The St. Paul Saints have been known to turn a head of two for their promotions and gimmicks over the years (bathroom stall toe-tapping bobblefoot, anyone?). But the latest announcement from the independent league ballclub is more eye-catching than eyebrow-raising.
In conjunction with the team's 25th anniversary this season and in a nod to its hometown history the Saints have unveiled special "Pig's Eye" uniforms and hats. Oh, those hats. You have to get a look at those hats.
From the team:
The top of the uniform combines the colors from two different decades of Saints baseball. The body of the jersey is in the "Saints Blue," which the team wore from 2003-14 at Midway Stadium. The jersey sleeves are highlighted by a black and white stripe combination reminiscent of the team's uniforms from 1993-2002. Across the chest of the uniform will appear "PIGS EYE" representing the historical connection between St. Paul and one of the first settlers to live within the borders of what would eventually become Minnesota's capitol city, Pierre "Pig's Eye" Parrant.
Before being renamed St. Paul, the area was known as Pig's Eye Landing for the tavern opened by Parrant in the early 1800s. The Pig's Eye lettering across the chest appears in a font inspired by the Lowertown arts community that is home to CHS Field and features a dot in the "P" representing the pig's eye. The uniform numbers will be silver in celebration of the 25th season and will appear just below the "EYE" on the front left side of the jersey and on the back just below the nameplate.
The cap will be Saints Blue with a silver brim and button. It will feature the Pig's Eye logo, in which the body of the pig is formed by the letters "STP" and the eye is dotted in the "P."
No word yet on how many games the uniforms will be used. The Saints open the 2017 season May 18 against Gary SouthShore.