…the more they go back to being basically the same uniforms teams were wearing before, it would seem.
Two weeks ago, I read on Heather Zeller’s A Glam Slam that the Minnesota Twins would be commemorating their move to Target Field with more than just some opening day celebrating, with some “new” look jerseys and logos. I say “new” because the “Twins” script has been “slightly altered” from what it was this past year, according to the team’s press release about the changes, which also include a new throwback jersey, circa 1961, and road unis featuring script of the word “Minnesota” that hasn’t been seen since the mid 80s. Don’t get me wrong, I dig on the jerseys and logo tweaks, but…
A week later comes the news that the New York Mets would go retro, as Zeller wisely puts it, with homers for 2010 that bring old and new together in one. You know, sort of like how the Mets’ team colors are an amalgam of New York teams of days past.
I can’t help but wonder if the people who were involved in coming up with the logos the first time around aren’t sitting at home right now saying “I told you so!” about marks and unis they’d designed way back when. While I can understand the wont to bring back some historical uniforms from time to time – hey, we all know we like it – there’s a point when it goes either too far, or too ugly, whichever comes first.
As someone who works in marketing, I can’t help but hope that those in power of making decisions aren’t doing it with more dollar signs in their head rather than business smarts and appealing to fans of all ages. Sure, the latter probably sells product, but when a number of teams are changing their jerseys, hats, and adding slight tweaks and alternates, you can’t help but think the worst.
Check out video of the Twins’ unveiling here. The jersey featuring the updated “Minnesota” script featured above can be purchased here.