Several of the Tampa Bay Rays are modeling hose in the Brendan Ryan, old-school St. Louis Cardinals look.
After a St. Louis Cardinals loss the other night, I switched channels to MLB Network to catch up on action across the majors. It turned out their broadcast of the Tampa Bay Rays game was in its final innings.
Catcher Kelly Shoppach was at the plate for the Rays. He was going old school with high socks and stirrups that looked very familiar. The broadcasters told the story that the Rays equipment manager was asked by some of the players and manager Joe Maddon, a long-time Cardinals fan, to come up with Cardinals-like hose – in their blue colors, of course.
The Tampa Bay player in the photo is infielder Sean Rodriguez, who happens to be the son of Quad Cities manager Johnny Rodriguez.
As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Follow me on Twitter.
Follow The Cardinal Nation Blog on Facebook.
Relevant and timely reporting is a beautiful thing. A fine example of the journalistic craft at its best. A fun read.
With Brendan riding the pine and Penny out I am having a hard time getting my stirrup fix. I appreciate the effort of guys like Pence, but the solid color hosiery is just wrong. I’ve caught a flash on sports center now and then, now I know where to zero in. Go Rays.
At what point in recent history did the “old school” look begin to become the exception, rather than the rule? It seems that the change-over has been so subtle and gradual that very little notice has been attracted! Aside from Hunter Pence, the only other non-Cardinal National Leaguer that I can think of who consistently shows the socks is Chipper Jones. I seem to recall that it was an unusual thing for me when George Hendrick (who, by the way, had his finest seasons with us) began to hide the socks. So then, the “old school” look must have been the rule, rather than the exception through the mid-70s and that the change-over must not have begun in earnest until the late 70s.
There was once a purpose for the separation between pants and socks. It was faster…
In the bygone era, materials were so heavy……….they were made baggy to avoid restricting leg action………..and wore socks for protection and lighten the load and enhancing flexibility over the knee. Materials changed. The light weight nylon and developing synthetics of the 60′s allowed for more changes……………….tradition for a long time held to the sanitaries with high stirrups just for a line of color almost, in memory of past traditions……. Tastes change. If someone came out with stirrups at this point, I think it would look sharp…………….solid color from the ankle to just below the knee is now the domain of soccer. The pro’s have there uniforms fitted or tailored for there individual needs. Its a business..
If you have trouble with the knee analogy………think football…….. wide receivers down wear knee pads. Haven’t for 40 years.
Oh yeah…………Brendan socks suck…………….from a fashion standpoint………….as does Colby’s flat hat brim………………
Sincerely thanking you, Westy, for the very informative “whys” and “wherefores”, my question is concerned with the “when”. I agree with you about the flat brim hat (and the sight of a slightly-turned bill, off to the right or to the left, is disgusting to me). The fashion of the socks may suck, but it is nevertheless “old school” and I am curious of when the change began; from “the rule, rather than the exception” to the “exception, rather than the rule”.
A reader responded thusly to Joe Stauss’ “rah! rah!” article (“Cardinals get back on track”):
“Back on track? They won one game after losing 3 in a row. They’re playing a team that isn’t good at all and they’re back on track? When they can beat Colorado, Cincinnati and some other decent teams they’re still mediocre!!!”
Conversely…
On the basis of a single game, a shut-out featuring two 3-run homers by our two big boppers, I cannot contain the hope and expectation which is welling-up and bursting forth! It may be a bit premature, but I cannot prevent that pent-up “rah! rah!” from being heard…
Three days after we surrendered nine runs in an unprecedented ninth-inning loss, how much less demoralizing could it have been for the Reds last night when they surrendered six in the ninth and two in the tenth in a stunning defeat? While I am not entirely certain that they have the spunk that we did to recover so quickly and conquer a nemesis, I must believe that they will soon be viewing an evaporating lead with a measure of disillusioning alarm. Could it be that our rivals, with their swelling ranks of bandwagon fair-weather fans, will now begin to hear the footsteps of an awakening giant? Imagine the fear that would be struck in the hearts of our opponents if the majority of our guys began playing consistently in accordance with their career stats! Remember when the Phillies came back and took the remaining 3 games from us? May it be, that they will do the same to the Reds and that the Reds will similarly begin a long period of floundering…
Come what may, we have at least ten 3-game sweeps to rack up, beginning with a sweep of the lowly Astros…
One more thing…
It has been unequivocally proven by Brian & Co that no modern era Cardinal team has ever reached the post season without at least 10 sweeps during the regular season.
We have 23 series remaining of 3 games or more. Although the thought of sweeping 10 of those does not represent an insurmountable feat, the challenge is nevertheless quite ambitious. If we didn’t have at our core three of the best starting pitchers in baseball, supported by so many high-average power hitters, I would say that the task is too daunting to consider realistically.
There is still a purpose. Which is to look like a baseball player and to pay homage and respect to the game and to those who made it the national passtime. The cuffs on the ground look is just the equivalent of wearing low riders with your butt hanging out. But I will admit, the long pants go better with gold chains and flat brims.
WC wrote, “Brendan socks suck…………….from a fashion standpoint………….as does Colby’s flat hat brim………”
Blame me WC, I hate the flat bill hat and would never let my players wear it because it looks like you were a gangsta wanna be. When Colby made his debut at Johnson City he was sporting the flat bill and after the game I told him to fix it because it looked bad. His response…………..”This is not Russell County”
Any news on Colby’s tight hammy?
I believe Khalil was the first player I saw who wore the flay brim cap, and it made him go crazy, like it does me.
Colby is out until after the All star break per his text last night. Said he tweaked the hammy on the double against Ubaldo and then it got worse last night on the second double he legged out. I told him to run like Yadi tonight when he hit the bases as that would surely not aggravate it any worse. No response.
I’m waiting for Yadi to ground into a 9-3.
Hope he’ll be ready to join the massive offensive explosion after the break.
My younger two kids and me were at a game recently when one of them suggested that the shortstop catch a Yadi grounder and see if he could out run Yadi to first. Or roll the throw to first or better yet, just hold the ball until he inched toward first and then throw him out by a step. That would be some funny stuff.
Or to make it fun just let your infield turn two or practice turning three on every Yadi grounder. Even if no one is on the bases.
BB and RC Ever thought ofen joining the stand up comedy circuit?
I actually thought posting on cardinals message boards was part of a comedy circuit, but I am usually sitting when I type.
An 8-0 win has us slap happy. My prediction is that with Albert and Skip perking up Yadi will not be far behind.
I have to be a smart ass once in a while or go through withdrawal.
Bling, I hear a tune starting up in the background……. I hear the singers voice……..its John Conley. Whats the song Bling?
But these rose colored glasses, that I’m looking through
Show ooo…….nly the beauty, cause they hide all the truth,
I actually don’t wear glasses. But even if I did, rose is not my color.
Its Conlee I believe.
Not just looking through rose colored glasses RC. The guys seem to be perking up. Seems like Matt warming up is making all the difference.
Not only does it seem that Matt’s performance example has been inspiring others, but I dare say that it also SEEMS like the energy of Jon Jay is contagious: It will be thrilling to see his hit streak extended to 10 this evening.
Lineup: Lopez 3B, Schumaker 2B, Pujols 1B, Holliday LF, Jay CF, Stavinoha RF, LaRue C, Suppan P, Greene SS
Nice getting the lineup early. Like it. Jay ahead of Stav is new. Like greene 9th. I’m glad Yadi’s getting a break. Wish Tony would give him tomorrow too. Let him come back fresh after the break.
What would you do without me? Just kidding
crdswmn is keeping the twitter pulse of the Cardinal Nation…