Email to Uni-Watch

Uni-Watch was asking for examples of players looking weird when making a late-career change in teams, and here’s what I jotted down this morning…

Greatest ever was Unitas as a SD Charger, complete with blue high-tops.

Hank Aaron as a Brewer. Babe Ruth finished his career as a Boston Brave. Eddie Matthews finished as an Astro. Stretch McCovey and Steve Garvey as Padres. Who did Warren Spahan finish with? The Mets, I think.

Satchel Paige as an Atlanta Brave sometime the late sixties/early 70’s……so he would qualify for a MLB pension.

Andy Messersmith as a Brave in the number 17 jersey…with the “nickname” CHANNEL on the back, to shrill owner Ted Turner’s Superstation.

Namath as a LA Ram, Eric Dickerson as a Falcon, Jim McMahan as a Charger.

Maravich and Dominique as a Celtic.

The Packers Jim Taylor made the Sports Illustrated cover for the expansion Saints.

Like you, Mays as a Met was no big deal. I also had memories of Ted Williams as the Senators manager…didn’t he mange the first Texas Rangers team? Some memories are from baseball cards. Billy Martin looked at home managing the Yankees, but not the Rangers. Catfish Hunter looked normal as a Yankee, after signing as a free agent.

Oakland A Bert “Campy” Campaneras visited my Cubs Fantasy Camp in the mid-nineties…wearing an Angels uni. Did he play there, or perhaps just a coach?

Tony Perez finished up with the Phillies and/or Expos.

Great Mets/Braves series this weekend. Ugly David Wright shoes. Seems like several Braves have taken to wearing pants high on Sundays…Kelly Johnson, Andruw, Francoeur, Langerhans…could be more, like Pete Orr. Now that I think about it, it probably started last year, or before.