Dumbest Thing In Baseball: White Sox Wear Black Socks

Charlie Hough · 01-22-2013, 03:58 AM

There really isn't much to be said beyond the title. Am I the only person who recognizes the absolute stupidity of a team called the White Sox wearing black socks? The socks aren't visible most of the time anyway, but when they are, they're black.

Despite all the uniform and color changes the White Sox have made through the decades, they always wore white socks. But then the team abandoned continuity, tradition, and its own namesake in the 2000's. Who came up with this ridiculous idea?

jazzrack · 01-22-2013, 04:48 AM

I was looking at curt schillings sock going on sale, and the only thing red on that is his blood.

so the same thing could be said about the red sox.

but the dumbest thing in baseball is, and always will be sportswriters/broadcasters

ukhotstove · 01-22-2013, 08:14 AM

Los Angeles Dodgers instead of Brooklyn Dodgers?

abailey3313 · 01-22-2013, 08:36 AM

The All-Star game determines home field advantage in the World Series.

CD1083 · 01-22-2013, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abailey3313

The All-Star game determines home field advantage in the World Series.

I've never understood why people hate this so much.

LivnLegend · 01-22-2013, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD1083

I've never understood why people hate this so much.

Right, it would seem to be one of those minor irritants at best rather than "The dumbest thing in baseball". Maybe the thing that bothers people like abailey3313 is the emphasis placed on it by breathless baseball announcers and dramatic network promos.

abailey3313 · 01-22-2013, 10:32 AM

I definitely think it's dumber than what color sock one (or two) teams wear. I don't actually have a strong opinion about it though.

Bluenoser · 01-22-2013, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD1083

I've never understood why people hate this so much.

I've never understood why it makes sense. Players from multiple teams get to decide if players on one team have HFA in the WS? Naaaa, don't agree at all. Doesn't matter anyway though, they aren't going to change it regardless of how many people are for/against it.

Charlie Hough · 01-22-2013, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jazzrack

I was looking at curt schillings sock going on sale, and the only thing red on that is his blood.

so the same thing could be said about the red sox.

The difference is that the Red Sox have traditionally worn red stirrups when they've worn socks underneath that were plain white. And Schilling was wearing red stirrups with that sock. For most decades, the socks were red or had red on them, and I don't think they went to white socks with red stirrups until the 1960s. I can't speak for what they wear these days because the pants are all the way down to the ankle most of the time. But I've seen them on occasion with the full red socks.

cephasjames · 01-22-2013, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Hough

There really isn't much to be said beyond the title. Am I the only person who recognizes the absolute stupidity of a team called the White Sox wearing black socks? The socks aren't visible most of the time anyway, but when they are, they're black.

Despite all the uniform and color changes the White Sox have made through the decades, they always wore white socks. But then the team abandoned continuity, tradition, and its own namesake in the 2000's. Who came up with this ridiculous idea?

Outside of 1976-81 the White Sox have not worn white socks since 1946 (according to Dressed to the Nines), accept under colored stirrups - which is the same as basically every other team.

Kobie · 01-22-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CD1083

I've never understood why people hate this so much.

Because it's ludicrous that home-field advantage in the game's ultimate series be decided by a meaningless exhibition game.

kenyan_cheena · 01-22-2013, 08:42 PM

They should just go back to alternating it between each league.

Kobie · 01-22-2013, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

They should just go back to alternating it between each league.

I've long thought that whichever league has the best aggregate interleague record should get home-field advantage in the World Series.

AnotherAlias · 01-22-2013, 10:18 PM

Why not give the team with the best season record the home field edge? A little incentive to keep winning games up until the end of the season...

If their records are equal, start with the tie-breakers.

I say this because if a team that has a mediocre record during the season like a wild-card team, shouldn't a division winner get the advantage over them?

Le Grande Orange · 01-23-2013, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluenoser

I've never understood why it makes sense.

It's just as arbitrary as alternating it between the leagues each year. Or using coin tosses.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kobie

Because it's ludicrous that home-field advantage in the game's ultimate series be decided by a meaningless exhibition game.

Is it any less ludicrous than alternating it each year? Or using coin tosses?

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnotherAlias

Why not give the team with the best season record the home field edge?

Except that since neither of the two clubs will have played the same opponents the same number of times the 'best' season record isn't really comparable.

AnotherAlias · 01-23-2013, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

Except that since neither of the two clubs will have played the same opponents the same number of times the 'best' season record isn't really comparable.

In the NBA, the team with the most wins has home court advantage in the finals. In the NHL, the team with the most points has home ice advantage in their finals.

So, it only makes sense that the team with the best season record should have the home field advantage. Just because schedulers are slackers and cannot find a way to allow all teams to play each other during the regular season, that should not be a reason to prevent the team with the best record from gaining an advantage in the World Series.

If it is good enough for the NHL and the NBA, it should be good enough for MLB.

It makes good sense that the team with the best season record should have an advantage should they make it through the playoffs and reach the WS.

