Take a Position on the 1939 Centennial Baseball's Emblem

[da-bullman]

Beyond the obvious the 1939 Baseball Centennial Emblem was changed to satisfy Major League Baseball the question is why ?

Here what we know: Not much can be found as to when the process of selecting a suitable emblem began . The National Baseball Centennial Commission did unveil a per posed design in October 1938.
Ford Frick hired Steve Hannagan and Al Stoughton in the summer of 1938 to create a marketing campaign for a National Commission, during that time Hannagan held a contest for a design won by Marjori Bennett , so he claimed, and presented it to the officially formed Centennial Commission in Chicago in October 1938. The design was to remain embargoed until it's unveiling at the national meeting in New Orleans on the 5th of December 1938. Something happened after the unveiling of the emblem and the suggestion to create a patch to be worn by all Major and Minor league Teams Uniforms
Major League Baseball never publically specified , to my knowledge , the reasons for the change in the design or who created the new design featuring Caricature of a Batter. The Caricature Patch would be worn universally by all Professional Baseball Teams in the 1939 Season.
We also know of two exceptions the Philadelphia Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles who wore the Bennett design patch for the 1939 season. Their uniforms were manufactured by the Spalding Sporting Goods Company. Why the uniforms were not retrofitted to conform to the rest of Professional Baseball remains a mystery. So What do Think?
Check out my web site www.1939baseball.com for more information Thanks For Looking Steve

Patch worn by Athletics and Orioles embroidered on Twill


Patch worn by Professional Baseball embroidered on Felt

[Webster]

I prefer the brighter colors and player image on the revised patch. I like the batter in profile. Also, the larger font size "1839/1939" stands out much better.

Great piece of history - even better website!

[JustinD]

I feel like the twill patch looks a little too much like a skinny Mister Magoo.

I'll go with the revised too.

[Rookiemonster]

I like the straight away one mainly because it looks like Ted Williams 1951 Bowman

[Stonepony]

I prefer the original

[da-bullman]

Something happened after the unveiling of the emblem and the suggestion to create a patch to be worn by all Major and Minor league Teams Uniforms
Major League Baseball never publically specified , to my knowledge , the reasons for the change in the design or who created the new design featuring Caricature of a Batter for the Patch that was universally used by Professional Baseball
We also know of two exceptions the Philadelphia Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles who wore the Bennett design patch for the 1939 season. Their uniforms were manufactured by the Spalding Sporting Goods Company. Why the uniforms were not retrofitted to conform to the rest of Professional Baseball remains a mystery.

My Point is Major League baseball made a decision to change the emblem for their purpose. My question is why ? What was wrong with the original design ?

The Major Leagues must have had differences with the National Centennial Commission regarding the appropriate use of their uniform and decorations applied to them. Would like to see that information!!

[obcbobd]

The player on the patch on the left looks like it was drawn by a five year old. Why only one ear?

[frankbmd]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

........ Why only one ear?

I'm not sure the one on the other side is an ear either.

[Leon]

Originally Posted by obcbobd

... Why only one ear?

Evolution.

.