MLB Bans Gun From Appearing on Commemorative Houston Astros Uniform
- Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:13pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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The Houston Astros‘ plan to commemorate their franchise’s 50th anniversary this year hit a roadblock when Major League Baseball officials decided players could not wear special “throwback” uniforms featuring the team’s original name — the Colt .45s — with their original logo, a pistol.
Players instead will be wearing versions of the original uniform but with the gun image removed.
That‘s a call that didn’t sit well with one Astros fan, who fired off a complaint to the MLB, accusing the organization of letting “misplaced political correctness destroy one of the greatest uniforms in baseball history.” According to Astros Daily, the team’s authentication manager Mike Acosta sent back the following reply:
AP File Photo
[D]uring our discussion with Major League Baseball, it was expressed to us that we could wear the uniform as long as the pistol was removed. We realize this changes the original design, but we still want to honor the Colt .45s. We are also under an obligation to follow Major League Baseball’s requests.
Personally I can see how in this time period any sports league (MLB, NFL, NBA, etc.) would not want a team logo associated with a weapon on their uniform that is broadcast to many people. In recent years the Washington Bullets were renamed the Wizards because of this very subject. The symbol of a warm gun with the “C” coming out as smoke is an image many of us have for the Colt .45s. The Wild West theme this franchise had in the early 1960s is symbolic of how times have changed in our society.
The Astros were known as the Colt .45s from 1962 through 1964, when the name changed over the licensing dispute. The Colts uniforms are among several retro jerseys players will wear during home games on special “Flashback Fridays.”
Yahoo! Sports mocked the decision to remove the pistol:
Yep, I would say that is indeed symbolic how times have changed in our society. In fact, there’s nothing at all hypocritical about it all. It‘s not like we’re subjected to 1,437 images of guns each day — from No. 1 selling video games to primetime television.
Nope, it’s the pistol on the chests of what will likely be a 100-loss team — for all of two early season games! — that will send the wrong message to children. In a state where it’s legal to carry a concealed firearm, no less. Yup, got it. Makes sense.
In a Houston Chronicle online poll, 97 percent of respondents disagreed with the MLB’s ruling, with one commenter pointing out the seeming disconnect between the decision about the pistol and the names and logos of other league teams:
Cleveland [Indians] – Racially offensive stereotype as a logo – ok
Atlanta [Braves] – Weapon [tomahawk] as a logo – ok
Milwaukee [Brewers] – Alcohol manufacture as a team name – ok
Pittsburgh [Pirates] – Violent criminal as a logo – ok
Houston – Throwback uniform to be used for 2 of 162 games, in celebration of our 50th anniversary, has a weapon as a logo – not ok.Well done, Mr. Selig. Well done indeed.
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Comments (146)
GoodStuff
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:49pmSimple solution. On opening day, all Astros fans should wear an original Colt .45s t-shirt to the ballpark, with “FU Bud Selig” on the back
Report Post »Mike777
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:52pmi agree
Report Post »flyoverbob
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:55pmHow totally stupid,let me see.I can see any number of ways this could be insensitive.I mean really,what will this do to the self esteem of the numbers 3 and 6.And after all a gun patch,it could be picked up by a kid patch.Just think of all the harm it would cause.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:57pmwe agree.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:00pm.
Report Post »I bet H-Towns gay mayor had a hand in this to………
cavyR
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:08pmRight on GOODSTUFF.! Someone would make a small fortune selling those.
Report Post »Lonescrapper
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:13pmDon’t we (dis)Astros fans suffer enough!!???
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:40pmOMG the violence of it all! Guess I’ll just have to tune into the next episode of Alcatraz.
Report Post »HKS
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:58pmLooks like a king liberal trying to be politically correct. He’s probably playing to the wrong crowd.
Report Post »Jumper
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:03pmI love that!!! Wonder how much the shirts would cost to make?
Report Post »FEISTY
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 4:08pmGREAT IDEA. You know the fans will wear the correct uniform and MLB will look incredibly stupid.
Selig’s stupidity knows no bounds. Guns are not illegal, banned or outlawed. Guns don’t kill. People kill. Taking a gun off the logo accomplishes absolutely nothing other than showing a sad lack of common sense.
