Reporting In From Game On
Earlier tonight, the Red Sox hosted a press conference and party to reveal the new uniforms and logos for the team. I was fortunate enough to be on hand for the festivities, and now I’m reporting in for duty with all the on-the-spot details.
The press conference was scheduled to begin at 6pm, but the gatekeeper with the guest list began admitting people at 5:00 sharp. Of course, we were given the standard neon-colored wristband covered in Sox logos… what would a Red Sox event be without the mandatory wristbands? There was an abundance of free food, but no free alcohol. I guess you can’t win ‘em all.
The first speaker was the Red Sox Chief Operating Officer, Mike Dee – who talked about the genesis of the new logo and uniform designs, and the thought process behind them. Next up, WCVB reporter Steve Lacy grabbed the mic to be the event emcee, and also brought native Boston fashion designer Joseph Abboud on stage to assist. Larry Lucchino was happy to stay off to the side and survey the scene from his VIP perch.
Cutest picture of the night? D’Angelo Ortiz in his “It’s 7:05 – Do You Know Where Your Papi Is?” shirt.
Each of Tito Francona, Jim Rice and Jerry Remy were called in one at a time to model the new away grey uniform – and took a turn walking around the entire bar before stepping up on stage. Tito joked that this would be the first and last time everyone would actually see him wearing the jersey. Sadly, the Sox did not provide a mockup of a new alternate coverup for Tito- we’ll just have to imagine.
D’Angelo and Alex Ortiz made a strong showing in the “Cutest Sox Kid” category, and were called up next to model new Sox kids wear. Both are smart kids, and dutifully said they loved the new Sox uniforms– although a small part of me hoped D’Angelo would scream his displeasure at the new hats. Next, a randomly chosen fan modeled the red home alternate uniform, which was oversized on her to the point of muumuu territory. And finally, Manny Delcarmen, with baby Manny Delcarmen III in his arms, modeled the new navy road alternate jersey. Manny III was not going to let D’Angelo and Alex take the Cutest Kid crown unchallenged. After a group photo session, Manny (of the dad variety) also gleefully yanked the new alternate cap on his head, and cheesily posed for another round of photos.
All the photos of the night after the jump…
setting the stage with the new “Hanging Sox” logo
Red Sox COO Mike Dee with the new alternate cap
Steve Lacy and Joseph Abboud
Tito, looking not-at-all comfortable being a model
Jim Rice showing off his argyle sweater under the jersey
Steve Lacy talks to Alex and D’Angelo Ortiz
Manny (Jr) & Manny (III)
And already the new jerseys are on sale…
Fantastic pictures! And it’s been said a zillion times, but the Ortiz kids are just too cute. And Manny III is a little bundle of adorable.
Having been the photographer for a number of these shots, many of them cracked me up.
Tito was the least comfortable model I’ve seen in a VERY long time.
Tito as a model is funny in itself. Things like this are why players don’t live in Mass. in the off season. Poor Manny.
Actually, Manny seemed cool as a cucumber. This is a pretty easy task for him. Honestly, he was out there for no more than 15 minutes.
He was very nice, smiling at the press and everything.
Obviously he wasn’t going to show up and scowl at everyone (JOSH)– he scores some points with the PR folks, they get a player to model.
Great stuff MHC and Texy. Looks like little D’Angelo stole the show.
Great pictures! I think MDC has the prettiest smile EVAH! D’Angelo is as cute as can be.
I’m definitely going to need one of those 7:05 shirts …
Are they still going to wear the hats with the B?
Aly: See the post before this one.
Great pictures!
I am seriously dying from the cuteness of those Sox kids.
Am I crazy for not noticing a difference?
I wrote to Jean Yawkey after the Red Sox had changed their uniforms. It was sometime at the end of her ownership. The letter made it to the Boston Globe. In it I said that the great franchises gave their fans a sense of continuity. Changes should be small and incremental. The Dodgers uniforms have remained the same since they left Brooklyn. I remember when they added a small red number to the front of their jerseys. It was breathtaking. Michigan’s football team weathers bad and good seasons with a helmet, which has remained unchanged aesthetically since the late 1940’s. The Coldstream Guards, the Boston Celtics, and the French Foreign Legion all carry their respective histories through their uniforms.
I’d go to Yankee Stadium to watch the Red Sox and gloat that the block script on their away uniforms had been later stolen by the Yankees. How wonderful this away uniform was to be so different from the home circus script. How could you not love a team called the Red Sox that had blue and white stripes in their stockings. No names on the back — that surely meant team spirit.
George Steinbrenner, by contrast, had cramped the numbers, added piping to the sleeves and outlined the lettering of that somber blue away uniform. You didn’t have to fear the Yankees because they’d changed.
This latest Red Sox change is ersatz — a desire to sell merchandise. If we’re going to do history why not go back to the uniform that Ted Williams wore — complex, idiosyncratic and wonderful. That would be historic.
I love the classic. I just hate when they mess too much of the stuff up. The new hats are nice, remind me of way way back in the early days, and i like the new road jerseys. Other than that, keep the home jerseys. I hated the all red ones too.
I like the change as it will put fear in all the opposing teams
wow i dont think it matters since the boston red socks suck anywayz! GO YANKEES! WOOT! GO YANKEEEES!!!!
Of all the Sox kids I’ve seen, which is a lot because of all the pics on this site, honestly every single one of them is adorable.
MDC and baby Manny in the same picture is mind-blowingly adorable.
It is such a shame they don’t teach proper spelling, grammar and punctuation to Yankees fans.
On the other hand, it sure makes it easy to point and laugh at them.
It is such a shame they don’t teach proper spelling, grammar and punctuation to Yankees fans.
Do not let one speak for all.
/English major in college
//ahem
Love the style! Some throwback is always good. No matter what they I bleed RED! GO SOX!