# Are MLB Managers required to wear uniforms during games? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 19, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678 "2010-04-19T22:41:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/1 "2010-04-19T22:41:14Z")
I recall reading that John McGraw ended his managing days wearing a suit & tire during games. Could today’s managers do the same or even dress more like their NFL counterparts? ---
**Author:** ![wedgehed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8edcca/32.png) [@wedgehed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wedgehed)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/2 "2010-04-19T22:48:09Z")
Suit & tire? Eyesight where hath you gone? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![fiddlesticks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddlesticks/32/18129_2.png) [@fiddlesticks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fiddlesticks)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/3 "2010-04-19T22:51:17Z")
Apparently managers and coaches are covered by Baseball Rule 1.11(a)(1): > [@](#): > > All players on a team shall wear uniforms identical in color, trim and style, and all players uniforms shall include minimal six-inch numbers on their backs. …even though there hasn’t been a player-manager since Pete Rose got run off. As far as I know, Connie Mack was the last suit & tie wearing manager, probably by a long stretch. ---
**Author:** ![MsChilePepper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@MsChilePepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsChilePepper)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/4 "2010-04-19T22:53:07Z")
According to a former pro baseball player friend of mine, baseball coaches are really the only coaches who go onto the playing field, so that’s why they wear the uniforms. I don’t know if it’s a league rule or not. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/5 "2010-04-19T23:25:19Z")
NFL coaches cannot wear a suit and tie now. They must wear some clothing with the team logo. I guess they could wear a jersey since that has the team logo on it in some cases. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/6 "2010-04-20T00:32:47Z")
[From the Official Rules of Major League Basebal](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/foreword.jsp) > [@MLB Official Rules: Section 2.00 - Definition of Terms](#): > > BENCH OR DUGOUT is the seating facilities reserved for players, substitutes and other team members in uniform when they are not actively engaged on the playing field. > > … > > The MANAGER is a person appointed by the club to be responsible for the team’s actions on the field, and to represent the team in communications with the umpire and the opposing team. A player may be appointed manager. Basically, if the Manager wants to be in the dugout, he needs to be in uniform. ---
**Author:** ![Ol\_Gaffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Ol\_Gaffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ol_Gaffer)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/7 "2010-04-20T01:00:57Z")
MLB just ruled today that Ray’s manager [Joe Maddon can’t wear an unapproved hoodie](http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AglOovvjHqDcHLyMAw5WDiQRvLYF?slug=ap-rays-maddon-nohoodie) over his uniform. They apparently take this stuff pretty seriously. ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/8 "2010-04-20T01:05:39Z")
> [@](#): > > NFL coaches cannot wear a suit and tie now. They must wear some clothing with the team logo. They apparently can, [as long as they’re made by Reebok.](http://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=3278276&page=1) ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/9 "2010-04-20T01:05:46Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > NFL coaches cannot wear a suit and tie now. They must wear some clothing with the team logo. I guess they could wear a jersey since that has the team logo on it in some cases. For a time, then-49ers head coach Mike Nolan wore a league-approved suit and tie designed by Reebok. Jack Del-Rio did, too. I’m not sure wqhat the status is now, but the suits did look pretty snazzy. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/10 "2010-04-20T15:41:12Z")
> [@wedgehed](#): > > I recall reading that John McGraw ended his managing days wearing a suit & tire during games. Could today’s managers do the same or even dress more like their NFL counterparts? Connie Mack, the owner and manager of the old Philadelphia Athletics, wore a suit, tie and hat in the dugout. As a “grand old man” of the game, he was allowed to do so… but he was not allowed to leave the dugout or go onto the field in that attire. So, if he wanted to communicate with the pitcher, he couldn’t walk out to the mound. He’d have to send a uniformed assistant coach (like Jimmy Dykes) out onto the field to do that for him. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/11 "2010-04-21T03:54:32Z")