Report Post »bechokoy
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:37pm@mike777 they should all open carry a real colt pistol
Report Post »Pitch_Fork_Ready
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:48pm@ GOODSTUFF LOVE your idea! I hope the fans of Houston follow through!
Report Post »kiabab
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 9:52pmAwesome!
Report Post »Dan_o
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:34pmI think Selig is trying to give Astros fans a reason to go the ballpark. There hasn’t been one in several years now.
Report Post »USAMEDIC3008
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 10:57pmHow about the U.S.CAL Condoms
Report Post »or am I thinking about something else????????
bombshelterbob
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 11:21pmThis is just one more reason for me to not watch “professional” sports.
Report Post »Av8r1969
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 12:09amI am from Houston. I go to opening day almost every year. This year I will go and follow this excellent advice ! Very nice.
Report Post »MEANS2RESIST
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 3:10amHey, over in their spring training site in FL Grapefruit League, they’re called the “Kissimmee Astros”…..
Report Post »anOpinion
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:40am@goodstuff
I was just about to post the same thing, every fan on both sides should wear a shirt like that.
Report Post »anOpinion
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:45amAww, mayor bloomberg is upset with Virginia
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mayor-bloomberg-criticizes-virginia-repeal-20-year-old-gun-law-article-1.1031149?localLinksEnabled=false
Report Post »Bum thrower
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 8:58amWhere do I get one??
Report Post »Joe1123
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:14amThat’s a very good idea. Spread the word.
Report Post »shadowrider
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:16amThey are being printed now !
Report Post »NLN
Posted on March 1, 2012 at 10:26pmThey could put a picture of a drunk guy with a can of malt liquor instead of a gun. That would be ok with MLB.
Report Post »gbfreak
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:49pmOne of the many reasons the mlb can’t fill seats these days. They have these immaculate new parks, charge enormous ticket prices, and then insult real Americans. I’d rather see AAA ball anyday. Much more fun.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:49pmit’s all part of the communist emasculation of America.
“45 DECLARED GOALS of the COMMUNIST TAKE OVER of AMERICA” (1963): #31. Belittle all forms of American culture
Report Post »KevINtampa
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:49pmGo Devil Rays… Oh wait, that’s too scary. Better change that to simply Rays.
Report Post »Slayer
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:53pmA ‘ray’ could be implied as coming from a … (gasp!) laser gun.
Report Post »How about we just rename them a number or a letter of the alphabet? Unless, of course, it’s a non-PC-approved number or letter of the alphabet…
hmmm….
Cocheta
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:48pmThe Colt 45 uniform should have been left alone. What’s the difference between a graphic of a Colt .45 handgun and the jersey sporting the lettering “Colt .45?” PC idiots are ruining the country!
As for me and baseball? I quit going to MLB games and watching them on TV way back in the 80′s when labor disputes left us fans out in the cold. They NEVER got another dime from me.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:48pmEverbody! Get to cover a picture is gonna get you!!! Can’t wait til the FANS start printing their own versions of the jersey to wear at those two games!! Since the MLB has outlawed the version with a gun they have forfeitted their right/claim to that version of the jersey!! Get the silk printers going!!! Of course, the Homeland Security Goons at the gates may forbid fans with pictures of guns to enter the stadium!!! Better not have a beaded representation of a gun on your purses either ladies!!!
Report Post »GoodStuff
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:48pmBud Selig is a liberal pansy.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:55pman obamacommunist.
Report Post »magadog
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:24pm…tired of the feminization of America.
I’d like to see the likeness of Selig getting a Colt .45 enema on GOODSTUFF’s t-shirts…
Report Post »AzSage
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 6:32pma spineless, limp-wrist, sweaty-palmed, tofu-eating, pansy.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:48pm.
Report Post »The Astros Sucked so bad last year. I bet MLB thought they would try and shoot themselves…..
Texas_Tip
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:45pmNot only did the new owner Crane have to bend over and move the team to the AL at the insistence of Brewer toadie and current MLB Commish Selig. Let’s just throw the establishment history of the team out in the name of politically correctness gone awry. Like the Colt .45 uniforms as I’m sure many a current Astros fan did.
Report Post »Ridiculous BS. Rinse..lather…repeat.
JBaer
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:42pmNext we won’t be able to say things are as “American as baseball and apple pie” because apple pie will be deemed as a health threat with all that artery clogging fat in the crust.
Good grief!!
