A white cap with a navy front panel? Woof! Further evidence that this franchise has completely lost its way design-wise. Grade: D

 

Even as a Friars fan, I have to wholeheartedly agree with Lukas and his opinion on the Padres’ new Batting Practice caps.  Not necessarily because they look bland and unpleasing to the eye, but more due to the fact that I have never been a fan of San Diego’s overall color scheme since the early 1990’s.

San Diego’s Batting Practice Hat is similar to the one Pitcher Eric Stults is wearing in the photo, except it has a navy front to it and is white on the sides and back. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Back in August, Dallas addressed his issues with Padres’ uniforms and color scheme, and I believe he was right on the money with his take on a hopeful return to the old “Brown-based” color scheme.  Like former Pitcher Mark Grant alluded to in Dallas’ post, I believe that the Padres’ current uniforms and bland color scheme looks too much like other teams’ around the league like Tampa Bay and Milwaukee.  While the use of “Navy/Dark Blue/White” is a nod to the Padres of the PCL days, and the color scheme has been in use since the 1991 season, I have never been completely on board with the past color scheme change.  Why you may ask?

Well as someone who grew up with the Padres beginning in the mid-late 1980’s, the Brown-based uniforms will always be my favorite.  They are identifiable “Padres Characteristics” which most fans my age and older identify the Padres with, and besides my disdain for the similarities between the Padres current uniforms and other teams around the League, is an enormous reason why I would love to see a full-time return to San Diego’s former color scheme.

Like former Pitcher Mark Grant alluded to in Dallas’ post, I believe that the Padres’ current uniforms and bland color scheme looks too much like other teams’ around the league like Tampa Bay and Milwaukee.  While the use of “Navy/Dark Blue/White” is a nod to the Padres of the PCL days, and the main color scheme has been in use since the 1991 season, I have never been completely on board with the past color scheme change.  Why you may ask?

Even today, I like these uniforms the best. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Well, as someone who grew up with the Padres beginning in the mid-late 1980’s, the Brown-based uniforms will always be my favorite.  They are identifiable “Padres Characteristics” which most fans my age and older identify the Padres with, and besides my disdain for the similarities between the Padres current uniforms and other teams around the League, is an enormous reason why I would love to see a full-time return to San Diego’s former color scheme.

I would be overjoyed if the Padres “Brought Back The Brown,” and I know there would be others just as pleased as I would be if that happened.  If by some miracle the franchise actually went back to the logo and colors full time, I would have to say that the uniform I am most partial to would be the 1985-1990 logo here with Brown and Orange.  The pinstripes are a nice touch, and the “Padres” lettering across the front is just tops in my book.  The Friars brought the uniform back once this past year in a series at home against the Mets (picture to the right), and when I saw the highlights from the game it was downright awesome.  But hey, I am not picky guy, even a return to the late 70’s mustard and brown duds famously sported by Dave Winfield and Ozzie Smith would be awesome.  And I would never be opposed to the uniforms which incorporated orange and yellow with the brown worn by the 1984 N.L. Champions too (used from 1980-1984).

Final Thoughts

As Lukas’ article illustrates through the pictures, teams around the league (Milwaukee, Baltimore, Houston especially) appear to be more inclined to a return to past/throwback fan-favorite logos (at the very least for their BP duds), and I for one cannot blame them for it.  Houston’s return to an actual “Orange” and the “H in the Star” is especially awesome, and makes me wish that the new ownership group would consider at least a temporary change to gauge to public’s opinion about the matter as Dallas alluded to in August.

At least to me, Lukas was correct with his “D” grade of the caps, and I for one am sick of the bland “Blue & White.”  The “SD” is perfect, all the cap (and uniform combinations overall) needs is a color change.

So please Padres Management, consider “Bringing Back the Brown.”  Heck, the least you could do is try to incorporate more “Throwback Nights” during home-stands for those of us who like those uniforms.

What say you readers?  Should the Padres return full-time to the throwbacks?  Or should they continue to sport the “Navy & White” theme we have become accustomed to over the last two decades?

The '89 sweet threads (Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE)

The recent throwback night at PETCO Park revived a topic many people gripe about, but never seem to actually want to try and fix – OUR CURRENT UNIFORMS ARE TERRIBLE. Over the summer this has seemed to be a hot topic (Pun intended – I know, a pun so early? Yes.), as many blogs, ESPN, and even Tony Gwynn have announced their desire to return to the stitching of yesteryear.