I’ve always found that MLB rule to be capricious and arbitrary. It really just amounts to “because I said so.” It’s not like there’s some sort of law of the universe where if you go onto the field you have to be in uniform. In the NFL, coaches and (especially) trainers go onto the field all the time. (Trainers run out with gatorade and towels during every commercial break.) Luckily there is no similarly stupid rule requiring them to wear shoulder pads. Note that coaches regularly run onto the field to yell at the officials, either about a disputed call or to scream that they’re throwing a challenge flag. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/12 "2010-04-21T04:11:29Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > In the NFL, coaches and (especially) trainers go onto the field all the time. (Trainers run out with gatorade and towels during every commercial break.) Luckily there is no similarly stupid rule requiring them to wear shoulder pads. The world is a better place for this rule, lest we get the image of John Madden in his Oakland Raiders’ get-up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/13 "2010-04-21T04:18:39Z")
Non-uniformed MLB and minor league trainers (that is, certified athletic trainers employed by the clubs, not “personal trainers”) are seen in dugouts and on the field too, typically in response to injuries. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/14 "2010-04-21T11:34:56Z")
I’d like to know how the Red Sox manager gets away with wearing his dorky red top over his Red Sox jersey. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/15 "2010-04-21T14:55:48Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I’d like to know how the Red Sox manager gets away with wearing his dorky red top over his Red Sox jersey. Francona’s got some health/circulation problems, and apparently has some hazy unofficial approval from MLB to wear the top instead of the jersey. He’s been called on it a few times though. [five year old cite](http://nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050406&content_id=1001549&vkey=news_bos&fext=.jsp&c_id=bos) ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/16 "2010-04-21T15:12:13Z")
Is the practice of MLB managers always wearing a jacket of some sort over their uniform top a fairly new one? I don’t recall them doing it so much when I started watching baseball in the mid-late 80s. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/17 "2010-04-21T15:15:23Z")
Managers are allowed to wear the pullover over the jersey. Francona got a little rebuke for wearing it without the jersey under it. [three year old cite](http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2997982) ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/18 "2010-04-21T16:40:57Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > For a time, then-49ers head coach Mike Nolan wore a league-approved suit and tie designed by Reebok. Jack Del-Rio did, too. I’m not sure wqhat the status is now, but the suits did look pretty snazzy. Nolan had asked permission to wear a suit in honor of his father, Dick Nolan, who was an NFL head coach in the 1970s (49ers and Saints), in the days when many coaches did wear suits on the field. They looked far better than Bill Belichick, who, with his stupid hoodies with the cut-off sleeves, looks like he raided Oscar Madison’s closet for his attire. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/19 "2010-04-22T06:35:03Z")
I have always hated the idea that baseball managers have to dress up in a uniform. They look plain ridiculous. I know it’s about money, and whatever they wear has to be approved by MLB so they can sell it to the public, but a uniform? Can’t they wear some stylish team shirt/attire that would be appropriate for a 60+ year old man? The NFL is even stranger. They are very image conscious, to the point that if a coach wants to wear a suit, he needs permission and it has to be made by a company that makes uniforms. So a Mike Nolan can look like a million dollars on the sidelines, very classy and professional and he has to jump through hoops to do it, but Bill Belichick takes a pair of scissors to his “hoodies”, looks like a homeless person, and is in compliance. That has always bothered me. Can you imagine Tom Landry in a hoodie? ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678/20 "2010-04-22T06:58:29Z")
> [@fiddlesticks](#): > > Apparently managers and coaches are covered by Baseball Rule 1.11(a)(1): > > …even though there hasn’t been a player-manager since Pete Rose got run off. As far as I know, Connie Mack was the last suit & tie wearing manager, probably by a long stretch. Actually Burt Shotton didn’t wear a baseball uniform when he managed the Dodgers in 1947-1950. He had sworn he wouldn’t wear a baseball uniform when he retired in 1945 and kept his promise when he was suddenly named Dodger manager in 1947 when Leo Durocher was suspended for a year. Apparently both Connie Mack and Burt Shotton managed their last game on October 1, 1950 > **[Burt Shotton | A stand-in for Durocher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burt_Shotton#A_stand-in_for_Durocher)** > > On the eve of the 1947 season, Shotton received a telegram from Rickey; it read: "Be in Brooklyn in the morning. Call nobody, see no one". Flying immediately from his Florida home to New York, not knowing what to expect, Shotton was ushered into Rickey's presence. Leo Durocher, the Dodgers' manager since 1939, had been suspended for the entire 1947 campaign by Baseball Commissioner Happy Chandler for "conduct detrimental to baseball." In his search for a temporary replacement, Rickey had be Ricke... [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-mlb-managers-required-to-wear-uniforms-during-games/536678.md?page=2)