You can blame/thank the Reds for all the green you see in teams’ uniforms today. It was them -- or more specifically, their GM Dick Wagner -- who started the tradition in 1978. While it went over pretty well, the initial reactions were fun:
I’m usually opposed to messing with uniforms too much, but I’ve always liked the green-on-St. Patrick’s Day thing. It’s spring training, and spring training is casual. It looks good. And besides, it’s so much nicer than the the more historically-accurate St. Patrick’s Day tradition they used to do at the ballpark: having ushers go through the stands converting all the pagans.
After workouts, the Reds dragged their perspiring bodies off the field and retreated to the clubhouse -- closed, uncharacteristically, to the media -- took a look and then did a double-take at their lockers ... green uniforms hanging in front of each.
“Did we get traded to Oakland?” catcher Johnny Bench asked.
Shortstop Davey Concepcion squinted at his green No. 13 uniform and said, “I’m not wearing that. I’m Venezuelan, not Irish.”
