# Can an MLB manager wear a suit or sweats instead of a uniform? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 7, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512 "2011-04-07T13:23:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/1 "2011-04-07T13:23:03Z")
I’m wondering if a Manager or coach can wear something other than a uniform during the game? I’m not suggesting someone can get away with something like Bill Belichick, aka the “hoodie” wears (the hooded sweatshirt with the sleeves cut off), but an officially licensed MLB approved outfit. The coaches and manager can matcjh There is no reason to wear the player uniform other than tradition, and the argument that the coaches and managers are physically active during the game and pregame, so a suit is not realistic. I don’t know how many managers actually work up a sweat before the game, but they look beyond ridiculous. I feel especially bad for the overweight guys who look like they are in fan pajamas. How about a coaches sweat suit, that would have a team logo, some nice styling, and no sanitary socks with stirrups? Anyone know the Dope on this? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/2 "2011-04-07T13:31:08Z")
[Previous thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=560262) In a nutshell. MLB rules require all players and manager/coaches to wear matching uniforms. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/3 "2011-04-07T13:39:54Z")
Short answer: no. I recall MLB making Terry Francona of the Red Sox wear a uniform jersey instead of his preferred Sox sweatshirt. They can wear warm up jackets over their jerseys. I believe the rule came about because baseball managers are the only coaches allowed on the playing field, and historically, many mangers were also third base coaches. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/4 "2011-04-07T15:07:46Z")
The main rule is that only those in uniform are allowed on the playing field. In the early days, this allowed the umpires to immediately spot a fan who got onto the field (in the early days, it was not unheard of for the fans to be standing on the outfield grass, kept off the field of play by a rope). There isn’t any reason to change things now just because a few people think it looks ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2011, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/5 "2011-04-07T15:10:42Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Previous thread.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=560262) > > In a nutshell. MLB rules require all players and manager/coaches to wear matching uniforms. Actually, the [Official MLB Rules](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/downloads/y2010/official_rules/2010_OfficialBaseballRules.pdf) (PDF) don’t seem to cover the issue of managers’ uniforms. > [@](#): > > 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. > (2) Any part of an undershirt exposed to view shall be of a uniform solid color for > all players on a team. Any player other than the pitcher may have numbers, > letters, insignia attached to the sleeve of the undershirt. > (3) No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be > permitted to participate in a game. > (b) A league may provide that > (1) each team shall wear a distinctive uniform at all times, or > (2) that each team shall have two sets of uniforms, white for home games and a > different color for road games. > (c) (1) Sleeve lengths may vary for individual players, but the sleeves of each > individual player shall be approximately the same length. > (2) No player shall wear ragged, frayed or slit sleeves. > (d) No player shall attach to his uniform tape or other material of a different color from > his uniform. > (e) No part of the uniform shall include a pattern that imitates or suggests the shape of a > baseball. > (f) Glass buttons and polished metal shall not be used on a uniform. > (g) No player shall attach anything to the heel or toe of his shoe other than the ordinary > shoe plate or toe plate. Shoes with pointed spikes similar to golf or track shoes shall > not be worn. > (h) No part of the uniform shall include patches or designs relating to commercial > advertisements. > (i) A league may provide that the uniforms of its member teams include the names of > its players on their backs. Any name other than the last name of the player must be > approved by the League President. If adopted, all uniforms for a team must have the > names of its players. This refers to “players” but nothing about managers and coaches. (From there it goes on about gloves and helmets.) Further: > [@](#): > > 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. > (a) The club shall designate the manager to the league president or the > umpire-in-chief not less than thirty minutes before the scheduled starting time > of the game. > (b) The manager may advise the umpire-in-chief that he has delegated specific > duties prescribed by the rules to a player or coach, and any action of such > designated representative shall be official. The manager shall always be > responsible for his team’s conduct, observance of the official rules, and > deference to the umpires. > (c) If a manager leaves the field, he shall designate a player or coach as his > substitute, and such substitute manager shall have the duties, rights and > responsibilities of the manager. If the manager fails or refuses to designate his > substitute before leaving, the umpire-in-chief shall designate a team member as > substitute manager. Nothing there about attire. So I think it is more a matter of tradition. I have seen Ozzie Guillen wearing warmup-type jerseys [like](http://i.cdn.turner.com/si/2010/writers/michael_rosenberg/08/05/ozzie/ozzie.guillen.jpg) [these](http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2010/08/03/450x354-alg_ozzie.jpg) while managing. I suppose it’s a matter of degrees that the league would object to Francona’s sweatshirts but not these. ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/6 "2011-04-08T00:58:01Z")