Now don’t get me wrong, we don’t have the ugliest uniforms in Baseball. That honor belongs to the Marlins and Astros, respectively. And, they did do away with that awful sand uniform we fielded, over which I hope someone, somewhere was fired…twice.

Regardless, the Padres are putting on some terrible looking jerseys these days! At some point some person looking to make their job relevant decided we should look like pretty much half the teams in Baseball. We shouldn’t have any real discerning ‘look’ to set us a part or color wheel that might give us an identity. The Marlins uniforms are literally the worst I’ve ever seen, but hot damn you know when they’re coming to town! So, why can’t our uniforms be changed? Or, changed back? It shouldn’t be that mind-blowing as it’s extremely apparent that no one likes what’s currently happening, and our camouflage jerseys just might be the worst idea of all time. After decades the Chargers finally listened and went back to the powder blues. Is it too much to ask our new owners to take a look at this issue and possibly give the fans what they want? I don’t think so. The only problem now is to find out what it is the fans really do want.

The first fan I asked has not only been championing this issue by himself, he’s an ex-Padre and current Padres color guy sitting next to the legend Dick Enberg, Mark “Mudcat” Grant!

Me: What was your personal favorite Padres uniform, and why?

Mud: I love the ones we wore back in 1989. I think they could make some variations to it to really make it look cool. The brown is synonymous with Padre baseball, I believe. When you turn on the tube and see those colors, there’s no question, it’s Padres baseball! Gotta bring back the white spikes also!

Me: What do you think about the current Padres uniform?

Mud: There are too many teams out there with similar primary colors. Gotta change it up.

You know what? Mudcat is right! When you think brown uniforms, whether you think it’s dirt brown or dookie brown or mud brown, it’s that brown that when it comes to Baseball can only be associated with Padres Baseball!

I wanted more. I wanted to see what other fans thought about it, so decided to spread my question to find out was their favorite Padres uniform and why? (Hint: none of them said 2012.)

“Definitely the ’84 Padres for me. I remember being in Texas as a kid, and seeing them on baseball cards and being fascinated with the colors, the design, and wondering what the hell a Padre was.”

-Woods, FM94/9 Morning Show

“Half of MLB teams use blue. I hate it. When you look at a game and can’t tell the difference between the Padres and Los Doyers something is very wrong. Here.”

- Travis Russell, Baseball Podcast Producer and Christian Youth Theatre Megamind

“Ahhhh, Taco Bell brown.”

- Adam Gimbel, Local Musician

“As great as the brown and orange is, I’d settle for more throwback nights in the season + the ’98 colors as the regulars. It was our last great team, and even better: they were the colors we had when the O’Malley’s last owned the Dodgers.”

- Josh Elwell, Writer, The Kept Faith

“84’ or nothing. Those are the only ones that blend the awful colors with a good design. Unis have been terrible since they added blue.”

- Joe Chandler, Writer, The Midnight Show

It seems like every person I asked wants a return to any uniform from 1984-1998 and you know what? I can’t disagree! How could I? Whatever has happened since moving into PETCO has been mistake after mistake after mistake. Why were these decisions made? Why did we need to change the uniform to something so bland, so vacant of personality, so…blah. When you go to the stadium the clear absence of current jerseys being worn in the crowd is astounding. Not only do we have to compete with the opposing teams fans painting the stands with their colors, we have our own fans sporting the cloth of old, basically drowning out any attempt at uniformity. It’s a silent but monetary protest that speaks the will of the fans louder than a bullhorn in a tunnel. If the fans, and pros and players and media all prefer one style of your uniform, then it might be economically sound to placate them. Not only does our organization routinely release a frustrating product on the field, they do it off the field and in the team store as well.

I’ll be amazed if the Padres decide that it is truly time to bring back the brown and gold, or orange and brown, or orange and brown and blue. But, with new owners in place, who seem to be keen on turning around the fortunes of this team, the dream may just come true. The Padres for better or worse have and always will be synonymous with brown, so just give in. Give in to the brown.

For more Padres stuff and other things you might not care about follow me on Twitter @dallas_mc