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:50pmto these obamacommunists the very word “AMERICA” is ‘hate speech’.
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:36pmHey, Hey! I’m with ya Houston but, don‘t go trashing the Tribe or you’re gonna need a Colt .45!
Report Post »VegasGuy
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:35pmI can’t wait for baseball bats to become politically incorrect. Then what will they do?
Report Post »Beckman-O
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:31pmShow MLB your approval of its Bloomborgish, gutless, PC stance: STOP attending the games. Little league and High school games are more exciting, anyway, and those athletes really, REALLY love the game!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:36pmYes ..already boycotting NASCAR since making Michelle Obama and her phoney support for OUR troops at the last race of 2011 .. now baseball also … oh and btw .. I am a Neilson family this week and did NOT watch Daytona! And will not support either .. STAND UP!
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:39pmI do minor league games, for Hockey and Baseball, OKC got the thunder and I refuse to got o the games, when it was just the minor league games in town you could still afford to go, with the major league thunder prices have gone up, the parking that is usually $5 has gone up to $20 for the night the tickets are high, the people that it brings out to the games are bad, we never had to have a curfew or did we have any shootings in the bricktown area it was a nice place to take your family for meal. Now we have a curfew for the gangbanger wantabes, we have had a couple of shootings from drug deals gone bad on game nights, As for me and my family we stay away on game nights.
Report Post »theprofessor1031
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 5:41pm@disabledvet I too live in OKC, and was absolutely against bringing in the Thunder. Not only are taxpayers on the hook for them, but I knew it would cause crime problems in Bricktown. I really enjoyed the Yard Dawgs football games, and really miss them. I will NEVER go to a Thunder game.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:29pmPolitical correctness is disgusting. For gosh sakes, this is the team’s original logo.
Report Post »I guess MLB is taking Michelle Obama’s cue to rewrite our history. Pathetic sign of the times.
CatB
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:38pmYes . it is the rewriting and what they omit that is truly frightening .. if you don’t learn from history you ARE destined to repeat it .. think 1930′s.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:54pmTRUE! all of the leagues are taking the obamacommunist agenda to heart, totally rewriting American History and bowing to obamacommunism..
”’45 Declared Goals of the Communist Take Over of America ”’ (1963): #31. Belittle all forms of American culture
Report Post »libertytreecaretaker
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:28pmMy watching of baseball is now gone like the pure American icon of the colt .45 from the baseball uniforms!
Report Post »henryKnox
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:28pmWill not go to an MLB game this year. We should do everything possible to keep money from going to MLB. I’ve had it with the thought police (ie progressives) trying to control every aspect of our lives. When will people wake up and just say ‘NO’. Why have we become spineless jellyfish that cowtow to any progressive edict that comes down the pike? Why do the 3% control the 97% ? I already refuse to watch NBA.
Report Post »obxned
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:25pmMaybe they can put a picture of a 40oz bottle of malt liquor on the unitorms – that allows them to keep the Colt 45 name.
Report Post »godhatesacoward
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:13pmSeems us obxer’s are on the same page. My thoughts exactly! ROC.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:25pmWell yes. A picture of a gun would make anyone homicidal to a liberal/progressive/politically correct idiot.
Report Post »I hate what has happened to America.
TMunson
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:25pmThis is CRAP!
Report Post »EchoHawk
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:24pmWouldn’t MLB have to pay some sort of licensing royalties to Colt firearms manufacturing? Or is this story just chum?
Report Post »Smith357
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:24pmCan’t scare the sheeple with a drawing of an antique revolver.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:22pmwhat is this canada now?
Report Post »UBETHECHANGE
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:21pmEvery aspect of our culture and lives has been taken over by commie progressives. I feel the evil all around and closing in. Lord Jesus please help us!
Report Post »team1blazer
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:19pmMy solution, simple; I WILL NOT WATCH ANY MLB GAMES this year.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:00pmbaseball stinks anyways. football is the real sport of america.
Report Post »BurntHills
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 3:28pmthink about it, good ol’ boy NASCAR is the last uncontaminated sport in America. even tho obama sent his Flotus the Wonder Sow to try to change that last year.
Report Post »The_Almighty_Creestof
Posted on February 29, 2012 at 2:18pmNo longer “America’s” sport I see…It now belongs to the PC police, ******** & Nancy Boys.
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