2015 NWLA Tournament Uniform Rankings
7/19/2015
by Trent Steffes
Every year (or twice a year with regionals) I rank uniforms. Pretty much the same as past years. Matching hats and shorts goes a long way. Having alternates is a huge plus. These are 100% my opinion. Blah, blah. To the rankings.
by Trent Steffes
Every year (or twice a year with regionals) I rank uniforms. Pretty much the same as past years. Matching hats and shorts goes a long way. Having alternates is a huge plus. These are 100% my opinion. Blah, blah. To the rankings.
#16 BWACS Lot Lizards
Regionals Rank: 18/20
Pros: At least it isn’t a white shirt. They easily could’ve gone way plainer.
Cons: I don’t even recall seeing them. We played them while they wore street clothes (which I know did not bode well for Gallaway’s standards or the umps jobs) so I honestly never had a chance to look at them. Also, there obviously isn’t even a decent picture of them. Add that to the lack of matching shorts and no hat coordination.
Pros: At least it isn’t a white shirt. They easily could’ve gone way plainer.
Cons: I don’t even recall seeing them. We played them while they wore street clothes (which I know did not bode well for Gallaway’s standards or the umps jobs) so I honestly never had a chance to look at them. Also, there obviously isn’t even a decent picture of them. Add that to the lack of matching shorts and no hat coordination.
#15 SRL Hotel Sterling
Regionals Rank: 16
Pros: The big logo is a plus here. For a wiffleball shirt, you usually don’t want a lot of white-space (in this case, grey-space). As noted in the Regional rankings, there was a small addition of a black outline on the numbers. More black on these shirts would bode well.
Cons: Grey, and pretty plain. Not even close to matching hats, and Beau’s clashing red shorts in the pic do not warrant a higher ranking.
Pros: The big logo is a plus here. For a wiffleball shirt, you usually don’t want a lot of white-space (in this case, grey-space). As noted in the Regional rankings, there was a small addition of a black outline on the numbers. More black on these shirts would bode well.
Cons: Grey, and pretty plain. Not even close to matching hats, and Beau’s clashing red shorts in the pic do not warrant a higher ranking.
#14 WWL Warriors
Regionals Rank: 8
Pros: Good fabric, players had matching hats and an attempt from Regis at matching socks (even though I don’t think he heard me compliment them).
Cons: The colors don’t match which irks me to no end. Even a little bit of green on the shirts would move the Warriors’ ranking upward.
Pros: Good fabric, players had matching hats and an attempt from Regis at matching socks (even though I don’t think he heard me compliment them).
Cons: The colors don’t match which irks me to no end. Even a little bit of green on the shirts would move the Warriors’ ranking upward.
#13 BWBLPA Super Heroes in Training
Regionals Rank: 11
Pros: I love purple and I love gold. Not a great logo but the font for the names and numbers on the back was very unique.
Cons: Hannon must’ve been the only one who read my Regionals rankings because they seemed to be more mismatched this time around. Hannon had a sick purple and black hat which would look very slick with the jerseys. And if everyone throws on black shorts, this set would be better off.
Pros: I love purple and I love gold. Not a great logo but the font for the names and numbers on the back was very unique.
Cons: Hannon must’ve been the only one who read my Regionals rankings because they seemed to be more mismatched this time around. Hannon had a sick purple and black hat which would look very slick with the jerseys. And if everyone throws on black shorts, this set would be better off.
#12 KWL Keggers
Regionals Rank: 14
Pros: I love purple and I love gold. Not a great logo but the font for the names and numbers on the back was very unique.
Cons: Hannon must’ve been the only one who read my Regionals rankings because they seemed to be more mismatched this time around. Hannon had a sick purple and black hat which would look very slick with the jerseys. And if everyone throws on black shorts, this set would be better off.
Pros: I love purple and I love gold. Not a great logo but the font for the names and numbers on the back was very unique.
Cons: Hannon must’ve been the only one who read my Regionals rankings because they seemed to be more mismatched this time around. Hannon had a sick purple and black hat which would look very slick with the jerseys. And if everyone throws on black shorts, this set would be better off.
#11 SWBL Cardinals
Regionals Rank: 7
Pros: Easily one of the most unique shirts out there. The bird logo on the front is a retro look, and the fading numbers and shirts looks really cool
Cons: To me, these are just getting a little outdated. It’s either the third or fourth year they’ve worn them, and while they’re good, something different would be awesome. Coordination of hats, once again, holds it back.
Pros: Easily one of the most unique shirts out there. The bird logo on the front is a retro look, and the fading numbers and shirts looks really cool
Cons: To me, these are just getting a little outdated. It’s either the third or fourth year they’ve worn them, and while they’re good, something different would be awesome. Coordination of hats, once again, holds it back.
