Check out all the brand-new and fashionable socks you'll see on the field in 2017
Baseball hosiery has undergone radical changes over the years, with stripes, high socks, faux-stirrups, baggy pants and everything in between. And since you've already watched a ton of baseball this year, you have probably noticed socks like you'd never seen before.
Like when Bryce Harper took the Marlins' David Phelps deep on Opening Day -- both wore flashy new styles:
That's thanks to Stance, MLB's official sock provider. Though they started by designing the socks for last season's All-Star Game and Home Run Derby, the 2017 season brings with it customized styles unique to almost every MLB team.
The company spent the offseason working closely with teams and the league to create custom looks for 26 of the 30 ballclubs. Logos are also on the socks for the first time -- perfect for the discerning player and fan that wants to show off their club from head to toe.
"Some of the equipment managers didn't even show the guys the socks with the designs until Opening Day," said Tzvi Twersky, Stance's Director of Basketball and Baseball Categories, in a phone call with MLB.com. "So guys came into the clubhouse, and they had socks thrown over their chairs. They were like 'Really? This? I can wear this?' It added a level of excitement."
Some designs were updates to a classic look, like the Cardinals who thickened the traditional red-white-and-blue stripes while adding the team logo:
Others play on subtlety. The Cubs' socks feature a sublimated logo:
Working with "an amazing team," that Twersky was quick to credit, Stance has much more in store than mere modern updates to classic styles, though.
There are the Rays, who have three options -- all of which were seen on Opening Day.
The Reds have socks with both the "C" logo -- as modeled by
The D-backs have socks to match each of their many uniforms:
The Mets' feature the familiar New York skyline:
As do the Astros'. Their socks come complete with "H-Town" included in the stripes:
FLAMES pic.twitter.com/KjpIVu8IpO
— Houston Astros (@astros) April 5, 2017
They have another pair, too, that features the rainbow stripe at the ankle -- complete with an Astros star cutout -- rather than the usual stripes at the calf:
Twersky says that's thanks to the team being one of the most involved in the creative process.
"The Astros actually came to us with concepts," Twersky said. Knowing that they needed a versatile sock, the team was incredibly detail-oriented -- "from the color placement, to how exactly the sock should look, to how they envision it sitting on their players."
Some styles haven't made their way onto the field yet, but you can get a peek at one now. The White Sox have a beautiful throwback style to match their 1980s pullovers:
Though most designs have fans excited, there is one that may rankle uniform purists: the Dodgers have a sock that harkens back to the two-in-one faux stirrup that players like Greg Maddux wore in the '90s.
"I think people will like the fact that you can have a stirrup look, while wearing a true performance sock and not have to wear a sanitary with the stirrup," Twersky said. "[The stirrup] was an invention that was never supposed to be a piece of performance equipment. But I also definitely hear people that don't love it. I do respect everyone's opinion."
If those designs (somehow) aren't wild enough for you, just wait for the upcoming special events, including miss-matched American flag socks for July 4 and tropical socks for the All-Star Game and ASG workout day.
"This is just the exploration of what players are looking for, what fans are looking for," Twersky said. "My goal for every year is a revelation."
New styles will continue to roll out for the next few months, and you can buy the on-field socks for your at-home wear at MLBShop.com or follow @StanceBaseball for more information. <o:p>
