Turn Back the Clock (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Turn Back the Clock is the name associated with the promotion
by Major League Baseball
(MLB) franchises when they wear throwback uniforms. Often, the uniforms signify a special event in the team or regions history. The promotion was originated in 1990 by the Chicago White Sox
. Since then, multiple other teams have made it a yearly tradition.
set-up a "Turn Back the Clock" game against the Milwaukee Brewers
. The White Sox dressed in 1917 uniforms, while the Brewers wore their normal uniforms. The promotion was aimed at celebrating Comiskey Park
's final season. To set the early baseball atmosphere, ballpark ushers wore dated dress and some had megaphone
s to announce lineups
. Also, ticket prices for general admission were $.50 and all other tickets were half price. The 1917 season was selected because it was the last time (at the time of the promotion) that the White Sox won a World Series
. The promotion was considered successful.
were the first team to use the marketing strategy after the Chicago White Sox. In that game, against the Minnesota Twins
, the Orioles wore attire from the 1966 season and bleacher ticket prices were reduced to $.75. After that, the Chicago Cubs
mimicked the promotion in 1992 wearing throwback uniforms. Likewise, the Milwaukee Brewers
used the promotion in 1993 by wearing uniforms from the 1920s Milwaukee Brewers
. Multiple other teams built off the concept over the seasons (including the wearing of Negro League uniforms).
marketing team developed a concept off of the "Turn Back the Clock" promotion. In the "Turn Ahead the Clock
", the team's uniforms would be transformed into a "futuristic" style. The Mariners promotion was successful, and in 1999 it was sold by Major League Baseball to Century 21 Real Estate
, who made it into a league-wide marketing campaign. The league-wide promotion proved unsuccessful despite the success seen by the Mariners.
Promotion (marketing)
Promotion is one of the four elements of marketing mix . It is the communication link between sellers and buyers for the purpose of influencing, informing, or persuading a potential buyer's purchasing decision....
by Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB) franchises when they wear throwback uniforms. Often, the uniforms signify a special event in the team or regions history. The promotion was originated in 1990 by the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
. Since then, multiple other teams have made it a yearly tradition.
Origin
In 1990, the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
set-up a "Turn Back the Clock" game against the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. The White Sox dressed in 1917 uniforms, while the Brewers wore their normal uniforms. The promotion was aimed at celebrating Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
's final season. To set the early baseball atmosphere, ballpark ushers wore dated dress and some had megaphone
Megaphone
A megaphone, speaking-trumpet, bullhorn, blowhorn, or loud hailer is a portable, usually hand-held, cone-shaped horn used to amplify a person’s voice or other sounds towards a targeted direction. This is accomplished by channelling the sound through the megaphone, which also serves to match the...
s to announce lineups
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
. Also, ticket prices for general admission were $.50 and all other tickets were half price. The 1917 season was selected because it was the last time (at the time of the promotion) that the White Sox won a World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. The promotion was considered successful.
League-wide promotion
The Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
were the first team to use the marketing strategy after the Chicago White Sox. In that game, against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
, the Orioles wore attire from the 1966 season and bleacher ticket prices were reduced to $.75. After that, the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
mimicked the promotion in 1992 wearing throwback uniforms. Likewise, the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
used the promotion in 1993 by wearing uniforms from the 1920s Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers (minor league baseball team)
The Milwaukee Brewers were a Minor League Baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in the American Association from 1902 through 1952.-A Milwaukee Tradition:...
. Multiple other teams built off the concept over the seasons (including the wearing of Negro League uniforms).
"Turn Ahead the Clock"
In 1998, the Seattle MarinersSeattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
marketing team developed a concept off of the "Turn Back the Clock" promotion. In the "Turn Ahead the Clock
Turn Ahead the Clock
Turn Ahead the Clock was a promotion in Major League Baseball . It was originated by the Seattle Mariners marketing team in the 1998 season. During the 1999 season, all but ten teams elected to wear the promotional uniforms that were in a "future" style...
", the team's uniforms would be transformed into a "futuristic" style. The Mariners promotion was successful, and in 1999 it was sold by Major League Baseball to Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate
Century 21 Real Estate LLC is a real estate agent franchise company founded in 1971. The Century 21 System consists of over 8,000 independently owned and operated offices. Other examples of such a system are Coldwell Banker, Engel & Völkers, ERA Real Estate, ...Century 21 has offices in more than...
, who made it into a league-wide marketing campaign. The league-wide promotion proved unsuccessful despite the success seen by the Mariners.