NORFOLK — Partially a reflection of modern-day sports marketing initiatives, the Norfolk Tides will wear as many as 14 various jerseys this season.
In addition to their traditional home whites and road grays, the Tides have or will have worn an “ORF” jersey to honor the city, a Marvel jersey to promote comic books and movies, a SEAL jersey to honor local Navy ties and a Pajaritos (Spanish for “young birds”) jersey to appeal to the Latin American community, among others.
The jerseys mix up the team’s look over the course of the season, and they give fans more choices when they step into Harbor Park’s team store.
But of all the alternate identities the team will have taken on this season, none was more thought-provoking than what the Tides wore Friday night.
Norfolk’s players started the weekend against Charlotte dressed as the Norfolk Red Stockings, a historical and sartorial nod to the city’s entry in the Negro Leagues in the late 19th century.
The gray jerseys with a large, red “N” were topped by gray hats with the same lettering. It was part of a Negro Leagues Tribute Night that included an appearance by Sam Allen, an 88-year-old Norfolk native who played with Willie Mays and Satchel Paige, among other luminaries, in the 1950s and ’60s.
Often, the people wearing the alternate unis aren’t aware of them until they get to the ballpark. These, Tides manager Buck Britton hopes, prompted some research.
“When you get into the locker room, that’s the first thing you notice because the jerseys are hanging up every day, is that there’s something unique going on today,” Britton said. “What is it? We have computers in our back pocket at all times, right? It pushes them to go dive in to what is actually the meaning behind all of this. And they learn. And we learn. And we get better as we learn, and the game continues to grow and people continue to grow. So I think it’s important.”
Of the 55 men to play for Norfolk over the course of this season, four are African-American. The Tides had three such players until recently, when one was injured and another was returned to Double-A.
Daniel Johnson, a 28-year-old outfielder from Northern California, is Norfolk’s lone remaining African-American player.
Johnson, who has spent parts of two seasons in the major leagues with the Cleveland Guardians, said he hoped to someday hear firsthand stories from former Negro Leagues players. But he’s well aware of their legacy and what they went through.
“I owe them all the respect because without them, I wouldn’t be here,” Johnson said. “And it goes even further than that for the little kids that are watching us now. We want to keep that going and pave the way for them, too.”
Before Friday’s game, Allen sat behind a table on the first-base side of Harbor Park’s concourse and greeted a steady stream of fans. He signed autographs, posed for pictures and sold items commemorating his time with the Memphis Red Sox, the Kansas City Monarchs and the Raleigh Tigers in the late ’50s.
Later, he’d head down for pregame festivities on the field, where he hoped to meet Johnson.
Allen, a Norfolk lifer, is among the last men who can remember playing in the Negro Leagues, which began to decline after Jackie Robinson integrated the major leagues in 1947.
Still, Allen said he appreciated that today’s players continue to honor his era.
“It means a lot,” Allen said between visitors. “But the only problem that I have is that we don’t have that many playing. I’m working to try to get more young Blacks back into baseball.”
According to the Associated Press, only 6.2% of players on MLB opening-day rosters last season were African-American.
Johnson said he played every sport growing up, finally gravitating to baseball. He’s done a deep dive into the game’s past, learning about the off-the-field difficulties of being a Black player in Allen’s day.
“Obviously, it’s years of history, having African-American players segregated at one point,” Johnson said. “Having the Negro Leagues to be where we are now, having them pave the way for us, it’s a special feeling.”
It’s the kind of lesson Britton hoped the uniforms would prompt. By season’s end, the Tides will have donned pink, orange, camo and green jerseys along with a variety of themed looks. They’re not likely to learn anything from wearing them.
“Everybody knows who Jackie Robinson is and what he did for the game, what he did for change,” Britton said. “But I think there’s a lot to learn in general of just the history of the game of baseball.
“It’s almost like baseball’s kind of been at the forefront of all this stuff. I think it’s special for the game. I’m proud to be a part of this game.”
David Hall, david.hall@pilotonline.com.
