The reasons for not putting names on jerseys go back to costs (it’s not free and once upon a time even in mlb cash was tight) and revenues (no name on jersey easier to sell programs). It’s irrelevant now in the highest levels of pro sports.
I 100% feel all players need names on the back of jerseys. It's another one of those situations where players and teams should not have a say. It is about the fans being made aware of who they are watching. Why should a fan watching a game at the park or at home have to be confused about the identification of a player and forced to look up who represents the number they are seeing? A newly called-up player, a lesser-known veteran...whoever it is. We should all know who they are by seeing that name on the back of the cloth.
It is not easy to identify players based solely on the number as a casual fan. If you are a diehard fan of a franchise, then yes, you probably know the player based on their look alone, without having to see the back of their jersey. I admit I don't know half the numbers of good MLB players because that's not how I want to think of them. They are ballplayers. Not numbers, not machines, but humans. So tell me who they are.
The main point is that names on the back of jerseys are for the sake of the fans. Forget the players. It should be mandatory for all teams to do so. The traditional nonsense of numbers only is long gone for most franchises, thank God.
Thanks Justin! I agree that for fans it's better to have names on the jerseys since most watch a video feed and are not at the game. I am aware that not everyone follows baseball as closely as do I!
The reasons for not putting names on jerseys go back to costs (it’s not free and once upon a time even in mlb cash was tight) and revenues (no name on jersey easier to sell programs). It’s irrelevant now in the highest levels of pro sports.
Those were the original reasons John. Penurious owners looked to save a buck any way they could. That hasn't changed!
This is Rick Burleson’s ‘7,’ no? The Rooster~
Burleson definitely wore #7 as did Dom DiMaggio and now Yoshida.
Good article.
I 100% feel all players need names on the back of jerseys. It's another one of those situations where players and teams should not have a say. It is about the fans being made aware of who they are watching. Why should a fan watching a game at the park or at home have to be confused about the identification of a player and forced to look up who represents the number they are seeing? A newly called-up player, a lesser-known veteran...whoever it is. We should all know who they are by seeing that name on the back of the cloth.
It is not easy to identify players based solely on the number as a casual fan. If you are a diehard fan of a franchise, then yes, you probably know the player based on their look alone, without having to see the back of their jersey. I admit I don't know half the numbers of good MLB players because that's not how I want to think of them. They are ballplayers. Not numbers, not machines, but humans. So tell me who they are.
The main point is that names on the back of jerseys are for the sake of the fans. Forget the players. It should be mandatory for all teams to do so. The traditional nonsense of numbers only is long gone for most franchises, thank God.
Thanks Justin! I agree that for fans it's better to have names on the jerseys since most watch a video feed and are not at the game. I am aware that not everyone follows baseball as closely as do I!