Random Jersey Watch Aug 4 edition

On vacation at the beach. Normally that means no live baseball. But this year we arrived early enough in the season to see the final home game of the Coastal Plain League's Outer Banks Daredevils. This is a college summer league. Since college players can't be paid to play their sport due to NCAA rules, players who opt to go to college rather than right into minor league ball can play in one of several summer leagues. They get playing time, add to their stats, and hopefully catch the eye of a pro scout.

Nationals 3rd baseman Ryan Zimmerman played for the Coastal Plain League in my hometown of Newport News no less!

Since people vacation on the Outer Banks from all over the east coast, I was hoping to spy some cool random jerseys. No. I guess no one packed a jersey. They likely saw the signs that said "Ball Game tonight" and loaded up the kids and paid a big 5 bucks for general admission seating.

Talk about 0 frills. They play at what is during the year a high school field. But from the first base side you could see on a dune in the distance the Wright Brothers Monument. If the bleachers weren't working for you, you can sit on a grassy dune on the first base side and get a pretty good view of the field.

The players clubhouse, such as it was, was right next to the field, so in the break between games (it was a doubleheader), players and fans mingled behind the bleachers. It made me think what minor league ball must have been like 20-30 years ago. Just a bunch of kids with no money trying to catch a break in the sport they love to play.

So, as I said, no interesting jerseys to report on. I had my red Nationals BP on. I spotted one other fan in a proper jersey, a guy in a Cal Ripkin jersey. Saw several t-shirts for various teams, but that doesn't count.

So I will write instead about the team's jerseys. The Daredevils sported a white sleeveless jersey and pants with a red Under Armor style shirt under it, which I think did duty as their batting practice jersey. Red numbers on the back, naturally no player names. They sported "Daredevils" in cursive across the chest. Their hats sported to logo featured in this post.

The away team has one of the best minor league team name. The Edenton Steamers. As in a steamed clam. Love it. Their logo is posted to the right. They wore away black with a teal and purple looking lettering across the front "Edenton". In general their kit looked a little more worst for the wear than did the home team boys. That makes since. The Daredevils likely get more in the way of corporate sponsorship and ticket sales.

I spotted on the back of the Edenton players Under Armor/BP jersey shirts "Edenton Urology Associates" emblazoned across the back. Hey, you take money from wherever it comes!

I naturally wanted to score a jersey, but none were for sale. I did get a nice looking hat like the one the players wear on the field.

The free program that was handed out was a nice touch. Would have been nicer had it listed a current roster with player names and numbers. It had a roster. From July 2. Maybe that's why it was free.

It had a nice feature on host families. People who open their homes to players for the season. These guys can't even take money for living expenses. So people with an extra bed take these guys in. In the case highlighted in the program, the player shared a room with their son.

Don't get me started on the sometimes insane NCAA rules. We all know that especially with NCAA football and basketball they are in effect playing in the minor league of their sport. Just pay the kids something and be open about it.