Special cap patches are scheduled to be worn by every player on Opening DayMLB
MLB in '19 will "commemorate the 150th anniversary of professional organized baseball with a seasonlong series of uniform features and content integrations across its league-run media platforms," according to Eric Fisher of SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL. The league's celebration will begin on Opening Day late next month with "special cap patches worn by every player." The cap application has "never been done to celebrate a major anniversary in baseball, but it will be similar to special postseason patches worn on the side of player caps." There also will be a "uniform patch worn all season on the right sleeve of player jerseys." Those sleeve patches "recall similar ones used to celebrate baseball's 100th anniversary" in '69 and 125th in '94. MLB also is planning an "extensive series of anniversary-driven multimedia content commemorations of great moments in baseball history that will run on MLB Network, MLB.com and the league's official social media channels" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 2/11 issue).
PAYING TRIBUTE: The AP's Dan Sewell reports the Reds this season are "fashionably celebrating the 150th anniversary of the professional baseball-pioneering Red Stockings team." The Reds will have their own "commemorative patches, with different versions for home and away uniforms," as well as 15 sets of throwback uniforms. In addition, some 20 benches will be "placed around the Cincinnati region depicting handlebar-mustached mascot Mr. Redlegs." Meanwhile, the club's HOF and museum will "re-open in March after a sweeping renovation" (AP, 2/11).
