Dress for Success?

Let me get this straight: The Red Sox have won the World Series twice in the last four years, after an 86 year drought, and the front office and marketing gurus have decided that now is the time for a uniform and logo change. Sounds like they've been smoking some of the oregano looking stuff Manny forgot to clean out of his locker.

A few weeks ago the Sox unveiled their four new uniform choices and alternate hat to the masses to a torch and pitchfork mob response. I have no problems with the throwback options, but what "Project Runway" reject designed the deplorable looking alternative hat with the team's new "hanging sox" logo, which, by the way, is now the team's new primary logo? So long "Circle Sox" logo, which has been redesigned making it and the red "B" secondary logos.

These new hats look terrible. Usually alternative options are rarely ever worn but even rarely is too often for these monstrosities. If the folks in marketing thought they would make the team a few more bucks by unleashing these for fans to buy, they are mistaken.

While these hats just look bad, I have a problem with them for the sake of timing and tradition. The Sox are the last team that needs to be changing logos and uniforms. It made sense for the Rays last year. They were perennial losers and the uniform and name change symbolized a new beginning, but we are winners. The Sox have bodyslammed the 86 year curse and are arguably the team of the decade.

As far as tradition goes, this type of "hanging sox" logo actually debuted in 1931, but the "B" is the Red Sox logo. It is the logo recognized throughout the world, despite what Sox brass say about the "hanging Sox." I'm concerned that by making the "hanging Sox" the primary logo, the front office is just biding its time to replace it with the "B". What's next, are they going to tear down Fenway Park?

These changes were totally unnecessary and are obviously a marketing ploy to generate more money. Hopefully fan backlash will bring the "B" and "circle Sox" logos back, but it could be worse. We could have ended up with the 80's orange and yellow Astros uniforms.

Photos taken from bostondirtdogs.com and fansedge.com