#10 MWLWI Mequonderers
Regionals Rank: 9
Pros: Mike Boyles did a good jobs of keeping the uniform relatively organized. The shirts are a classic, with the red shoulder stripes really making the numbers and logo pop, which is what accents are supposed to do. If a guy had a hat is what red, white, and blue, and the shorts were black.
Cons: Hats matching would rocket these up the list. Matching red socks would look pretty cool, as well.
Pros: Mike Boyles did a good jobs of keeping the uniform relatively organized. The shirts are a classic, with the red shoulder stripes really making the numbers and logo pop, which is what accents are supposed to do. If a guy had a hat is what red, white, and blue, and the shorts were black.
Cons: Hats matching would rocket these up the list. Matching red socks would look pretty cool, as well.
#9 HVWBL River Monsters
Regionals Rank: 17
Pros: This time around, HVWBL’s simple shirts grew on me. I thought their grey shirts looks really clean, and the league name logo on the sleeve was a super nice touch. Then they pulled a 2014 CWBC and reverted to their last year’s shirts and it totally worked.
Cons: The guys were about as mismatched as a team got, when it comes to hats and shorts. Morse matched shorts and socks really well, but it really didn’t get with the rest of the set.
Pros: This time around, HVWBL’s simple shirts grew on me. I thought their grey shirts looks really clean, and the league name logo on the sleeve was a super nice touch. Then they pulled a 2014 CWBC and reverted to their last year’s shirts and it totally worked.
Cons: The guys were about as mismatched as a team got, when it comes to hats and shorts. Morse matched shorts and socks really well, but it really didn’t get with the rest of the set.
#8 GBL Celebration Station
Regionals Rank: 13
Pros: It’s a GBL set without only a paw on the front! This time around, they added a “GB:” script above which looked good. GBL also added a black shirt with white sleeves and their new name on the front. Very, very tight set. Major ups to the matching grey shorts and yellow socks.
Cons: Everyone should rock a ChiSox hat like J-Rat does. A black hat with white letters would make the white striped on the black shirt look really good.
Pros: It’s a GBL set without only a paw on the front! This time around, they added a “GB:” script above which looked good. GBL also added a black shirt with white sleeves and their new name on the front. Very, very tight set. Major ups to the matching grey shorts and yellow socks.
Cons: Everyone should rock a ChiSox hat like J-Rat does. A black hat with white letters would make the white striped on the black shirt look really good.
#7 PWL Nationals
Regionals Rank: 4
Pros: It’s a GBL set without only a paw on the front! This time around, they added a “GBL” script above which looked good. GBL also added a black shirt with white sleeves and their new name on the front. Very, very tight set. Major ups to the matching grey shorts and yellow socks.
Cons: Everyone should rock a ChiSox hat like J-Rat does. A black hat with white letters would make the white striped on the black shirt look really good.
Pros: It’s a GBL set without only a paw on the front! This time around, they added a “GBL” script above which looked good. GBL also added a black shirt with white sleeves and their new name on the front. Very, very tight set. Major ups to the matching grey shorts and yellow socks.
Cons: Everyone should rock a ChiSox hat like J-Rat does. A black hat with white letters would make the white striped on the black shirt look really good.
#6 HRL Lady Slippers
Regionals Rank: 20
Pros: Thank god the “HRL SHIRT” didn’t make its way to Ohio, although Vlade’s HRL Hat did. This was by far my favorite shirt at the tournament. Black and pink almost always work, and the subtle digi-camo was perfect. My one knock on the jerseys were the numbers looked a little weird, but other than that, the shirts were bae.
Cons: Unfortunately for the gang, when we get to the Top 5 of the NWLA Tournament Uniform Rankings, every little detail matters. No one (except Vlade and later Seuss) had a decent hat to go with the set. I even did the leg work and found Smallpox a perfect black and pink Twins hat but he shot me down and broke my heart so this is my revenge piece.
Pros: Thank god the “HRL SHIRT” didn’t make its way to Ohio, although Vlade’s HRL Hat did. This was by far my favorite shirt at the tournament. Black and pink almost always work, and the subtle digi-camo was perfect. My one knock on the jerseys were the numbers looked a little weird, but other than that, the shirts were bae.
Cons: Unfortunately for the gang, when we get to the Top 5 of the NWLA Tournament Uniform Rankings, every little detail matters. No one (except Vlade and later Seuss) had a decent hat to go with the set. I even did the leg work and found Smallpox a perfect black and pink Twins hat but he shot me down and broke my heart so this is my revenge piece.
