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Dunlap: Some Fun With The New Pirates Throwbacks

On Thursday, the Pirates unveiled their new Sunday alternate uniforms for the 2016 season. And, as the kids say, they are dope.

The Bucs will go with a 1979 look, complete with the black pillbox cap, v-neck pullover jersey in gold and beltless black pants with gold and black piping. So many of us remember these from our youth, and I can't think of one reason to dislike them.

Anyhow, here are some quick thoughts about what is surely going to be a ton of fun based around those tremendous uniforms:

+ Clint Hurdle has the potential to look out-freaking-standing in this throwback. I think it would be great if he ditches the pullover that he wears for just about all games and is in the dugout with just his jersey top.

+ Someone needs to put one of these jerseys on the Stargell Statue each Sunday game the Pirates plan on wearing these uniforms. I think that would be a very fitting tribute.

+ Manny better be serving BBQ in the outfield on Sundays in full uniform. This really would make my day.

+ Anyone going to wear Spot-bilt baseball shoes with these uniforms?

+ Jordy Mercer will play the role of Tim Foli.

+ Omar Moreno might be the third fastest Pirates player … on this team.

+ Akin to what Willie Stargell did with the stars on the caps, it would be positively magical if Andrew McCutchen ---- the undeniable face of this team ---- implemented some sort of reward system where he handed out little stars for good deeds to be sewn onto the caps. Naturally, though, some wonk in the MLB office will claim this is against the uniform code and never allow it because (even as these guys are playing a game) there is a limited amount of fun permitted.

+ The Home Opener is a Sunday this season. Are they wearing them that day? I think it would be mighty to do that in front of a national audience.

+ What took so long for the Pirates to start wearing these, anyway?

+ If you think Starling Marte looks jacked in his regular uniform, he's going to look like a downright stud in these.

+ I don't know about you, but every time the Pirates wear these uniforms this season, I'll take a moment to think about Chuck Tanner and what a kind and welcoming man he was to seemingly every person he met. I don't know if I've met many people who were more approachable, considering all he accomplished.

+ This will continue an uptick in Pirates merchandise sales both here and nationwide. It feels like right now the Pirates brand is as strong as ever. I don't have the particular quantification, but traveling through an airport or distant city, an easy check is that I've seen more Pirates stuff in the last few seasons than every before. The introduction of these uniforms will obviously only work to bolster that.

+ Some old timers will swear they see Dave Parker's swing when Gregory Polanco steps up with that uniform on and swings with all his force in those duds.

+ It will be really neat to sit at PNC Park, look around and now potentially see three generations of Pirates fans who watched this club wear the exact same jersey and pillbox cap. That is to say men who took their sons/daughters to see that 1979 team could now easily be grandfathers, taking both their sons/daughters and now grandchildren to games this season ---- and all wearing that cap. Three generations, one common cap. Something to sit and talk about, old stories to be had and new memories to make at the ballpark.
Stuff like that always gets me.

+ It's a shame Jose Tabata isn't still around. He honestly wouldn't have a clue what the hell is going on.

Colin Dunlap is a featured columnist at CBSPittsburgh.com. He can also be heard weekdays from 5:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sports Radio 93-7 "The Fan." You can e-mail him at colin.dunlap@cbsradio.com. Check out his bio here.

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