We’re still mulling over what the IronPig’s are planning with their Smell the Change deal. Brian G and Heather M brought up a good point that the hoopla could be in reference to redesigned IronPig uniforms. Perhaps with a Bacon inspired font… I like that idea!
Speaking of uniforms…
There is one thing you are guaranteed to hear during an IronPig’s radio broadcast and that is Matt Provence’s detailed description of each team’s uniform selection for that day.
Uniform rules have slackened a bit for minor league baseball, with many different variations, promotions and pitcher’s superstitions.. along with the ability to fill up the team store with a plethora of authentic uniform options.
For the first few years the IronPigs had a pretty standard uniform set.
The Home uniforms have been pretty much the same since 2008.
The Home uniforms, worn on weekday home games, have been a standard since 2008. The all white with red trim and blue lettering with the IronPig logo are easily the most often worn uniform at home.
The Saturday home uniforms worn since 2008. White pants with red jersey and Ironpigs across the chest. Red pig snout hat included.
The former Sunday Home jersey differed from the weekday version with the removal of sleeves.
Occasionally the team will play in the Dark Blue Batting practice jerseys with a Swinging IronPig on the chest. Normally seen as a part of a double header.
In 2013 the Sunday vests were replaced by a powder blue jersey with an IronPig logo on the chest.
Some various “Auction” jerseys…
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photo by Decal
Photos by Cheryl Pursell, unless otherwise noted.
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
Yeah, I just don’t know why they’d use “smell” if it’s just the uniform thing. Plus, I’m the only one on this uniform change trail, and we don’t have any new evidence lately: The store is currently fully stocked with the usual hats and replica jerseys–doesn’t seem to be any shortage or change in the works. But, if there is something new like that, they’d want to have the merchandise stocked by ‘Pig Day’ wouldn’t they? Hmmm.
Now, a couple other things about uniforms: I’m making some assumptions, but:
2008-2010 the Home Whites were, I believe, heavy-guage 100% Poly made by Wilson in the USA. (“with the red piping..” -Matt) Saturday Reds are too. And, the Sunday Vests and original Road Grays. I’m unsure of when they changed the Whites and Reds and Grays per year during that time, but I know the vests were re-used many times because I can see on a couple of mine that the name plates were cut off, and the new plates added. (This means my 22 Juan Morillo was worn by Cervenak, right?) With all of these authentics, the numbers and name plates are sewn on not heat pressed. The IronPigs use BSN Sports (formerly Bethlehem Sporting Goods) for much of this work.
I believe it was in 2011 and 2012, the home whites were converted to a mesh-sort-of light-weight fabric 92% Poly / 8% Spandex made by Russell Athletic in Mexico. The jerseys appeared to be button down as traditional baseball jerseys are, but were actually pull-overs with only the top button and bottom button as functional–the rest were sewed shut. Only conjecture on my part, but I believe these must have been difficult to work with vis-a-vis sewing name plates and numbers. They may have been less durable as well. The authentics cost the team somewhere in the $100 range, and I can bet they want to replace them as seldom as possible.
Replica versions of the Whites, Reds, Grays (and Sunday Vests?-unknown as they haven’t been available for some time.) are a lighter-weight poly made by VF/Majestic in the USA. The Clubhouse Store can add numbers and names via heat press. Replica Sunday Powder Blue Pullovers are the same: 100% light weight poly made in USA by VF/Majestic, with numbers and names easily added via heat press.
The authentic Sunday Powder Blues are 100% Poly Made in USA by Wilson. The fabric is slightly lighter in color, and softer and shinier, than the replicas. Name plates and numbers must be sewn on.
The difference with the Road Grays is that they do not include name plates–only numbers. This saves time and work (and money) with re-sewing on jerseys they don’t really wear that often. While doing these “who wore it” number polls, it’s amazing how many different players have worn different numbers–even within the same season. I haven’t had a chance to inspect the new authentic road unis that came out last season, or the new home Whites that replaced those mesh jobs. Often, if a player joins the Pigs on the road before playing a home game, his number will change along the way based on what’s available and which road extras they have along. It gets settled usually by the time they return home.
The BP jerseys are cool, mesh pullovers. As mentioned above, they’ll often wear these for one of the DH games or sometimes on the road. I remember once when it was really hot (The “Jimmy T Almost Dies” Game?) they wore them at home. They use all the jerseys on the road except the Whites: Reds, Grays, Sunday pullovers, BP. Why? Depends on when they can get them washed, I’d imagine. I haven’t seen a ton of BP, but when I have, the team is usually sporting their player T-Shirts or official sweat gear and not the BP jerseys. Just an observation.
Anyway, sorry for the long reply. Correct my info if I’ve made any errors above. As I’ve posted, I “smell” a new Saturday jersey and hat combo, a new hat to match the Sunday Powders, and a new Road Cap to match the LEHIGH one that came out last season. I could be wrong. If this whole deal is about a bacon-themed Saturday jersey, I’ll be really disappointed on many levels.
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