D'Backs You're Out

A look at modern design and baseball is apropos given the current playoffs. I was studying the team’s jerseys and graphics and remembered this shot I took in Chicago of pink baseball caps. I enjoyed both the visual pattern and the inherent contradiction. There is something that prevents us from taking these pink baseball caps too seriously. Baseball is a sport punctuated by metal cleats, fast balls, chewing tobacco and hardwood bats. The softness of pink does not fit. It made think of my own biases in design applied to this sport. While I was not happy to see the Arizona Diamondbacks swept in four games, I was happy to have their graphic identity eliminated from the airwaves. Seeing the Arizona Diamondbacks logo with its abbreviated “D’Backs” troubles me. This is design and language gone wrong, like calling San Francisco “Frisco”. Baseball teams have weird and irrational names to begin with--Padres, Indians, Rockies--and cutting the names up to fit the Jerseys just makes it worse.

I prefer the traditional ballparks like Fenway and the older uniforms, but perhaps I am a romantic in this regard. Can someone explain if my biases are legitimate?

Best,

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Comments

[Look Photography]

Since I am a Tribe fan (I know...I know...) I am not too familiar with the Diamondbacks...but did the fans start the DBacks thing? If so, then I love it. It is natural and comes from what baseball is all about.
Kinda like Jacobs Field being called The Jake - all created by the fans.
Just my .02
Vicki

[Katharine]

I noticed it too and it bothered and puzzled me. It distracted me from the game and I kept thinking of what other desert creature would have a shorter name. I am not a baseball fan but live in Colorado so got caught up in Rockies fever. I did like the Rockies black vests over the black shirts and some closeups seems to show a design on the collar. Did you catch that?

[Brian]

Rob:

The subject of design in sports, particularly in the area of uniforms, helmets, logos, etc. is one that intrigues me to no end. Required reading for me on the subject is Paul Lukas' UniWatch Blog http://www.uniwatchblog.com/ and his occasional articles for Page 2 of ESPN's web site http://sports.espn.go.com/keyword/search?searchString=paul_lukas. I've found Paul to be knowledgeable, obsessive and opinionated, and his links lead to an array of design related sports sites that are worth a look.

[Duncan]

Rob,
Quite possibly your objection has something to do with the current manner in which many of us tend to communicate especially in regards to the internet where so much communication has its own unique terminology or lexicon. For example we liberally use "lol, lmao" amid a myriad other quick methods of communicating to others which I think is legitimate within that context. Baseball however,may be sacred, which is understandable, more importantly though I think the contraction of the English language for advertising purposes possibly cheapens communication or commits some sort of transgression which might be deemed unnecessary & needless. The red jersey I don't find particularly attractive but that's just my opinion, therefore I think your observations are valid. Would a jersey like the red one be admired or coveted in the future? I tend to think not unless it was worn by someone super famous, etc. It's a commodity item & I also think the design of the logo wasn't created with longevity in mind.