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"Kansas City" or "Royals"?

Road uniforms in baseball are odd ducks, and have been for a long time. There's the weird dominance of gray, which seems a little boring. Wow, a team in white against a team in gray, how fun! But each sport has its inexplicable logic: in basketball the home team wears white, in football it's the other way around, only sometimes it isn't. The Cowboys, for example, like to wear white just about everytime, so sometimes this creates weird dynamics in their games.

 

Star-divide

Anyway, I've always hated the gray-road-uniform tradition. Related to the gray thing is the "name of city in the plainest script possible" design. Not to go all George Carlin on you, but this really seems like evidence of baseball's nineteenth century roots (or attempts to recreate them, one or the other). "Well my good fellow, we are the team from Kansas City, so we shall first and foremost identify ourselves in this way. We all all know that you are familiar with the hometown nine, so they can call themselves their nickname. On the other hand, we'll just stick to the basics, and to help keep things clear, we'll write in plain, easy to read letters. No need to confuse or cause offense by looking too flashy."

Now, thankfully, the Royals have made progress. The script Kansas City on the road uniforms is much better, in my opinion, than the block Kansas City that appeared from 1995-2005. What did they have before '95 you ask? Well, from 1983-1994, the road uniforms, be they powder blue or white (the Royals seem to have only worn white for awhile in the early 90s) said "Royals", just like the home uniforms.

Some people read symbolism into whether or not the uniform says the name of the city on it. Notably, this was the case recently with the Orioles, who went back to "Baltimore" on their road jerseys. They aren't trying to be a DC/Baltimore team anymore, or something like that.

Anyway, its late... so what do you think? Should the road uniforms say "Kansas City" or "Royals"?

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blue

it seems like they where the traditional grey a lot less than most teams. maybe i’m wrong, but I tend to remember them wearing the blue jerseys on the road quite a bit.

Founder of the Johnny Giavotella fan club.

by doublestix on Mar 4, 2009 3:13 AM EST reply actions  

I prefer "Royals"

The fewer number of letters fits better in a decent sized font on the jersey. And, quite frankly, I like the grays and maintaining some roots to the 19th century. Baseball is the only American sport with real history. Let’s embrace it. Attempts to be modern and flashy have usually failed in MLB history.

The immoderate moderator

by Scott McKinney on Mar 4, 2009 3:16 AM EST reply actions  

J.R. Richard

doesn’t need nice clothes to fastball your face to death.

Pecota, watch over us.

by castille on Mar 4, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions  

I actually liked those

They were unusual, sure, but in a sunshiney way.

Now, the Padres brown and mustard look, that was the horrible type of unusual.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Mar 4, 2009 3:53 PM EST up reply actions  

I just realized

Does anyone else think that Nolan looks like Dennis Hopper?

Fourth to First

by kabrink on Mar 7, 2009 3:15 PM EST up reply actions  

he does have a little

Shooter in him.

I just got back from your mom's basement.

by Warden11 on Mar 8, 2009 12:44 AM EST up reply actions  

I tend to like tradition also

Gray is fine with me (The Royals should experiment with a blueish gray) and I’m indifferent to Royals vs Kansas City. Although if Kansas City I think they should use some cool script or font – not a modern but traditional style – like the Red or White Sox have used. The Royals have not experimented with pinstripes which I think could be cool if done subtly.

But, really, I’m not sure one could do better than this.

Fourth to First

by kabrink on Mar 4, 2009 8:22 AM EST reply actions  

Pinstripes?

No way.

I have no issues with the Road Gray’s. They should say “Kansas City”on the front in the same font as the “Royals” on the home jerseys. I also like the the royal blue alternative road jersey with the grey pants. Its a good look.

That being said, I am SOOOO thankful we took black out of our uniform. Black and Blue just isn’t a good combo. It even gives me more reason to hate Duke.

The Snozberries taste like Snozberries

by labbadabba on Mar 4, 2009 9:31 AM EST up reply actions  

Duke? As in, John Wathan?

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Mar 4, 2009 2:10 PM EST up reply actions  

Duke - as in, Duke.

They used to have a clean Blue and White uni. About 6 years ago they started wearing black with blue trim. It just looks bad. And cheap.

Having black trim can look sharp but having black as a primary color in a uni just doesn’t look good.

The Snozberries taste like Snozberries

by labbadabba on Mar 6, 2009 1:15 AM EST up reply actions  

Oh, Duke University.

Sorry, I thought it was Royals reference of sorts.

Black only looks good as a primary uniform color when paired with silver because you’re going for the bad-ass biker look like the Raiders do.

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Mar 6, 2009 9:09 AM EST up reply actions  

I like having Kansas City

on road jerseys. Some idealistic notion that you are venturing into hostile territory while flying the flag for home maybe.

As for color, Gray is a little boring but i don’t really mind. The Royals wear blue a lot (which is awesome), so i guess i don’t get gray fatigue. As long as they don’t go down the pinstripe route, i’m happy.

