Top two buttons???

[Jake Patterson]

Why is Pence allowed NOT to button his top two buttons of his uniform? I saw this last evening also. I thought MLB was cracking down on this sort of stuff?

[mudvnine]

I couldn't find anything in the OBR - 1.11 & 1.17 that addresses uniforms & equipment that would suggest the he would even have to have his uniform buttoned at all.

Now I know that that's a stretch well past common sense, but my point is, that unless there's some memorandum from the league office, there's not a violation in the rule book that I could find (at least from the index) that would prevent him from leaving those buttons open.

I too would be interested to hear what someone else more in the know about it would have to say.

[Jake Patterson]

I couldn't find anything in the OBR - 1.11 & 1.17 that addresses uniforms & equipment that would suggest the he would even have to have his uniform buttoned at all.

Now I know that that's a stretch well past common sense, but my point is, that unless there's some memorandum from the league office, there's not a violation in the rule book that I could find (at least from the index) that would prevent him from leaving those buttons open.

I too would be interested to hear what someone else more in the know about it would have to say.

Maybe Jim could add his opinion??

[DerekD]

The Mr. T starter kits could more of an issue than the buttons.

[jbooth]

Maybe Jim could add his opinion??

There isn't a problem with two buttons being undone, but umpires could use rule 9.01c to prevent flagrant changes from proper wearing of the uniform. I doubt that they would allow a player to have his shirt totally unbuttoned, and untucked.

[CoolHandLuke]

I don't think OBR adresses this specific point but it is addressed in MLB's CBA. The CBA mandates strict standards regarding uniform appearance not just on the field but in official post game interviews, etc. I believe the CBA standard is that jerseys can not be unbuttoned below the team's chest logo/name. So basically it's not a legal standard (OBR) but an administrative one (CBA). I'm not sure if umpires would enforce this in-game, but administratively the player could be fined by the league.

[jbooth]

I don't think OBR adresses this specific point but it is addressed in MLB's CBA. The CBA mandates strict standards regarding uniform appearance not just on the field but in official post game interviews, etc. I believe the CBA standard is that jerseys can not be unbuttoned below the team's chest logo/name. So basically it's not a legal standard (OBR) but an administrative one (CBA). I'm not sure if umpires would enforce this in-game, but administratively the player could be fined by the league.

Here is the section on jerseys from the CBA;

C. Jerseys
1. Jerseys, including sleeves, may not be so baggy or otherwise
sized or worn in a manner which may, in the umpire’s judgment,
interfere with the umpire’s ability to make calls or provide the
Player with a competitive advantage.
2. Sleeve length may not extend below the elbow.
3. Sleeves may not be cut.
4. Jerseys may not be unbuttoned below the bottom of the Club
logo.
5. Jerseys may not intentionally be untucked.
6. Under no circumstances may a jersey be ordered at or altered
to a length where it cannot properly be tucked in.
D. Undershirts
1. When any portion of a Player’s undershirt is visible, the Player
may only wear an undershirt that is in the Club’s primary color
or the heather gray color supplied by the Club.
2. No corporate identification or other logos of any kind are to
be visible on any part of the undershirt, except for any Club logo
or Major League Baseball silhouetted batter logo.
E. Outerwear
Players may not cut or in any way alter the Club-supplied outerwear.

[Phantom Dreamer]

Why is Pence allowed NOT to button his top two buttons of his uniform? I saw this last evening also. I thought MLB was cracking down on this sort of stuff?

Get rid of buttons and you get rid of the sloppiness to begin with.

[Mike_Honcho]

Get rid of buttons and you get rid of the sloppiness to begin with.

Get rid of the belts, too...right, Phantom?

[Doctor Joe]

Get rid of the belts, too...right, Phantom?

Bam! :o)

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