smell the change |

We smelled this coming.

I sniffed this thing out back before the holidays.

I mean, we got a whiff when they put the hats on sale–Away, Saturday, and Sunday.

Add in the new Away and Sunday jerseys from last year and we knew something was up. Now, I admit I got it wrong about today. I didn’t think they’d go to this much trouble for the jersey thing. And, I had no clue they’d do a Friday Jersey/Hat combo. Scratch and Sniff is beyond my comprehension.

If you didn’t get to see the LIVE video streams via Twitter, they are available here. Better quality video, including the interviews and reactions will be coming in volume 2.

Reaction around the Web was predictably variable. As you’ll see when the interviews come out, we correctly note that not everyone will be happy with the new designs. There will be favorites and…less so. I remember when the first designs–not to mention the name–were revealed: All I could do my first visit to the park was purchase the Away ‘LV’ hat because I couldn’t stand the pig head. Now I have a FatHead version of it on my wall. They’ll grow on you.

The devil is in the details, though. I admit my least favorite is the bacon hat. But, it is cool that the word ‘IronPigs’ is embedded in the embroidery.

Credit: 401! Creative

The surprise Friday outfit will be full black and coincide with a “black out” theme for all fans to enhance Friday Night Fireworks. The normal Pig logo has a “molten outline.” It’s cool. Supposedly, we’ll be the only team to wear all black for baseball. Is it pajamas? Maybe, but it’s still cool. The only change I’d make would be to add the “molten” to the jersey.

Credit: 401! Creative

The Away hat is OK–kind of like the old BP hat with the classic Pig logo on red. At least it’s not an ‘L’–as I mentioned before. The Liberty Bell logo along with the red brim on the Sunday hat makes for a striking combo. I do like it. The details on the bell are really cool: The steel beam support, the rivets for the crack in the bell, and the pig tail on the “clapper.”

Credit: 401! Creative

The scratch and sniff shirt is cool in the same way urinal games are cool: novelty. Whatevs. But my first purchase–oh, this stuff is available to buy right now baby–was the BP cap. I swear I saw a similar version of this logo back in 2008 or 2009. Perhaps it was the story of the logo development and the “rejected” versions. I don’t recall. But I like the mesh hat (actual fitted New Era 5950 sizing, not flex fit 3930).

Credit: 401! Creative

…

So people hate them. And, it’s a money grab for the team. That’s what they’re saying.

I don’t know, to me it’s OK. We’re this far in and it’s time for something fresh. If they can make some money on it, good for them. At least it’s not ostriches, right? My least favorite is the bacon hat, but there are folks who LOVE it. Gotta generate some controversy.

So, here’s the official Kram shopping list:

BP Hat – purchased today
Authentic Friday Jersey – Not Available yet. Will be Wilson, Made in USA.
Sunday Cap

In addition, I’ll go hard after some of the old Saturday jerseys if they come up for auction at a game this season. I’ll probably pick up another old-style red BP cap, too, as that was the second hat I ever purchased.

By the way, that old gear is still in the store, so if you like it, now’s the time. The new stuff’s out too. All in time for Pig Day, wouldn’t ya know!

While you wait for the video, here are some photos from today. As always, big thanks to Cheryl and DiPro for the images.