Charlie Hough · 01-23-2013, 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cephasjames

Outside of 1976-81 the White Sox have not worn white socks since 1946 (according to Dressed to the Nines), accept under colored stirrups - which is the same as basically every other team.

Yes, and that's the key point: they had been wearing white socks all along, and they were visible. Stirrups don't count, although at least the Red Sox have worn red stirrups when they've worn the white socks underneath. It's been some time in the past number of years that the White Sox actually switched to wearing black socks.

Charlie Hough · 01-23-2013, 03:39 AM

By the way, the All-Star game should be abolished. Take away the game and that will force MLB to go a different path for determining home field advantage.

The All-Star game is absolutely useless, even as a form of entertainment. Some players don't even want to bother with it anymore, and the game has almost never been managed or played like a true, competitive representation of baseball. The John Kruk at-bat against Randy Johnson was the symbolic representation of the sham that is the All-Star game. It's over-hyped and it under-delivers beyond anything that is remotely credible.

The owners didn't even want the All-Star game when it was first conceived, but once they saw that it was popular with the fans, they decided to go with it. I say we get rid of it. All ESPN wants to do is ram the home run derby down everyone's throat anyway, so let them do the derby and not even hold the game. Have a power lifting contest among juiced hitters and have a contest to see if any pitcher on either league's roster can throw 150 pitches without being carted off in an ambulance. It's all a circus for Chris Berman to be a big blowhard anyway.

CONN CHRIS · 01-23-2013, 06:02 AM

I'll bet that very few of the Mariners have been to sea.

Disgraceful.

Kobie · 01-23-2013, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlie Hough

It's all a circus for Chris Berman to be a big blowhard anyway.

BACK BACK BACK BACK yeah, it's become intolerable.

01-22-2013, 03:58 AM	#1
Charlie Hough Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,644	Dumbest Thing In Baseball: White Sox Wear Black Socks There really isn't much to be said beyond the title. Am I the only person who recognizes the absolute stupidity of a team called the White Sox wearing black socks? The socks aren't visible most of the time anyway, but when they are, they're black. Despite all the uniform and color changes the White Sox have made through the decades, they always wore white socks. But then the team abandoned continuity, tradition, and its own namesake in the 2000's. Who came up with this ridiculous idea?

01-22-2013, 04:48 AM	#2
jazzrack Hall Of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: still kicking Posts: 3,229	I was looking at curt schillings sock going on sale, and the only thing red on that is his blood. so the same thing could be said about the red sox. but the dumbest thing in baseball is, and always will be sportswriters/broadcasters __________________ . "Never confuse composure for ease" Was once Head Cheese of Corporate League Baseball

01-22-2013, 08:14 AM	#3
ukhotstove Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: North of England Gods Country Posts: 7,175	Los Angeles Dodgers instead of Brooklyn Dodgers? __________________ Detroit Diesel Dynasty San Antonio Calzones of Laredo Dynasty

01-22-2013, 08:36 AM	#4
abailey3313 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,718	The All-Star game determines home field advantage in the World Series. __________________

01-22-2013, 10:32 AM	#7
abailey3313 Hall Of Famer Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,718	I definitely think it's dumber than what color sock one (or two) teams wear. I don't actually have a strong opinion about it though. __________________

01-22-2013, 08:42 PM	#12
kenyan_cheena Hall Of Famer Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 9,037	They should just go back to alternating it between each league. Last edited by kenyan_cheena; 01-22-2013 at 08:45 PM.

01-22-2013, 10:18 PM	#14
AnotherAlias Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I'm back...for now Posts: 4,190	Why not give the team with the best season record the home field edge? A little incentive to keep winning games up until the end of the season... If their records are equal, start with the tie-breakers. I say this because if a team that has a mediocre record during the season like a wild-card team, shouldn't a division winner get the advantage over them?

01-23-2013, 03:39 AM	#18
Charlie Hough Hall Of Famer Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,644	By the way, the All-Star game should be abolished. Take away the game and that will force MLB to go a different path for determining home field advantage. The All-Star game is absolutely useless, even as a form of entertainment. Some players don't even want to bother with it anymore, and the game has almost never been managed or played like a true, competitive representation of baseball. The John Kruk at-bat against Randy Johnson was the symbolic representation of the sham that is the All-Star game. It's over-hyped and it under-delivers beyond anything that is remotely credible. The owners didn't even want the All-Star game when it was first conceived, but once they saw that it was popular with the fans, they decided to go with it. I say we get rid of it. All ESPN wants to do is ram the home run derby down everyone's throat anyway, so let them do the derby and not even hold the game. Have a power lifting contest among juiced hitters and have a contest to see if any pitcher on either league's roster can throw 150 pitches without being carted off in an ambulance. It's all a circus for Chris Berman to be a big blowhard anyway.

01-23-2013, 06:02 AM	#19
CONN CHRIS Global Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 29,119	I'll bet that very few of the Mariners have been to sea. Disgraceful. __________________ Check Out My Cards!