Royals In Monarchs Duds: July 10, 2005

I've updated and revised quite a bit in the previous "Royals in Monarchs Duds" posts, so if you're interested, be sure to check those out again.

Angel Berroa

For 2005, the Royals wore gorgeous 1948 Monarchs throwbacks.

2005 Jose Lima & Zack Greinke game-used jerseys

Might be my favorite look from all of the Salute to the Negro Leagues games.

DJ Carrasco

Carrasco said after the game that the uniforms were "a bit heavier than regular gear but the looser, airy fit helped." (From Dick Kaegel's game wrap.)

Matt Stairs, Mike Sweeney

Note that the Royals wore special blank but matching batting helmets for this game. It's the only year I've seen pictures in which they've done that. Most years, the usual bright Royals helmets have been used, and can really jar the overall look.

Gene Baker, circa 1948

Hilton Smith, circa 1948

The Twins wore dark blue uniforms of the 1909 St. Paul Gophers. According to a preview on the Twins website, some of the Twins players were concerned about wearing such a dark uniform on a hot day:

It could always be worse, though. The uniforms could have been wool, which is exactly the material worn by those Gophers 96 years ago.

"I'm sure these guys didn't have this material back in the day," Hunter said in reference to the replica's thick polyester material. "I think they had wool, so I commend those guys for playing in that."

Players will have the opportunity to keep their uniform in exchange for a $500 donation to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, which is located in Kansas City. Several players said they would do just that.

2005 unknown player game-used jersey

Torii Hunter knocks in the game-winning run

St. Paul Gophers, circa 1909

St. Paul Gophers, circa 1909

The game went 12 innings. Starters Carlos Silva and DJ Carrasco each went 7 innings, after which Silva and the Twins held a 2-1 lead. Mike Sweeney tied it up in the bottom of the ninth with his second homer of the game. But the Twins took the lead for good in the top of the 12th when Torii Hunter hit a grounder to third baseman Mark Teahen. Should have been a routine play, except the barrel of Hunter's bat was also hurtling toward Teahen. Distracted, Teahen booted the ball, allowing Nick Punto to score from third and the Twins to take a 3-2 victory.