thought night baseball was pretty cool, as it was actually easier for my then-eight-year-old self to follow what was going on.

by Nate on Jan 21, 2008 9:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not the worst things I've ever seen...

...but, God, I hope not. Black has become too cliche. Dark green is part of what sets the A's apart.

"Rebuilding" is loser mentality.

by UncleLeo on Jan 20, 2008 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

not to mention

... we are now the only team in the majors with green as our primary color.

come to think of it, the only team with any green at all.

love, mike in canada

by oakland ehs on Jan 20, 2008 4:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Not good.

Black is just too common a color. Why not make them a really dark, dark green instead? At least dark, dark green would give an appearance of black, but still keep the true gold and green real Athletic fans know and love.

"Schilling is an A-hole. The End." Amnesiac727

by LilAnnieOaktown on Jan 19, 2008 6:32 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good idea

Just a verry very dark green.

Should work. Why go "raiders" on us?

What about pink? they have those pink A's caps. Why not the whole uni? Breast Cancer Awareness Day? Good idea for merchandising?

"I never predict anything, and I never will." Paul Gascoigne, English footballer

by One won lost won on Jan 19, 2008 9:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

hmm...

I'm cool with them wearing pink as long as they wear bras and breast forms, too. That way, they can lean in and take a boatload of HBP's and pad their OBP's.

"The more self-centered and egotistical a guy is, the better ballplayer he's going to be."- Bill "The Spaceman" Lee

by The Pilots Dared Me To Die on Jan 20, 2008 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

yup

Cupcakes could use a bra.

"Schilling is an A-hole. The End." Amnesiac727

by LilAnnieOaktown on Jan 20, 2008 6:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

ugh

hate it! I'd rather have kelly green.

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Jan 19, 2008 7:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I'd even rather have neon lime green.

Okay, maybe not. But that black & yellow is uuuugly.

"It is almost impossible to exaggerate the complete unimportance of almost everything."

by Poppy on Jan 19, 2008 8:45 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

throwback 80's night!

neon green tops with parachute pants!

"Don't be an ass!" --Bill King

by batgirl on Jan 20, 2008 7:18 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Do we have to have big hair to go to the game?

And shoulder pads? If it's an April night game, I could actually go for some leg warmers...

"It is almost impossible to exaggerate the complete unimportance of almost everything."

by Poppy on Jan 21, 2008 4:53 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice

some AAA uni's to match the team.

"...we don't score six, seven runs. We score three, four runs and play defense and pitch" - Eric Chavez (2006)

by pickinmachine on Jan 19, 2008 10:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

I've never liked the black jersey trend

I think they look ugly. They mostly look like warmup jerseys that teams wear during BP.

Gold tops would be fine with me. But I think it would be cooler for them to pick the old-school, baggy look as an alternative uni if they really feel the need to do something like this.

"And Julio Franco is batting right-handed!" -- Wayne Hagin, A's radio play-by-play, mid-80s

by Nick on Jan 20, 2008 5:48 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Are the green alternates still going to be used?

Will the green alternates still be worn also? Will the A's become one of the many teams that have 4 or more jersey styles to choose from?

I kind of hope that the greens stick around because I like them.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 20, 2008 5:49 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Is it just me

Or does Lew seem to be itching to get away from green and gold? Perhaps to taunt the city of Oakland? He once showed up to a press conference wearing a maroon A's shirt. Remember the start of last season they went almost a month wearing the "Athletics" and not the "Oakland" jerseys. Maybe I'm just reading too much conspiracy into all this.

by somebodyelse on Jan 20, 2008 9:05 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

just you

by Zonis on Jan 20, 2008 10:31 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Green and gold, no

Jerseys with the name "Oakland" on them, yes.

There is an A in Whimsy.

by FreeSeatUpgrade on Jan 20, 2008 11:45 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Pitchers choice?

I was always under the impression the starting pitcher chose the option of wearing the alternate. Cupcakes loves them, Haren liked the traditional white/gray...others seemed to mix it up. But I do recall to start the 07' season it seemed like they never would wear the road grays.

Gas to Chicago- $23.87 A's/White Sox Tix- $28 Watching the A's whipping the Sox in July 05'- Priceless

by WiscoFan on Jan 21, 2008 6:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I remember that also, in 06 I thought

For something like the first 8 to 10 road games they wore the alternate. It was bothersome to me.

Rickey Henderson: 35, 24, hall of fame!

by Athletics fan and runner on Jan 21, 2008 10:27 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I hate it when...

...both teams wear their dark alternates. There have been a couple games against either the Rangers or Mariners where the A's wore dark green and the other team wore dark blue, and watching on tv it was sometimes hard to tell who was who from a distance.

"Rebuilding" is loser mentality.

by UncleLeo on Jan 22, 2008 9:57 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Makes sense ... darker colors make you look

smaller ...

"It's for your own good. Big strong Devo knows whats best for Poppy" -- Mossback

by devo on Jan 21, 2008 10:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cupcakes...

I don't recall him sporting the whites or grays very much over the past few seasons...

by somebodyelse on Jan 21, 2008 12:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like black jerseys

but only as an alternate. I actually favor them over the green ones. Most teams have alternate jerseys chosen by that day's starting pitcher. If a pitcher was ever dumb enough to pick a black jersey on a 95 degree day, that's just plain stupid.

Having a black alternate jersey that still has some green and gold in it doesn't really get away from the primary color scheme.

by thejd44 on Jan 20, 2008 10:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

The Rockies

didn't seem too affected by their black jerseys last season.

by somebodyelse on Jan 21, 2008 12:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Grammar & spelling

aside, I hope you get my point. If there is one.

by somebodyelse on Jan 21, 2008 12:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Black has always been a Rockies color.

Black is not an A's color.

Besides that, those black Rockies uniforms are ugly, too. I'd like to see them wear more purple -- the one color that makes them unique from the other 29 MLB teams.

"[Moneyball] is huge [in Japan], I guess, so I'm like a David Hasselhoff type or something..." -- Billy Beane

by FormerHuntsvilleStar on Jan 21, 2008 4:47 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Milton Bradley would agree

that black is not an A's color. I was addressing everyone's concern that black uni's are detrimental to a team's performance.

by somebodyelse on Jan 21, 2008 8:29 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I like the black jerseys

As far as I am concerned, the more jerseys the merrier.

I'd really like to see the A's go with some sort of Sunday alternate Jersey idea.

So they would have home whites, road grays, alternate black (I love the design I have seen for the new black jersey. My only problem with the old one was the green looked funky against black) and then have alternate Sunday jerseys. A green one for the road Sunday games and a sleeveless yellow for the home Sunday games.

I'd like the home Sunday Jersey to be patterned after the 1970 uniforms alternate jersey, just without the yellow pants.

by jeffro on Jan 22, 2008 12:06 PM PST reply actions 0 recs