Many, many years ago, I remember seeing a post in the San Diego Tribune about San Diego fans who continue to wear jerseys of players who have since long departed "America's Finest City." Apparently, their main gripe is the fact people continue to wear those jerseys long after the players have left San Diego and began careers with other teams.
Dave Winfield, Alonso Yonder, Andrew Cashner, readily come to mind for the Padres. Natrone Means, Kellen Winslow, and Drew Brees for the team formerly known as the San Diego Chargers.
Of course, there are the exceptions - Namely, those players who've spent their entire career with a single team. Dan Fouts immediately comes to mind. In baseball, Tony Gwynn has been long known as "Mr. Padres," and I still proudly rock his Cooperstown brown and yellow jersey with the large "19" and his name on the back, last wearing it on his recent birthday.
On one hand, part of the issue is with player jerseys being so expensive, Who can afford to buy a new one every two or three years when an overpaid player jumps to a new team to earn more $$$$. On the other hand, there are also those player's whose team seeks to upgrade, or trim payroll, and then trades them for better/younger player(s) or to fill a position need, or for salary cap room.
My two Green Bay Packers jerseys are perfect examples of this category of player, with Aaron Kampman and the #30 of Ahman Green.
So what's a fan to do?
My wife more or less helped me circumvent that situation. We were AHL hockey season ticket holders for the first five years of the Iowa Wild's existence. For Christmas, a few years ago, she ordered me an Iowa jersey. Instead of getting it with a player's name and number on the back, she had it monogrammed with "McDuff" and the number "36."
When she got my San Diego Padres Marine Corps camouflage jersey a few years ago, she did the same thing, as "McDuff" and "36" grace this one, as well.
In the meantime, I think I'll stick with a trio of San Diego Padres U.S.Marine Corps uniforms.
So, that's the particular way I've addressed the home team jersey dilemma. What's your opinion of wearing jerseys of players no longer connected with your particular team?
Stay healthy and safe out there.
I don't think it's an issue at all...with one exception. If the player is directly opposing your team, then I think it can be a problem. For example, during the 2014 Stanley Cup finals, I went to an outdoor park where the Rangers were showing game one (an away game) on a big screen. I saw someone wearing a Marion Gaborik Rangers jersey, and that seemed weird because while he was a former Ranger, he was playing for the Kings at that time, and the Rangers were playing the Kings in that series. And I wouldn't even mind if it were a regular season game against the Kings, especially, like, his first return to the Garden, but for that situation it seemed wrong.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, though, I'm all for wearing jerseys of former players. And certainly retired players are always fair game. If I got a good deal on a jersey of a retired Mets or Rangers player--even one who wasn't with the team long, if the price is right--I'd wear it proudly.
I think I would have to agree with you about the Gaborik jersey...
DeletePerson buys a jersey for too much money, he can wear it wherever and whenever he wants. Why is this a conversation?
ReplyDeleteI wear my Favre, Largent, Setoguchi, and Gwynn jerseys proudly. I have a Matt Holiday A's jersey... but I use it as a decoration in my classroom. With the A's tradition of trading their players after a few years, I stopped buying jerseys with names on them. Although I'm considering buying a Chapman or Laureano jersey this year.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted to pick up a Starr or Nitschke jersey, but the ones I've seen are just too expensive.
DeleteMy most recent Redskins jersey is RG3. Even though the guy redeemed himself as a player and a teammate in Baltimore, I'm not inclined to wear it much.
ReplyDeleteThat leaves HOF'er Darrell Green, which I will wear anywhere.
RG3 was an interesting player to watch, full of highs and lows, but fun to watch, nonetheless.
DeleteI strongly support wearing old jerseys of former players. I bought a Ray Lankford jersey in 1998, still wear the thing. I also have a Mark McGwire shirsey I bought that year, still wear that too.
ReplyDelete