
A key benchmark came in 1972, when the American League MVP and the National League Cy Young Award winner - White Sox slugger Dick Allen and Phillies ace Steve Carlton, respectively - both came from powder-blue-clad teams, which gave the blue style increased legitimacy. The new fabrics allowed for much more saturated colors, and the blues really popped. Powder blues really began hitting their stride in the early 1970s, when MLB teams began switching from flannels to polyester stretch-knits. But MLB uniforms were still being made in flannel, and the blue didn't look particularly vibrant when rendered in that fabric. The modern powder blue era began, or at least had its first rumblings, in 1969, when two new expansion teams - the Seattle Pilots and the Montreal Expos - both went with blue for their inaugural road uniforms. The Dodgers mothballed the concept after one season, but it returned as a throwback in 2011. The satin style, which a few teams dabbled in during the 1940s (although no other team tried a blue version), was supposed to be shinier and more reflective, making the players more visible during night games.

The design lasted only two seasons before the Cubbies reverted back to road grays.īut blue uniforms made a comeback in 1944, when the Dodgers experimented with a powder blue uniform made of satin fabric, instead of the usual wool flannel. Although the blue style is mostly associated with the 1970s (the thinking at the time was that road grays were too drab, and teams also wanted to capitalize on the spread of color TV), the first team to wear blue on the road was actually the 1941 Cubs, who debuted a blue road vest that year. It's worth noting, incidentally, that powder blues started a lot earlier than you might think.
What is the baby blue game full#
Instead of wearing their full powder blue road uni at home, they paired the blue road jersey with their regular white home pants.

But they didn't have the full courage of their convictions. Other teams might have done the same, and the entire powder blue era might have turned out differently, with teams sometimes wearing the blues at home, not just for road trips.Īctually, at least one other MLB team did tinker with wearing powder blues at home during the 1970s. Imagine if the Phils had won that day - they might have kept on wearing the powder blues for occasional home games. Unfortunately, they got thumped, 15-3, and that was the end of that experiment. Back in 1972 - the first year that the Phils wore blue on the road - they tried wearing the powder blues for a home game against the Braves on June 10. But as Phillies beat writer Matt Breen points out, there's some precedent for that. Of course, the Phillies' original powder blues from the 1970s and '80s were worn on the road, not at home, so it was a bit odd to see them being worn in Philly. Predictably, this has led to many fans saying, "They should go back to those full time!" And who can blame them? It's a fun look:

The throwback designs aren't perfect - the jerseys should have been zippered, not button-fronts, and the Phils didn't spring for matching maroon undershirts - but it's still great to see the old powder blues on the diamond. The Phillies have created a buzz in the uni-verse the past two weeks by debuting their new maroon-trimmed powder blue throwback alternate uniforms for a pair of Thursday home games. MLB, Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers
What is the baby blue game upgrade#
You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
