About 2 weeks ago, I spotted one cheapo "AL WILD CARD" shirt with Red Sox logo for sale in a local convenience store. (About when Boston moved within 3 games of 1st & WC). No way I'd consider one until my team won a playoff series. I really hope it went unsold.
Obviously who is the team is the Question. Yankees - no way - hold out for the $2.99 bargain version. Braves?? maybe. but they have been through a lot of post seasons. if your a Pirates fan - hell yes!!.
In 1996 I didn't buy any shirts because I was holding out for the 1996 World Champion Braves shirts. I held out for a Champion shirt in 1997, '98, '99, '00 and '01. By 2002 I would have settled for a World Series shirt. I still didn't buy a shirt in 2005 and from 2006-2009 I had no shirts to buy because they don't make 3rd place shirts.
Will I buy a Wild Card Shirt? You bet your sweet bippy I will.
Yankees fans should be embarrassed that they had to settle for a wild card, with their $213 million payroll, while a team with 1/3 their payroll and probably 10% of their revenues won the division.
Here's what a fan of any playoff team should do. Wait til your team either wins the World Series or gets eliminated, and then buy the t-shirt that celebrates their top accomplishment.
In '08, I resisted the temptation to buy a AL East Division Champions shirt, and then resisted buying an AL Champions shirt until after the World Series. When the Rays lost, I then happily bought my AL Champions shirt, and a hat too.
I own a 2006 West Division title Athletics T-shirt that I bought at one of the ALCS games in Oakland. I guess since I don't already own other Wild Card shirts, I probably wouldn't buy one unless I found one at a TJ Maxx months later for five bucks or so.
I do have a 2008 WSU Sweet Sixteen t-shirt, though. Does that sort of count as the college basketball equivalent of a Wild Card shirt?
I didn't even buy a Central Division winner shirt. No, I wouldn't buy a Wild Card shirt either.
ReplyDeleteIf it was my team's first trip to the post-season I would say yes. Otherwise I don't think it's a great thing to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteHow long since their last playoff appearance?
ReplyDeleteIf the Mets win the wild card next year, I'm sure I'd buy it.
If I were a Yankees fan, I think I'd wait for the World Series tee.
I wouldn't buy a t-shirt unless my team won the World Series. My collection stands at zero.
ReplyDeleteAbout 2 weeks ago, I spotted one cheapo "AL WILD CARD" shirt with Red Sox logo for sale in a local convenience store. (About when Boston moved within 3 games of 1st & WC). No way I'd consider one until my team won a playoff series. I really hope it went unsold.
ReplyDeleteI'm too cheap to buy those shirts. I do have a "NL Champs" shirt from 2002 for the Giants that someone bought me.
ReplyDeleteObviously who is the team is the Question. Yankees - no way - hold out for the $2.99 bargain version. Braves?? maybe. but they have been through a lot of post seasons. if your a Pirates fan - hell yes!!.
ReplyDeleteIn 1996 I didn't buy any shirts because I was holding out for the 1996 World Champion Braves shirts. I held out for a Champion shirt in 1997, '98, '99, '00 and '01. By 2002 I would have settled for a World Series shirt. I still didn't buy a shirt in 2005 and from 2006-2009 I had no shirts to buy because they don't make 3rd place shirts.
ReplyDeleteWill I buy a Wild Card Shirt? You bet your sweet bippy I will.
As a Reds fan! It's been 15 years, so you're damn right I would. Thankfully, this year I get to buy one that says championship.
ReplyDeleteThat said, I didn't even buy a Central Championship shirt in 1995.
I'm a Cub fan, so any playoff appearance is wonderful. Even a Wild Card berth. So, yes.
ReplyDeleteYankees fans should be embarrassed that they had to settle for a wild card, with their $213 million payroll, while a team with 1/3 their payroll and probably 10% of their revenues won the division.
ReplyDeleteHere's what a fan of any playoff team should do. Wait til your team either wins the World Series or gets eliminated, and then buy the t-shirt that celebrates their top accomplishment.
In '08, I resisted the temptation to buy a AL East Division Champions shirt, and then resisted buying an AL Champions shirt until after the World Series. When the Rays lost, I then happily bought my AL Champions shirt, and a hat too.
Keep crying about payroll. At least then you have a built-in excuse if your team loses. Can't just let the game play out on the field.
ReplyDeleteAs a Yankees fan, I'm not hapy that they made it as the wild card. Therefore, I will not be buying the t-shirt.
ReplyDeleteI own a 2006 West Division title Athletics T-shirt that I bought at one of the ALCS games in Oakland. I guess since I don't already own other Wild Card shirts, I probably wouldn't buy one unless I found one at a TJ Maxx months later for five bucks or so.
ReplyDeleteI do have a 2008 WSU Sweet Sixteen t-shirt, though. Does that sort of count as the college basketball equivalent of a Wild Card shirt?
Rays down 4-0 to Texa$. Must be a payroll issue.
ReplyDelete