Connected by High Socks

Connected by High Socks

By Shawn Manning

There is something about a uniform that penetrates the soul. It’s a connecting and yet dividing force. My two-button jersey versus your full-button replica. The careful folding of the jersey the day before after it’s taken down from the clothesline by your number one fan means that the big day is almost here. The uniform linked differences and built everlasting relationships with people that you may not ever cross paths again. It’s us against them. The uniform is an identifier, and it’s the same from tee-ball to the big leagues. That one question—“So, who do you play for?”—can be proudly answered with a color and location.

Baseball has connected generations everywhere, and for me the blue-collar Bradford approach has always stuck. Growing up there with the game and the people in the game have allowed it to stick. Bradford, PA, known now for Case Knives and Zippo Lighters, was the epicenter of the oil boom in the second half of the 19th Century. This also came at a time when semi-pro baseball teams were found in every small town in the country. The community cranks craved baseball.

The boom also met youth and junior level baseball teams for each part of small-town Bradford. The Fifth Ward Pirates, Shammies and Derrick City Orioles were all mainstays at the turn of the Century. The Fifth Ward Pirates received new uniforms just for the 1924 City Ward title game against the Orioles. The ball player feels complete with a sharp-looking uniform. Just outside the city limits sits Lewis Run, PA. A one-road town with a pretty darn good baseball team that had full-button three-quarter sleeve jerseys. The Lewis Run Independents were primarily of Italian descent and some were Brickyard employees that hopped trains to compete, and paved the way for communities and people around the country, but especially in Western Pennsylvania.

I’ve heard stories of my grandfather chasing trains to compete in the next town, wearing high socks and a full-button jersey. There is a story of him that has been passed down of the Lewis Run Indies playing the great Pittsburgh Crawfords. My grandfather managed to hit a single off of Satchel Paige and while standing on first base he was told that he’ll be gunned down if he tries to steal; he was pegged out about halfway to second. There is not any documentation of this game, but the timing is right that the Pittsburgh Crawfords were in town. They were barnstorming in the mid 19030’s with a bus of future hall of famers and baseball greats. I’d like to think that the first baseman who most likely warned my grandfather not to steal was Oscar Charleston, the catcher who threw the bullet was Josh Gibson and Stach was on the hill. Three of the greatest players of all time dressed with a full-button jersey and high socks combined their efforts to throw my grandfather out at second.

The early spring in Bradford, PA had a lot leftover from the winter. It was muddy, cold, and sometimes snowy. An 1898 article of the Bradford team in the professional Iron & Oil League described the spring as “cold and raw” in May. There were six teams, but the league would end in mid-July due to the Spanish-American War efforts. The teams were located throughout Western Pennsylvania in towns like Oil City, Warren, Meadville and Olean, NY. The Iron & Oil League was a string of baseball connections from Hall of Famers Rube Waddell and Honus Wagner to the cup of coffee big leaguers like Bradford Manager Bill Stuart of that 1898 team. Stuart hustled his way to build a winning team in a defunct league that started in the cold and raw weather.

The Bradford Indians of 1898 wore a crisp collared maroon jersey, pants and hat with white lettering and blue socks. The uniform was so special that it was displayed on Main Street at Southwick’s Drug Store for the whole community to see. Stuart was showing off what he was doing for his men and the community trying to draw as much support as possible. Those collared jerseys tightened up for the brisk spring weather in Bradford and a little further north in Olean, NY.

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I played for Derrick City Little League and we typically wore kelly green jerseys with yellow piping and sweet thick white pants with yellow and green piping down the leg. Our sponsor, Intregra Bank, was oddly spread across the chest of the jersey. That was until the year 1997. A brand new, soft, two-button jersey made its debut for our team. Dark green tops with a gray “DC” on the left chest, gray pants and solid green socks. The unofficial look of a baseball player. High socks, unbuttoned jersey and brownie spit instead of chewing tobacco. I was a 12-year-old with the only dream of being an old time player in a new era game. If brownies weren’t available then I used straight white bread – no crust of course. The season was like a holiday that lasted all summer. Each practice and game were events that we looked forward to all day during the Wiffle ball games. Break for a quick snack, grab the jersey from the clothesline to give it a few shakes and head to the field.

The 1997 DC dark green jersey had Bradford Window Company proudly scripted across the back of our shoulders changed the whole look. It felt like we were in the big leagues. This was the first year that we had Derrick City on the chest. Now we’re labeled to represent Derrick City in the 11/12-year-old division. The two-in-one stirrups were only cool if you pitch like Greg Maddux and the white socks with the traditional stirrups were too much hassle. Solid green socks were the answer. The unofficial look of a baseball player found its way into Derrick City baseball. The uniform meant belonging to something bigger than ourselves. We were all on board with our socks high.

Why did my dad wear his socks high for the Bradford Cubs in 1968? Did he see Warren Spahn’s 1940 Bradford Bees photo with his high socks and XXXL jersey? I wonder if Warren Spahn’s coach received a letter about the jersey not fitting correctly. Did Warren Spahn see how the 1916 Bradford Drillers wore their uniforms? Did the Drillers see the maroon, white and blue uniforms of the 1898 Bradford squad led by Bill Stuart? The knickers, tucked-in jersey and high socks all have proven their staying power.

To proudly wear the name of your town on your uniform and logo on your hat is something special. Through generations of friendships, high socks, balls and strikes baseball has been a connecting force for families and communities. Lacing up your cleats, pulling your socks on, fastening the belt and tucking the jersey in just right connects all ballplayers of every generation. It’s a game meant to be enjoyed with your teammates. Baseball is a community that’s connected through the evolution of the uniform and us as people who love the game. Enjoy where your feet are and the feet next to you.

Shawn Manning is a baseball enthusiast and is a native of Bradford, PA but now resides in Butler, PA with his amazing wife and three awesome children. A few interests are Iron & Oil Baseball, Tri-State Collegiate League, and Core Athletics.