(Editor's Note: Longtime baseball uniform expert and author Morris Levin writes weekly for Authentically Speaking.)
By Morris Levin
The Pittsburgh Pirates are playing the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park here in Philadelphia this week. The Phillies wore their white pinstripe uniforms and the Pirates their road grays with Pittsburgh across the front. For today’s series finale, the Phils will wear their home day game alternates.
The Pirates have worn black and gold since 1948, and the Phillies, red and white since 1950. Through Forbes Field, Shibe Park, Three Rivers Stadium, Veterans Stadium, PNC Park, and Citizens Bank Park, and Spring Training games in Bradenton and Clearwater, the Phillies and Pirates are recognizable – red-white (and sometimes blue) versus black-gold.
More than a state, the two teams share the legacy of their great rivalry for the ten year period 1974 and 1983. The Pirates won the National League East in 1974, 1975, and 1979, and the Phillies won it in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, and 1983. David Parker, Bill Madlock, and Willie Stargell wore black and gold. Steve Carlton, Mike Schmidt, and Pete Rose wore red and white.
Just like the teams continue to do today.
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In memoriam: The San Diego Padres are honoring 11-year bullpen coach Darrel Ackerfelds, who died of pancreatic cancer this past Sunday, for the rest of the season by wearing his number 48 as a patch (above) on their left sleeves The Padres began wearing the patch Tuesday night in Houston.
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Authentically
Speaking Trivia Time: What MLB team was the first to put the player's name on the back of the uniform? Answer on Friday.
Wednesday’s answer: The San Diego Chargers in 1974.
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