Why baseball managers wear uniforms

[Doomsday101]

(CNN) -- What sports fan can ever forget it?

The stirring sight, in Green Bay, Wisconsin, of the Packers charging out of the tunnel at Lambeau Field alongside their legendary leader, Vince Lombardi, who is wearing a football jersey, shoulder pads and a helmet as he prepares to coach his squad to another victory.

Or the heroic vision of Coach Phil Jackson with the members of the Chicago Bulls, or the Los Angeles Lakers, gathered around him during a timeout as, wearing his usual game-day attire of shorts, gym shoes and a sleeveless basketball jersey with a number on the front, he maps out on a clipboard the next series of plays for his team to run.

What? You say you don't remember scenes like those? You never saw Coach Lombardi on the sidelines dressed like a football fullback, and you never saw Coach Jackson giving instructions to his players while dressed like a point guard?

That's because it didn't happen. National Basketball Association coaches dress in street clothes; so do National Football League coaches (albeit with team logos).

But -- as you have undoubtedly noticed anew if you've been watching the World Series -- baseball managers don't. They dress like their players, and it's been such an integral part of baseball for so long that fans seldom ask themselves why.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/23/opinion/greene-baseball-manager-uniforms/index.html?hpt=hp_bn9

 

[Doomsday101]

Some people believe that baseball's rules mandate this, although the only rule touching on it -- Rule 1:11(a) (1) -- says: "All players on a team shall wear uniforms identical in color, trim and style, and all players uniforms shall include minimal six-inch numbers on their backs." Nothing about what a manager must wear.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Just a thought.


Alot of baseball managers were former pro players.

Many football coaches probably never played (professionally)

Basketball - same as football

 

[Doomsday101]

Just a thought.


Alot of baseball managers were former pro players.

Many football coaches probably never played (professionally)

Basketball - same as football

I don't know I can think of many of the NFL coaches who have played and same in the NBA.


I think it is just tradition but there is something funny about a 70 year old coach dressed up like a baseball player. :laugh2:

Then again maybe the NFL and NBA need to start doing this. I would get a kick out of seeing some of the NFL coaches in uniform. :laugh2:

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I don't know I can think of many of the NFL coaches who have played and same in the NBA.


I think it is just tradition but there is something funny about a 70 year old coach dressed up like a baseball player. :laugh2:

Then again maybe the NFL and NBA need to start doing this. I would get a kick out of seeing some of the NFL coaches in uniform. :laugh2:

Oh, no doubt :laugh2:



I still think that more baseball coaches were former pro players... especially catchers.

 

[Stautner]

It may have something to do with some coaches (base coaches) actually having an active role in the game, and I assume in the early days of MLB the managers may have handled base coaching duty the way minor league managers still do.

 

[Hostile]

It is time to review George Carlin's discussion of baseball and football.

[youtube]qmXacL0Uny0[/youtube]

 

[Stautner]

It is time to review George Carlin's discussion of baseball and football.

[youtube]qmXacL0Uny0[/youtube]

Always loved this bit. Thanks for the laugh

 

[Biggems]

back in the olden days of baseball, weren't there a lot of player/coaches? If so, it makes sense that a manager would wear the uniform, in case he had to call upon himself to bat or play in the field.

 

[ShiningStar]

I thought it was because baseball managers can go on the field and the other coaches cant.

 

[Doomsday101]

back in the olden days of baseball, weren't there a lot of player/coaches? If so, it makes sense that a manager would wear the uniform, in case he had to call upon himself to bat or play in the field.

Yes but long long time ago. Now days? well tell me the last time you seen a coach take the field? :laugh2:

 

[YosemiteSam]

Yes but long long time ago. Now days? well tell me the last time you seen a coach take the field? :laugh2:

Was Pete Rose the last one?

I heard that Kenny Williams (White Sox GM) considered making Paul Konerko one before hiring Robin Ventura.

 

[Doomsday101]

Was Pete Rose the last one?

I heard that Kenny Williams (White Sox GM) considered making Paul Konerko one before hiring Robin Ventura.

Good call. I looked it up and saw that Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989.

So you called it right

 

[Doomsday101]

On a similar note
Dan Reeves was also a player/coach in Dallas

Reeves’ coaching career began when he joined the Dallas coaching staff in 1970, taking on a dual role as player/coach for three seasons. He was a full-time offensive backfield coach in 1972 and spent 1973 in private business before rejoining the staff again as backfield coach in 1974. He accepted the job of offensive coordinator in 1977

http://www.danreeves.co/biography/

 

[bbgun]

I've always wondered why pitchers avoid single digit uni numbers. There's no rule against it.

 

[Stautner]

Yes but long long time ago. Now days? well tell me the last time you seen a coach take the field? :laugh2:

Every game - in the 3rd or 1st bse coaches box. That's not playing, but it is active participation on the field of play.

 

[YosemiteSam]

Every game - in the 3rd or 1st bse coaches box. That's not playing, but it is active participation on the field of play.

You didn't just do that. :laugh2:

 

[Stautner]

You didn't just do that. :laugh2:

Well, I know that isn't what Doomsday was referring to, but it's still true.

I do, however, believe that part of the reason for coaches/managers wearing uniforms is that they spend some time on the field and take some active participation (base coaching, throwing BP and hitting fungo before the game, etc). In other sports the coaches have no physuically active role in the game or in warm ups.

 

[Doomsday101]

Every game - in the 3rd or 1st bse coaches box. That's not playing, but it is active participation on the field of play.

But it is not playing as you said. It just looks funny when you have a 60 year old coach dressed up like a player something we just don't see in any other sports. I don't see any other sports where the coaches wearing a uniform when you get down to it, it is just tradition

 

[Stautner]

But it is not playing as you said. It just looks funny when you have a 60 year old coach dressed up like a player something we just don't see in any other sports. I don't see any other sports where the coaches wearing a uniform when you get down to it, it is just tradition

Tradition obviously is a big part of it, no question about that. Nevertheless, it is also true that other sports don't require a coach to be on the field of play taking action to influence a play in progress. Also other sports don't require a coach to take a physically active role in pre game activities.