The Man in Black

One morning during the summer of 1991 — eight years before Uni Watch existed — I was taking the subway to work and reading the Newsday sports section. The Twins were coming to town for their first visit of the year, and there was a big article on this kid on their pitching staff named Scott Erickson, who was having a breakout season. The article mentioned that Erickson loved the color black so much that he wore a black glove on the mound (fairly uncommon back then) and solid black socks. As a longtime stirrups fan, I’d spent the past several years silently bemoaning the onset of ribbon stirrups, the advent of two-in-ones, and the general lowering of pant legs. But this was the first time I’d heard of a player wearing solid socks, not even going through the stirrup motions. I made a point to watch Erickson’s start against the Yankees that evening and was horrified by what I saw: ankle-length pants with black socks. I couldn’t understand why he was...