#5 HFWB Hitmen
Regionals Rank: 10
Pros: The changes from the regional shirts were very subtle but they looked SO GOOD. The logo looks great on the front, and the simplicity on the back is noted. The thing that puts them above HRL is the awesome shorts with the logo and numbers on them, and the idea that they all had pink socks. If I could choose one other team’s shirt to have, this is my choice.
Cons: Hats keep the Hitman form the Top 3. But Aussy’s Bret Hart sunglasses were almost enough to move them higher.
Pros: The changes from the regional shirts were very subtle but they looked SO GOOD. The logo looks great on the front, and the simplicity on the back is noted. The thing that puts them above HRL is the awesome shorts with the logo and numbers on them, and the idea that they all had pink socks. If I could choose one other team’s shirt to have, this is my choice.
Cons: Hats keep the Hitman form the Top 3. But Aussy’s Bret Hart sunglasses were almost enough to move them higher.
#4 WSEM Dads
Regionals Rank: 6
Pros: They had a change from last year! Change is almost always good. I was honestly surprised because months ago, Nick Coffee gave me a rumor that they were going digi-camo but found out HRL was too and told me that it’d be dumb to go digi-camo too, but I thought it worked out. The hats were on point (except for one guy’s darker shade) and the socks were on fleek like last year. And I honestly, truly loved Chandler and Kyle's "moon boots."
Cons: The only con is the prospect of what could have been. If not for Evan Bischoff forgetting his green shirt, they would have rocked one of the sets as alts which would have guaranteed Top 3. But for now, they’re just outside because I personally don’t think digi-camo is a primary. Please don’t destroy me on Twitter.
Pros: They had a change from last year! Change is almost always good. I was honestly surprised because months ago, Nick Coffee gave me a rumor that they were going digi-camo but found out HRL was too and told me that it’d be dumb to go digi-camo too, but I thought it worked out. The hats were on point (except for one guy’s darker shade) and the socks were on fleek like last year. And I honestly, truly loved Chandler and Kyle's "moon boots."
Cons: The only con is the prospect of what could have been. If not for Evan Bischoff forgetting his green shirt, they would have rocked one of the sets as alts which would have guaranteed Top 3. But for now, they’re just outside because I personally don’t think digi-camo is a primary. Please don’t destroy me on Twitter.
#3 MNWA Gophers
Regionals Rank: 2
Pros: The new white hats with the old white shirts looked really good. Then we had the maroon aways from regionals and the matching socks with player numbers. I think it was a really good looking wardrobe and one can’t argue that. And if you can, I don’t care because they’re my creations and I like me some me.
Cons: The number socks were ratchet so we ditched them for Sunday, to my dismay. Other than that, we looked sexy. Gold alts will make their way in next year.
Pros: The new white hats with the old white shirts looked really good. Then we had the maroon aways from regionals and the matching socks with player numbers. I think it was a really good looking wardrobe and one can’t argue that. And if you can, I don’t care because they’re my creations and I like me some me.
Cons: The number socks were ratchet so we ditched them for Sunday, to my dismay. Other than that, we looked sexy. Gold alts will make their way in next year.
#2 TBW Lightning
Regionals Rank: 3
Pros: Once again, matching goes a long way. Add that to the new hats they rocked and you get #2. Plus they were digi-camo (did you notice that this year at all?) which matched their shorts accents, so it looks really food. Also, Uncle Mike Harley owes me his shirt, so I’m buttering him up. Mike was easily the best looking guy at the tournament. And his threads were awesome, too.
Cons: You don’t get a lot of cons when you’re sitting at number 2 overall. Well done, Daddy Linderman.
Pros: Once again, matching goes a long way. Add that to the new hats they rocked and you get #2. Plus they were digi-camo (did you notice that this year at all?) which matched their shorts accents, so it looks really food. Also, Uncle Mike Harley owes me his shirt, so I’m buttering him up. Mike was easily the best looking guy at the tournament. And his threads were awesome, too.
Cons: You don’t get a lot of cons when you’re sitting at number 2 overall. Well done, Daddy Linderman.
#1 OCWA Freaky Franchise
Regionals Rank: 1
Pros: This is the third uniform ranking I’ve done and it’s the third time I have ranked Freaky Franchise #1. And that’s because there is no legitimate claim against their #1 throne. They are all always matching. The hats are amazing, the shorts and great, and the new orange shirt they added with the gold accent was heavenly.
Cons: They lose when they wear the whites #BurnTheWhites
Pros: This is the third uniform ranking I’ve done and it’s the third time I have ranked Freaky Franchise #1. And that’s because there is no legitimate claim against their #1 throne. They are all always matching. The hats are amazing, the shorts and great, and the new orange shirt they added with the gold accent was heavenly.
Cons: They lose when they wear the whites #BurnTheWhites