Why is baseball the only sport that requires coaches to dress in baseball attire?

Baseball is the only sport that I know of that has had player-managers, like Lou Boudreau, who was a star shortstop for the Cleveland Indians as well as their manager for a number of years in the 40’s and 50’s.

But this may go back to the earliest years of baseball, when people like Cap Anson both played for their team, managed the team and even had a portion of the ownership. They managed ON the field and OFF the field.

One famous manager, Connie Mack, owned the Philadelphia Athletics and managed them as well for fifty years, retiring in 1950. He always appeared in the dugout in street clothes, a suit and tie.

Let me correct myself, I believe that there have been player-coaches in the National Hockey League and of course these men wore hockey uniforms. It is a little hard to skate and give a forecheck in street clothes.

SRM

I would venture a guess that baseball the only sport that requires coaches to dress in baseball attire because football/basketball/hockey/etc. coaches would look silly in baseball attire.

@srmorgan Thanks. Tons of good info in that!

@MacBean Yes, yes. Poorly worded. :^)

@buckyboy28: I gave you lurve for it because it made me smile. :D

Baseball commissioners are just taking precautions. If all the players get a mysterious stomach bug and can’t play the coaches can take over:)

you really want to see some of the basketball coaches in tank tops? shudders

Davis Cup tennis coaches usually wear warm ups like the team, does that count?

It is interesting, I never thought about it before.

That is what I like about fluther, it enlightens me to the things I didn’t know I wanted to know about.