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Ugly Uniform

September 20, 2013

Goose Gossage – No. 670

Goose Gossage

Goose Gossage is a retired Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed relief pitcher. During a 22-year baseball career (1972-1994), he pitched for nine different teams, spending his best years with the New York Yankees and San Diego Padres. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was one of the earliest manifestations of the dominating modern closer, with wild facial hair and a gruff demeanor to go along with his blistering fastball. From 1977 through 1983 he never recorded an earned run average over 2.62, including a mark of 0.77 in 1981. Respected for his impact in crucial games, he recorded the final out to clinch a division, league or World Series title seven times. He won the 1978 World Series with the Yankees.

Note: This 8-bit version of Gossage shows him wearing a 1976 Chicago White Sox uniform, which briefly featured shorts instead of pants, until they realized what a stupid idea that was. Also, pardon the anachronism, but I had to give Gossage his signature handlebar mustache even though the 1976 season predates it. This is character #8 in my ugly uniform series.

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July 3, 2013

Danny Heep – No. 643

Danny Heep

Danny Heep is a retired Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. He played for five different ballclubs during his 13-year career (1979-1991): the Houston Astros, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves. Heep won two World Series championships, with the New York Mets in 1986 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988. He had the exceptionally trivial honor of being the the first DH (designated hitter) in a World Series to have the initial “DH.” Heep was also the 4000th strikeout victim of Nolan Ryan on July 11, 1985. He was born on this day in 1957.

Note: Danny Heep’s career achievements notwithstanding, the real reason for this character is because I wanted to create pixel art of the fantastically ugly 1980 Tucson Toros uniforms. In 1980, the Toros were a Triple-A minor league baseball team affiliated with the Houston Astros. These hilariously hideous uniforms were Tucson’s take on the “tequila sunrise” jerseys worn by the Houston Astros (see: Nolan Ryan). Since Heep had the best MLB career of any player on the 1980 Toros roster, he gets this pixel art (dis)honor. This is character #7 in my ugly uniform series.

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March 5, 2013

Willie Stargell – No. 583

Willie Stargell

Willie Stargell, nicknamed “Pops” in the later years of his career, was a Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He played his entire 21-year career as the left fielder and first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates (1962-1982). He helped the Pirates capture six National League East division titles, two National League pennants and two World Series (1971, 1979). He was born on this day in 1940.

Note: For the 8-bit version of Willie Stargell, I could not resist dressing him in the hideous Pirates uniforms (with striped caps) from their 1979 championship season. In 1979, Stargell was named National League Championship Series MVP and World Series MVP. This is character #6 in my ugly uniform series.

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November 2, 2012

Dikembe Mutombo – No. 531

Dikembe Mutombo

Dikembe Mutombo is a 7′ 2″ Congolese American and former NBA player. He played for six teams during his 18-year career (1991-2009), most notably the Denver Nuggets and the Atlanta Hawks. “Mt. Mutombo” is one of the greatest shot blockers and defensive players of all time, winning the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award four times. He ranks second to Hakeem Olajuwon on the NBA’s career blocked shots list. Mutombo is a member of the Luba ethnic group and speaks nine languages. A well-known humanitarian, he started a foundation to improve living conditions in his native Democratic Republic of Congo in 1997.

Personal Commentary
This is 8-bit Mutombo in a “rainbow” Nuggets uniform (a style that lasted 11 years, from 1982-1993). Those uniforms remind me of the Atari 2600 version of Vanguard, a blocky, rainbow shooter that was originally released in 1982, the very same year as Denver’s rainbow jerseys—coincidence? Mutombo is character #5 in my ugly uniform series. The NBA’s 2012-13 regular season began on Tuesday, October 30, 2012.

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October 26, 2012

Stan Smyl – No. 528

Stan Smyl

Stan Smyl is a Canadian former National Hockey League (NHL) player. He played 13 seasons as a winger for the Vancouver Canucks, from 1978 to 1991. Nicknamed “Steamer” for his relentless and hard-nosed style of play, he served as team captain for a record eight seasons. He led Vancouver to the 1982 Stanley Cup Finals and retired as the Canucks’ all-time leader in games played, goals, assists and points. Smyl’s number 12 was the first retired number in Canucks’ history.

Note: I chose to draw 8-bit Smyl because he was the best player to wear a Vancouver Canucks uniform during their famously ugly “flying V” uniform era (1978-1984). Terrible uniforms and clown costumes must be remembered!

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September 28, 2012

Warren Sapp – No. 516

Warren Sapp

Warren Sapp is a retired National Football League (NFL) player who played defensive tackle for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders for 13 seasons (1995-2007). Sapp played his first nine seasons with the Bucs, where he earned seven trips to the Pro Bowl and a Super Bowl ring in 2002.  He has the second-highest career sacks for a defensive tackle. Sapp was a controversial player because of his hard-hitting style and fine-garnering verbal outbursts.

Note: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers wore the infamous orange “Creamsicle” uniforms from the team’s inception in 1976 until 1997.

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July 19, 2012

Tony Gwynn – No. 465

Tony Gwynn

Tony Gwynn is a retired American Major League Baseball player who played 20 seasons (1982-2001) for the San Diego Padres. He won eight batting titles, seven Silver Slugger Awards and is considered one of the best hitters in baseball history. He was also a 15-time All-Star and won five Gold Glove Awards. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

Note: The early 1980s San Diego Padres uniforms were some of the ugliest of all time. Behold the brown, yellow and orange combo in 8-bit glory.

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July 18, 2012

Nolan Ryan – No. 464

Nolan Ryan

Nolan Ryan is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently principal owner, president and CEO of the Texas Rangers. During a major league record 27-year baseball career (1966-1993), he pitched for four different teams: the New York Mets, California Angels, Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999.

Note: The 1980s Houston Astros wore “tequila sunrise” uniforms (AKA “rainbow guts” uniforms), which are famously ugly. Naturally, I chose this uniform style for 8-bit Nolan Ryan.

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