Connie Mack the 1st wore a suit and (bow) tie-he’d send a coach out to change pitchers. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/7 "2011-04-08T02:04:32Z")
What I don’t understand is why so many managers wear cleats instead of more comfortable regular team-colored running shoes or something. I mean, I can see for Lou Piniella, because he does a lot of kicking and he needs to have good grip on his plant foot, but does Bobby Cox really need [metal spikes](http://www.hardballtimes.com/images/uploads/Bobby_Cox.jpg) to walk ten feet, throw his hat down, and get ejected from the game? ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2011, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/8 "2011-04-08T07:51:18Z")
Rule 3.15 reads in part: > [@](#): > > No person shall be allowed on the playing field during a game except players and > coaches in uniform, managers, news photographers authorized by the home team, umpires, > officers of the law in uniform and watchmen or other employees of the home club. I remembered this rule as including managers along with players and coaches as having to be in uniform, but it doesn’t actually say this. BTW, the rule doesn’t say anything about batboys, who are always in uniform. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Presidente](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@El\_Presidente](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Presidente)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2011, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/9 "2011-04-21T06:39:31Z")
I think a lot of it has to do with the culture of baseball. More than any other team sport, the Manager is “one of the boys” unlike football, hockey or basketball. Connie Mack was a very, very lone and eccentric exception. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/10 "2011-04-25T03:46:44Z")
Where would be the fun in that? What I’d like to see is coaches and managers in all of the other sports suiting up to match the players. ---
**Author:** ![cmosdes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cmosdes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmosdes)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2011, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/11 "2011-04-25T17:36:48Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Where would be the fun in that? > > What I’d like to see is coaches and managers in all of the other sports suiting up to match the players. You can count me out of ever going to any aquatic or women’s beach volleyball event if this idea every comes to pass. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/12 "2011-10-24T12:58:40Z")
[CNN.com](http://CNN.com) on the subject: [http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/23/opinion/greene-baseball-manager-uniforms/index.html?&hpt=hp\_c2](http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/23/opinion/greene-baseball-manager-uniforms/index.html?&hpt=hp_c2) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/13 "2011-10-24T13:19:37Z")
> [@Jeff\_Lichtman](#): > > I remembered this rule as including managers along with players and coaches as having to be in uniform, but it doesn’t actually say this. Since MLB has actually passed ruling and given orders to managers that they align themselves more with team uniform policy, as per the Francona case, I think it fair to say that at this point the rules have been interpreted in such a way that they do apply to managers. I am sure the baseball haters will be along any time now to say how stupid it is, but at this point it would actually look more stupid for a manager to wear a suit. He’d look terribly out of place. He’d also be perceived as distancing himself from his team, which wouldn’t be a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/14 "2011-10-24T13:33:56Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I am sure the baseball haters will be along any time now to say how stupid it is, but at this point it would actually look more stupid for a manager to wear a suit. He’d look terribly out of place. I think you’d get more of a dignified Connie Mack sort of vibe, rather than just being that weirdo in the suit. Wear sweats, and you’re just a pathetic slob who can’t be bothered to get dressed for work. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/15 "2011-10-24T13:44:05Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > I think you’d get more of a dignified Connie Mack sort of vibe, rather than just being that weirdo in the suit. Wear sweats, and you’re just a pathetic slob who can’t be bothered to get dressed for work. In what sport do the managers/coaches wear sweats? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/16 "2011-10-24T14:00:30Z")
Stink Fish Pot suggested a sweatsuit, though that may give a more Al Sharpton vibe. There is also, of course, Mr Hoodie himself, Bill Belichick. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-an-mlb-manager-wear-a-suit-or-sweats-instead-of-a-uniform/577512/17 "2011-10-24T22:32:59Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > Short answer: no. I recall MLB making Terry Francona of the Red Sox wear a uniform jersey instead of his preferred Sox sweatshirt. They can wear warm up jackets over their jerseys. And Francona always did, either a jacket or a sweater. He was never seen on the field with only a uniform jersey. > [@](#): > > I believe the rule came about because baseball managers are the only coaches allowed on the playing field, and historically, many mangers were also third base coaches. And because, even more historically, managers were usually _players_ moonlighting. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Wear sweats, and you’re just a pathetic slob who can’t be bothered to get dressed for work. Like an NFL coach? 😉