Expert: Tony Hutchens - 7/31/2001

Question
When do the Orioles wear their black jerseys without their names on them? Thank you.  

Answer
Hello Don,

   The Orioles have no specific policy pertaining to when they wear their black jerseys. It's strictly a team decision. Sometimes it's superstituous - maybe they'll decide to wear them after they've lost several games in a row and are looking for something to change their luck. Ben McDonald and Scott Erickson each liked to pitch in the black jerseys so they would request the team to wear them each time they took the mound. But with McDonald gone and Erickson on the disabled list all season, the black jerseys haven't surfaced nearly as often as they did in the past. Maybe it's time to give them a try to start this new month following the horrible month of July they just endured.