23:29
Faizan
Of all major league sports, professional baseball is the only sport in which a team's manager actually wears his team's uniform. In other sports, the head coach will don either a suit and tie or a polo shirt or pullover. The story of how this tradition started and now continues is quite interesting.
History
Dating back to the early days of baseball, the team's manager often wore a suit, unless he was a player-manager. At first, teams held the manager in a higher regard than just a "coach" he was sort of the executive of the team, and dressed as such. Many managers never played professional baseball, and therefore did not feel comfortable wearing a uniform while sitting on the bench.
One notable holdover from this era was the longtime Philadelphia A's skipper Connie Mack. Mack began managing the A's in 1901 and continued until he was in his mid-80s before retiring in 1950. Mack was famous for wearing his suit in the dugout, complimented by a straw hat and his ever-present scorecard.
It's believed that Mack, along with former Brooklyn Dodgers' manager Burt Shotton, were the last managers to wear street clothes in the dugout while managing. Since then, all major league managers have dressed in uniform.
Player/Managers
One reason managers wear uniforms comes from the fact that at some points during baseball history, there was a good chance the manager might get into the game.
It has not happened in a while, but the history of the player/manager is certainly there. The last was Pete Rose, who was the player/manager for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980's. Joe Torre and Frank Robinson also did the honors in the 1970's.
The majority of player/managers existed in the middle part of the 20th century. Among the most famous in baseball history to serve in this capacity were Ty Cobb, Connie Mack, John McGraw, Tris Speaker and Rogers Hornsby.
Wearing a uniform while managing certainly benefited these individuals, for they never knew when they might have to go in.
Practicality
It makes sense. Head coaches in basketball and hockey rarely leave the bench area and enter the playing area. In football, the coaches are on the sidelines and are sometimes even closer to the action than baseball managers, but the football uniform serves more for protection---a face mask, shoulder pads and cleats would look ridiculous on a coach.
In baseball, the manager will often enter the field of play. At some levels, managers also serve as the third base coach, which does require physical activity, such as waving base runners home and avoiding hard line drives fouled in their direction.
The manager has to cross a crushed brick warning track and convene with pitchers or umpires on a dusty dirt surface. It makes sense that he would not want to be dressed in a three-piece suit and dress shoes.
For the money
A Sports Illustrated article suggested that managers receive payment as part of the league's licensing agreement for wearing the team's uniform and related gear. This makes sense. Besides the starting pitcher, the manager probably gets more camera time than anyone else in the ballpark. Between late game strategy, giving signs, changing pitchers and arguing with umps, managers are very visible. Having them dressed in your gear is good publicity.
Dress Issues
While a uniform is fairly standard---uniform pants, a jersey and a cap---there has been controversy within the last decade regarding what a manager can and cannot wear in the dugout.
Many managers don't like wearing just a uniform top. Buck Showalter, while managing the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers, always seemed to wear a team jacket. Angels' manager Mike Scioscia and Red Sox skipper Terry Francona are rarely seen in their actual uniform tops, preferring pullovers instead.
Major League Baseball made an adjustment to its policy because of Francona's proclivity for wearing a pullover. A rule instituted in 2007 said that managers must wear a uniform top underneath a pullover or jacket. Francona was the subject of a "uniform inspection" during one game at Yankee Stadium in 2007.
In 2010, Tampa Bay manager Joe Madden was told that he could not wear his Rays hooded sweatshirt in the dugout because it did not meet major league dress code. A few days later, baseball dropped its complaint.
History
Dating back to the early days of baseball, the team's manager often wore a suit, unless he was a player-manager. At first, teams held the manager in a higher regard than just a "coach" he was sort of the executive of the team, and dressed as such. Many managers never played professional baseball, and therefore did not feel comfortable wearing a uniform while sitting on the bench.
One notable holdover from this era was the longtime Philadelphia A's skipper Connie Mack. Mack began managing the A's in 1901 and continued until he was in his mid-80s before retiring in 1950. Mack was famous for wearing his suit in the dugout, complimented by a straw hat and his ever-present scorecard.
It's believed that Mack, along with former Brooklyn Dodgers' manager Burt Shotton, were the last managers to wear street clothes in the dugout while managing. Since then, all major league managers have dressed in uniform.
Player/Managers
One reason managers wear uniforms comes from the fact that at some points during baseball history, there was a good chance the manager might get into the game.
It has not happened in a while, but the history of the player/manager is certainly there. The last was Pete Rose, who was the player/manager for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1980's. Joe Torre and Frank Robinson also did the honors in the 1970's.
The majority of player/managers existed in the middle part of the 20th century. Among the most famous in baseball history to serve in this capacity were Ty Cobb, Connie Mack, John McGraw, Tris Speaker and Rogers Hornsby.
Wearing a uniform while managing certainly benefited these individuals, for they never knew when they might have to go in.
Practicality
It makes sense. Head coaches in basketball and hockey rarely leave the bench area and enter the playing area. In football, the coaches are on the sidelines and are sometimes even closer to the action than baseball managers, but the football uniform serves more for protection---a face mask, shoulder pads and cleats would look ridiculous on a coach.
In baseball, the manager will often enter the field of play. At some levels, managers also serve as the third base coach, which does require physical activity, such as waving base runners home and avoiding hard line drives fouled in their direction.
The manager has to cross a crushed brick warning track and convene with pitchers or umpires on a dusty dirt surface. It makes sense that he would not want to be dressed in a three-piece suit and dress shoes.
For the money
A Sports Illustrated article suggested that managers receive payment as part of the league's licensing agreement for wearing the team's uniform and related gear. This makes sense. Besides the starting pitcher, the manager probably gets more camera time than anyone else in the ballpark. Between late game strategy, giving signs, changing pitchers and arguing with umps, managers are very visible. Having them dressed in your gear is good publicity.
Dress Issues
While a uniform is fairly standard---uniform pants, a jersey and a cap---there has been controversy within the last decade regarding what a manager can and cannot wear in the dugout.
Many managers don't like wearing just a uniform top. Buck Showalter, while managing the Yankees, Diamondbacks and Rangers, always seemed to wear a team jacket. Angels' manager Mike Scioscia and Red Sox skipper Terry Francona are rarely seen in their actual uniform tops, preferring pullovers instead.
Major League Baseball made an adjustment to its policy because of Francona's proclivity for wearing a pullover. A rule instituted in 2007 said that managers must wear a uniform top underneath a pullover or jacket. Francona was the subject of a "uniform inspection" during one game at Yankee Stadium in 2007.
In 2010, Tampa Bay manager Joe Madden was told that he could not wear his Rays hooded sweatshirt in the dugout because it did not meet major league dress code. A few days later, baseball dropped its complaint.
