Posted on by Shannon Shark @metspolice

If Sandy is reading…the Marines have nice blue uniforms

Greg posted this in the comments.

I wish someone from Mets Police (given this web site’s history) would ask Sandy whether the interminable combinations of uniforms and the use of black in the pinstripe uniform for example, bespeak a complete lack of organization and aesthetics. The Mets are tone deaf. Shouldn’t that change? The ‘small vocal fanbase’ which wants to remedy the uniform situation can be satisfied by changes which would allow the team to continue using black:

1) a single away uniform
2) a single home uniform
3) a single alternate uniform. If it’s black and the hat is black, fine, but not in the other uniforms.

I think most fans and consumers would be satisfied with this compromise. Instead, the Mets disregard their most passionate fan base.

Uniforms seem more of a Jeff thing than a GM thing, but the way you phrased it makes sense.  Perhaps the Marine in Sandy can relate:

Every detail of the dress blues uniform reflects the proud legacy of Marines who have served for more than two centuries:

The buttons featuring the eagle and anchor have been on the uniform since 1804, making them the oldest military insignia in continued use.

The “blood stripe” runs down each trouser leg of the dress blues worn by noncommissioned officers, staff noncommissioned officers and officers. The solid red stripe became part of the uniform in 1849. Today, it serves to honor the memory of fallen comrades.

The collar of today’s dress blues reflects the original Marine uniform of the American Revolution, which had a high leather neck to help protect Marines from sword blows.

Because it embodies Marine Corps history, rigorous standards apply to wearing this uniform and every Marine upholds those standards with pride.

Perhaps the uniforms of the Mets could embody Mets history, and each Met could uphold the franchise standards with pride.

Newer readers may be unaware of my proposed Treaty of Flushing.   At the treaty signing, Paul Lukas, Howie Rose and I will sit across a subway car from Jeff, Fred and Dave Howard.

The proposed treaty is this:

Monday-Thursday and Saturday:   Wear the primary uniforms with blue caps.  My concession is that the Mets can decide if the primary is the pinless or the pinstripes.  A major concession.

Friday:  Piazza generation likes the idiotic black jerseys.   If they must exist, Friday night somehow seems appropriate.   Lose the hybrid caps (because the NY disappears) and just go all black.  Even better would be using the Giants design.

Sunday:  Anything goes.  I am not trying to stop the Mets from selling jerseys.   Go nuts.  Blue, Orange, Polka Dots, Negro Leagues, Throwbacks, hell if you want to wear uniforms that say Finlandia Cheese go for it.


19 Replies to “If Sandy is reading…the Marines have nice blue uniforms”

  2. Sorry, but in reality, the narrative of the Marine Corps uniform supports the addition of black to the Mets uniform. Each uniform has adapted over time, adding features. The “Black” is now a integral part of Mets history

    1. Agree totally with your reasoning. They’ve now had black in the color scheme (twelve years), as well as the “hybrid” cap, longer than they had the “iconic” racing stripe uniforms (ten years). I believe it would be better, however, if they could reverse the colors of the NY logo on the “hybrid” (i.e. instead of blue NY surrounded by orange NY, have it orange NY surrounded by blue NY) so as to make the logo have better visibility (although it would then look quite similar to the old Giants, but the Mets own the logo so what the hey).

      1. i think this part of the argument is such nonsense. just because something historic happened while you looked like crap doesn’t mean you should continue to look like crap. and you can’t use the racing stripes as part of a scarecrow argument, because THOSE looked terrible too.

        said it before and i’ll say it again: it’s about brand consistency. and having three different colors (two of which are accent colors) and two different versions of a wordmark isn’t consistent.

        1. But, no matter what you think, a very large number of Mets fan do not believe they look like crap in black.
          Your point on brand consistency is absolutely nonsense. The Yankees, always put forward as the bench mark of uniform consistency and branding, wear two different NY marks on the field every day, and their batting helmets have a third version.

          1. Doesn’t my original suggestion solve everyone’s issues. Black in the alternate uni, but not in the others. Should the blue pinstripe throwback uni really have black dropshadow? I mean, let’s be reasonable.

