What would Our Washington Nationals uniforms originally looked like if Commissioner Bud Selig didn't step in and make the decision to bring back the Curly "W" of The Expansion Washington Senators in 2005? The UniWatch Blog this morning has a fascinating story about how the current Nats Home Jersey and Original Gray Away Jersey were designed with a better matching "Beveled" W Cap with gold trim by Todd Radom.
It's a great read and includes an actual photo of a man at RFK Stadium wearing the navy blue prototype "beveled" cap and some mockups of Chad Cordero and Marlon Anderson in the original home and away jerseys. From an historical standpoint, it's a great debate whether the "beveled" W would have served any better than the Curly "W". Washington's home caps have never matched their home uniforms and it's clear the team is moving closer and closer to all script now--but I wonder if that "beveled" W cap would have caught on as well as the Curly "W" eventually did?
Of course, if it had, Charlie Slowes would have never screamed out on the radio: "Bang!! Zoom!! Go The Fireworks!! A Beveled W Is In The Books!!"
All Photos From The UniWatch Blog Story
13 comments:
I was expecting another "forgettable" write up! Last night was discouraging..
Better question: When will the Fuddrucker lettering go the way of the ChiSox short-sleeve unis?
Interesting write up. I wonder if we'll move to home uniforms with red script "Nationals" and road uniforms with blue script "Washington". The red script looks odd to me when the team is wearing blue road caps. At least at home, we see the red alternate uniforms, which do have the "curly W" on the jersey. I'd also like to see a redesign of the blue patriotic alternates - the stars and stripes DC logo is still way too busy for the jersey. I think even straightening out the stripes might help.
Janet: When the road uniform went script red "Washington", I've always thought the blue cap should have a red curly "W" instead of white. Similar to what The Cardinals have worn for years on the road. It's also interesting that those "DC" Stars & Stripes jerseys have only been worn twice this season. Last year, that alternate was used quite a few times.
If the team did go ahead with a blue "Washington" Script as you desire on the road, that would have to wait until after the 2011 season as every team must wear any newly designed jerseys for three consecutive years as per MLB's mandate. And the current red script Washington was implemented in 2009. Thanks.
The UniWatch article has this statement: "Might the Nationals be wearing a home uni that more closely resembles this (only with “Nationals” instead of “Senators”) — like so (mock courtesy of Matt Malinoski)."
I'm almost certain I've seen the very same jersey as at the link, except that it was red with white lettering rather than white with red, on sale at the team store at Nationals Park and RFK in past seasons.
TBC: That script Nationals jersey has been sold since 2005 in various stores, colors and designs--even at Targets & Walmarts.
Here is another link of uniforms for the nats in the Expos Style of Red/White & blue that I came across earlier today that someone claims was sent to the team for review.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23481859@N03/sets/72157622538940620/detail/
You might have to cut and paste the above together for the link to work.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23481859@N03/sets/7
2157622538940620/detail/
I have no idea why some fans are bothered by the fact that the "curly W" does not match the script of "Nationals." Has anybody noticed the example of the Detroit Tigers or even the New York Yankees?
It doesn't take a genius to figure out why the "curly W" caps became popular---fans recognized they were a nod to the expansion Senators and an acknowledgement of Washington's baseball past. While it's important the Nats don't become trapped by the past, Washington's baseball past is a STRENGHTH, not a weakness.
Just saw the script "Nationals." I can get used to it, but in my opinion the uniform was nailed in 2005. Let the Orioles associate themselves with cursive script---I prefer the block lettering. And while fans like Wooden U. Lyketneau considers labelling the block font, "Fuddruckers" to be an insult, Fuddruckers cooks the best burgers I have ever tasted---even better than "5 Guys". I'm proud of the block font and in my opinion the problem is not that the home uniform still uses it but that the road uniform has abandoned it.
If I had that much disposable money available, I'd be tempted to get a classic Expos jersey (the one with the "M" logo and "expos" written below it above the left breast) with "LORD STANLEY" and uniform number "49". (Lord Stanley of Preston was the 49th Governor-General of Canada going all the back to Jacques Cartier.) I assume that if the Expos ever did anything like the "Main Event" in D.C., Stanley would be the perfect equivalent for Teddy.
Correction---according to the official list, Samuel de Champlain was the first governor, not Jacques Cartier.
The Nationals uniforms should be mostly BLUE outlined in red, both on the road and at home. As I have stated numerous times, relate to our City's history. The city is named after George Washington and he DID NOT wear red our enemy the British wore red and they also burnt down our White House.
The Cold War was against Russia and they were the Reds and now our biggest adversary is China (RED) So would you please tell me why we are in red and not BLUE. BE TRUE AND WEAR BLUE!!!
Our home uniforms should have a curly W, in blue outlined in red, on the left breast and a BLUE number outlined in red on lower right. BLUE numbers on back outlined in red. No names on back at home. The home uniform should be white or white with BLUE pinstripe. (The Nationals uniforms should be mostly BLUE outlined in red, both on the road and at home.) As I have stated numerous times, relate to our City's history. The city is named after George Washington and he DID NOT wear red our enemy the British wore red and they also burnt down our White House.
The Cold War was against Russia and they were the Reds and now our biggest adversary is China (RED). So, would you please tell me why we are in red and not BLUE? BE TRUE AND WEAR BLUE!!!
The away uniforms should have Washington in BLUE script outlined in red on front. Number and name on back, also in BLUE outlined in red.
We should only use the BLUE cap, at all times! It’s one of the best in baseball!!!
Look at our stadium, we have BLUE seats not red. Let’s show the world we are really professional and get out of those SOFTBALL uniforms. Also, we are not the Phillies!
Thanks
If you consider the "curly W" our equivalent of Detroit's Old English "D", I could get used to home uniforms that simply had the curly W over the left breast. For much of the original Nats' history (before they moved to Minnesota) they wore variants on this type of uniform, with the style of "W" changing. The Phillies wore something like that before they switched back to the uniforms they wore in the 50's.
That being said, I'd still prefer they go back to the 2005 uniforms, and also the 2005 record [in the standings] as well.
I find it quite interesting to see that a picture I took in 2006 is still swirling around the interwebs. How did that happen?
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