Rule 1.11

Rule 1.11

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.

DISCUSSION

Rule 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.

Player wears wrong jersey

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10490319&c_id=mlb

Rule 1.11(a)(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.

Player wears undershirt that is two toned [Rule 1.11(a)(2)] and different than teammates [Rule 1.11(a)(3)]

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=21325515&c_id=mlb

BRD 534: While there is no rule in the OBR stating that the pitcher may not wear white or gray undershirt, the umpire may deem it distracting to the batter.

PBUC Interp: pitcher may wear a white undershirt if all other teammates are wearing same color undershirt.

Penalty:

Rule 1.11(a)(3): No player whose uniform does not conform to that of his teammates shall be permitted to participate in a game.

PBUC: “Excessive or distracting flaps on shoes, particularly those on pitchers, will not be allowed.

Rule 1.11(c)(1): Sleeve lengths may vary for individual players, but the sleeves of each individual player shall be approximately the same length. 

Pitcher wears second sleeve and is ordered to change

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=5144323

Rule 1.11(c)(2): No player shall wear ragged, frayed or slit sleeves

Cleveland Indians pitcher Johnny Allen was fined in 1938 for refusing the umpire's order to cut off part of his sweat-shirt sleeve. Allen, who was famous for cutting the ends of his sleeves to let more air in, was repeatedly warned about the flying threads whenever he pitched. On 06/07/1938, Umpire Bill McGowan ordered Allen to cut off part of his sweat-shirt sleeve which was dangling when he pitched. Allen, known for his volatile temper, did not oblige. The stubborn pitcher stormed off the mound and refused to pitch was fined $250 by Cleveland manager Oscar Vitt for his actions. The ragged shirt Allen wore is now part of the MLB Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Rule 1.11(d): No player shall attach to his uniform tape or other material of a different color from his uniform.

BRD 201: White wristbands and white tape are prohibited for all players including batters

Rule 1.11(g): Shoes with pointed spikes similar to golf or track shoes shall not be worn.
In 1976, Texas Rangers manager Frank Luchessi caught Dan Ford of Minnesota and Matt Alexander of Oakland wearing golf spikes while playing. The players were ordered to change their shoes.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19760415&id=0PQhAAAAIBAJ&sjid=gaEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=5680,3947377

Rule 1.11(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.

Uniform Spelling Mistake

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100407&content_id=9128108&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

J/R: “a pitcher’s person cannot include any unessential or distracting thing (including jewelry, adhesive tape, or a batting glove), especially on his arm, wrist, hand, or fingers.

Bandage on pitcher's face is deemed distracting by umpire and ordered removed

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19853891&topic_id=9780550&c_id=mlb

Distracting bandage on non-pitching arm is ordered removed

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=4817475

Distracting diamond earrings are ordered removed
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/1510205.stm

Other uniform requirements are subject to the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the 30 Major League Clubs and the Major League Baseball Players Association.
http://mlb.mlb.com/pa/pdf/cba_english.pdf


For instance, San Francisco Giants reliever Brian Wilson was fined for his all orange shoe color, so takes a sharpie and colors his shoes 51% of Giants' primary shoe color (black) to comply with the CBA.

http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10383961