          2. Don’t think of consistency as necessarily a Yankee thing. I find Mets fans are very defensive where Yankees are concerned. The Yankees are most definitely consistent though, and consistency is generally regarded as a good thing, when the thing held constant is good. Yankee players may be spouting the company line, but often times they’ll talk about their excitement at putting on a uniform they can associate with …. so many great players from Gehrig to Ruth to Carl Pavano. Put on a Red Sox uniform and granted there have been some minor changes, but wouldn’t you think of FIsk, Yaz, and Mike Torrez? Same thing with Mets. Consistency in a uniform means ready identification with a history.

          3. Mark me down as really being in the minority on this, but I’m not a fan of the Mets having pins at all. And I do like the black (which they should have always had anyway), at least with caps and jackets.

          4. walt, there are actually four versions of the interlocking yankees’ NY logo. and i can guarantee you that me, you and about a few hundred of other people know that because we’re aesthetically inclined fans who read uni watch, post on the creamer blogs, etc. the small differences in the interlocking NY go unnoticed by nearly everyone in the market place. the yankees are the picture of brand consistency. just look in the stands. navy blue t-shirt or pinstripe or gray jersey. that’s all you see. and everyone from the bronx to taiwan can recognize that white logo on that navy blue cap.

            there are two arguments at play here: what the black uniform looks like (which, admittedly, is subjective) and if the presence of the black uniform is consistent with what most people associate with the mets. i would argue that a team whose two lone colors were blue and orange for 36 of their 49 seasons would not benefit from incorporating a third color, especially when it enrages a good number of their loyal fan base. i mean, you really haven’t met anyone who comes to a game with you and says “i thought the mets were blue and orange?”

            but more matter of factly, it seems that this is strictly an issue of sales for the mets. black t-shirts, hats and jerseys sell. and somehow the mets have confused stuff that sells with stuff that fans truly like. as we’ve learned for years, alternate jerseys are going to be popular, particularly with casual fans who want to a) wear a solid color, b) incorporate their team’s shirt/jersey more seamlessly into their wardrobe and c) want what is new, hip and different. there is ZERO reason why the mets can’t see the same sales success by rebooting their alternate uniform and making a solid blue top, while eliminating the black from all other looks. while i can deal with the black solely as a friday alternate, i think the idea that “well, blacks sells, so it should stay” is just a statistical crutch that does not tell the whole story, and the marketing department uses it to reinforce a desire that probably comes from higher above in the organization.

    1. I’ve thought they should wear black leather garter belts, sequin t shirts and pink feathered caps on occasion. Once in awhile.

    1. Um, the problem with the treaty is that there are not actually two equal parties here (nor has anyone in power actually agreed to anything). The Wilpons, like every other MLB team owner, are actually more like benevolent monarchs. Benevolent, but absolute. They own the team and can dress the guys as they please. They can change team colors should they so wish (e.g. Arizona Diamondbacks from purple & teal to brick red & teal, Kansas City A’s from blue & white to green & white to green & gold;, etc.), as well as either keep or alter traditions(i.e. “Old Timer’s Day”)or uniforms (e.g. 1978 Houston “Tequila Sunrise” Astros, 1979 Pittsburgh “Bumble Bee” Pirates, etc.) as they see fit . They may be fans, but ultimately they are a business that wants to make money. If that means that black jerseys, hybrid caps or blue & orange vuvuzelas are selling well, you can bet the team will be kitted out with them. If the opposite is true, they will likely discontinue them. That’s the way it is.

  6. This is a great site..Congrats.

    Congrats to Sandy, and welcome aboard. I love what I am hearing now.
    It is true; the Mets need another Gil Hodges (my favorite “Boys of Summer” as a manager. I remember watching him play at Ebbets Field.As a manager, what a player never wanted see, is note on his stool (see me in my office after the game)
    I think Wally may fit right in.

    This coming year the Mets road uniform MUST have “New York” spelled out on ALL road games “using the same lettering format. “Mets” on road Games is Bush. Home uniform games should have N Y over the left breast. (Same as on their warm up jackets) With “Metropolitans” spelled out underneath. “METS” However, should remain on all promotions.

  7. I will not, but I am not at the treaty signing, consent to non pinstripe Dodger uniforms…I can live with the rest. I want METS uniforms.

    1. Which is why the Snow Whites should always have the piping. It keeps it from resembling Dodger, or Giants, uniforms.

    2. Problem w your logic is pins are Yankees. It’s not ‘Mets’. It’s just another borrowed theme. I could never understand what they were thinking in representing the Yankees. Were they expecting the Yankees to move to California too?

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