Dave Stieb Bobblehead Day Review
I’m someone who truly believes in order to know where you’re going, you have to know where you’ve been.
Even though Richard Griffin reported there was descention from players in the clubhouse last year regarding Flashback Fridays, personally I think it’s important to acknowledge and respect the accomplishments from the past.
For the Toronto Blue Jays and fans alike, yesterday was a time to honour the accomplishments of perhaps the best starting pitcher this franchise has ever seen. None other than number 37, Dave Stieb.
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On paper it was billed as Dave Stieb Bobblehead day, but it was surprisingly much more than that. Basically, it was a full-out tribute to the 20th Anniversary of Stieb’s no-hitter on September 2nd 1990, and I was surprised it wasn’t advertised as such.
Either way, it was great to see a mini-reunion of sorts with Jesse Barfield, Duane Ward, Tony Fernandez and Pat Hentgen all in attendance to pay tribute to Dave Stieb.
For those who couldn’t make it down to the Rogers Centre, I urge you to check out the entire on-field tribute as well as the video package the Blue Jays made to honour Dave Stieb. Honestly, it’s tough to watch this and not tear up just a little bit.
In my mind, the best part of the entire ceremony was when Shaun Marcum, Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow and Brett Cecil presented Dave Stieb with the portrait made by Vernon Wells Sr.
It signified a passing of the torch from one era of starting pitchers to another. And aside from one man named Harry Leroy Halladay, I truly believe the next Dave Stieb is in that core four of starting pitchers … but I’m not sure which one it is just yet.
Aside from the game itself, here’s the only complaint I have: the inaccuracy of the Dave Stieb bobblehead. If you look carefully, he’s wearing a home white-paneled cap and a road grey jersey.
Didheley on Twitter also pointed out that Dave Stieb is wearing a road grey jersey that says “Blue Jays” when in fact the Blue Jays have never had a road jersey that said anything other than “Toronto” on the front. It’s minor nitpicking, but as a self-appointed bobblehead aficionado, you tend to pick up on these things.
Overall, it was a great day to pay tribute to Dave Stieb and it’s hard to believe it’s already been 20 years since his no-hitter happened. Let’s hope it doesn’t take another 20 years for the next Blue Jays no-hitter to come along.
I posted a little something about the inaccuracy of the bobblehead and the pretty lame attempt by the Jays to make it appear accurate via box photoshopping here: http://sportslogos.net/davestieb2010.php
Chris, and the plot thickens! I didn't even notice they used that jersey on the box as well. Originally I suspected maybe they had planned to use a different pitcher in the first place, but then put Stieb's head on top.
But like you said, the Blue Jays never wore a road grey jersey that said "Blue Jays" on it, so I have no idea why that happened.
It's even funnier that the photo they presented him (shown in your blog above) is the same photo as the one on the box — EXCEPT he's wearing his pre-photoshopped white jersey
Man, that's freaky. I suspect somebody messed up somewhere along the way and tried to cover up their tracks by doing that photoshop job.
I mean really, it's not a HUGE deal, but if they are going to go to the lengths to be completely authentic, then they should double check that kind of stuff beforehand.
The current rotation must lead the majors in almost no hitters though. I don't know how many were no no's going into the 7th this year but it seemed like there were a lot…
I always wonder how mistakes like that happen. Was the guy who painted it working from memory? Has he never seen a Jays game? I don't see much of the Jays, but my first guess would still be to put Toronto on an away jersey…like every other team in history. Even if you knew nothing about baseball, wouldn't you think you'd find a nice picture of Stieb somewhere, and copy that?
Mattt, I'm not sure of the exact count but I think it's somewhere around 6-8 so far.
Section 36, I think most people probably wouldn't even notice it though. I'm not sure how something like that happens – maybe somebody picked up the wrong photo, and by the time the bobbleheads went into production, it was too late. Who knows?
It was a great ceremony. A rarity for me, but for once I wish I was actually sitting closer than the 500's to get a closer glimpse of Tony Fernandez. Anybody else think that Pat Hentgen looked younger than many MLB players today? Get that man a uniform.
Jeremy, I was thinking the exact same thing. For a man of 41 years old, It doesn't look like he's aged one bit since 1993.
Maybe he'd be a great pitching coach in the near future?
"I'm someone who truly believes in order to know where you're going, you have to know where you've been."
I agree and in this regard the screw-up of the uniform and cap on the Dave Stieb bobblehead is pretty sad as it shows a lack of knowledge among the Jays marketing team of team history. I mean c'mon, how hard is it to get the uniform right?
I"m Dave's SIU roommate. Anyone know where I can find/buy his bobblehead?
Anon, not sure where you're located (US, Canada or otherwise), but usually they pop up on eBay or Craigslist once in a while.
Here's one for sale here. http://woodstock.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-art-collectibles-Dave-Stieb-Bobblehead-NO-HITTER-20th-ANNIVERSARY-W0QQAdIdZ302752500
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