The Allard Baird of incisive internet discourse.

by kcbottom9th on Mar 4, 2009 8:31 AM EST reply actions  

just say NEVER to the pinstripes

We are NOT the Yankees, and damnit, we don’t aspire to BE the Yankees.

Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!

by loyal2sdad on Mar 4, 2009 10:09 AM EST reply actions  

Yes, please put them permanently away.

by 2X2L on Mar 4, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions  

Sooooo Beeeauteeful

Marriage is a great institution, for those that like being in institutions.

by fats on Mar 4, 2009 12:48 PM EST up reply actions  

The mustache really sells it

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Mar 4, 2009 9:45 PM EST up reply actions  

Nice.

I like how they added the powder blue sleeves, like they needed to represent all the team colors ever in this one great uniform.

by bluenm on Mar 5, 2009 2:45 PM EST up reply actions  

I'm a sucker for most old school uniforms

I just think simple, classic designs and logos look great, and if you find a good logo and design, there is never any reason to change it (see Red Sox, Yankees, etc., and contrast with the Blue Jays…especially recently).

I love this version of the Monarchs:

Which the Royals have brought back (with some minor differences) at least once:

I agree with those who like having “Kansas City” or some other identifier of the city on the aways. I might be in the minority on this, but I’d love to see them take out the red, and make a gray version of those (with the standard Royal blue as the dominant color) as the away unis. They’d probably need to change the logo on the away caps and helmets, too.

"Now…put that in your [BLEEP]ing pipe and smoke it." -Hal McRae

by Sweep_the_Leg on Mar 4, 2009 11:42 AM EST reply actions  

I love the Blue tops with white pants.

Nice simple Royals across the chest. Best looking uni’s in MLB.

I just got back from your mom's basement.

by Warden11 on Mar 4, 2009 11:48 AM EST reply actions  

POWDER BLUE!

Retro. Classic. We need to bring back the powder blue pants though…

by ArrowDread on Mar 4, 2009 11:54 AM EST reply actions  

We Concur

Bring back the PJ’s in powder blue with block “Kansas City.” It was good enough for Brett in the glory days. With “Le Expos” out of the league we’d have the only ones and generally the more 19th Century/Late 70’s Early 80’s we can get the better. We also think their should be a designated Potter/Split spectacles and sideburns player on each team

by Official Arrowhead Pride Parade on Mar 4, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions  

Pure Powder

for real. We could use some only-time-we-weren’t-a-punchline nostalgia. Also, if you can look hardcore wearing powder blue, you ARE freaking hardcore.

The first thing I know about someone in a KC hat is that they're loyal.

by grantfunk on Mar 4, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions  

I loved the powder blues

for their association with our glory years, but I really like the look of road gray with the lettering in dark blue with a white outline, as we had in 1992-1994. I’d probably prefer to see “Kansas City” on there rather than “Royals.” Something like this, but with a number, and with a white outline:

Chaim Mattis Keller New York City's # 1 Royals fan!

by cmkeller on Mar 4, 2009 2:41 PM EST reply actions  

Related note

Call me weird, but one part of the Cooperstown I enjoyed WAY more than I should have was the uniform exhibition.

I also read the “Uniwatch” guy’s article on ESPN’s website religiously.

Mr Glass, this is a pro sports team, not a retail store - run it like one!

by loyal2sdad on Mar 4, 2009 4:00 PM EST reply actions  

My biggest concern

Players should wear the short pants more often. I like the stirrups. The long pants don’t look like baseball. Some players that I really can’t stand wear short pants, and it’s enough to make me be quiet about them.

by BrRoyal on Mar 4, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions  

http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2009/03/02/the-old-switcheroo/

A link to basically the KC vs. Royals debate for each team.

I love city/school name on roadies, and nickname on home jersey. We got new basketball jerseys my senior year and I made our coach put “west” on our roads, and Jaguars on the homes.

At least Wally Joyner's not on the team....

by tcon125 on Mar 4, 2009 4:22 PM EST reply actions  

Like this

Kansas City Nippon Ham Fighters Wal*Mart Royals

Fourth to First

by kabrink on Mar 4, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions  

Powder Blue - Royals

I don’t hate gray road uniforms, I hate hate hate the Royals gray uniforms. The Royals were one of the only teams that could pull off the powder blue, and the best looking team that could. I hated the change when it was made, I still hate it.

As far as Royals vs. Kansas City . . . I was more a fan of Royals in the blue than Kansas City, but I could live with either. Especially if the Kansas City was cursive and not block letter.

As far as sacredness of the game and paying homage to the games history . . . I don’t buy it. It seems to be a little bit to obscure to be a real reason for using the cities name.

Mr. Weatherstone

by Mr. Weatherstone on Mar 4, 2009 10:54 PM EST reply actions  

I like Kansas City on the road

Making it powder blue sounds like fun though.

by Royal from Queens on Mar 5, 2009 10:39 PM EST reply actions  

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