Major League Baseball / National League - New York Mets

New York Mets Unveil New Batting Practice Jersey

By Kevin T. Czerwinski / MLB.com

NEW YORK -- The skies were gray in Manhattan on Tuesday, temperatures were hovering in the teens and ice flowed down the Hudson River. It wasn't the kind of day made for baseball.

Yet, over at Madison Square Garden, spirits were high and talk of baseball, specifically the Mets, dominated the day. The team kicked off its Winter Caravan on Tuesday afternoon, a weeklong celebration of baseball during which the Mets will conduct coaching clinics, make numerous guest around town and personal appearance at New York City schools.

The mood at The Garden was festive as team ownership, the front office and the majority of the players participated in a three-hour gabfest about the Mets and the upcoming season. The highlight of the afternoon came during the introduction of the players, who stepped onto the platform at MSG's theater wearing the team's new orange jersey.

The jersey, which will be worn in Spring Training and during batting practice this season, is part of a new line of batting practice jerseys and caps developed by Major League Baseball Properties for the 2003 season. The new orange-colored jersey will be a radical change from the black jerseys the club had been using in batting practice in years past.

"I like them," general manager Steve Phillips said. "It's a bright fresh look for a bright fresh start for the future of the Mets. We have a fresh start and a fresh direction with the singular ownership and [new manager] Art [Howe] and his coaching staff and the motivated group from last year joined with the winners we brought in this year, I think it's going to make for a great season. I think it's going to be a fresher environment for the players to thrive in."

The jerseys, which have blue stripes across the shoulders and a thicker blue band under the arms, drew a positive response from the players as well. Most said the new top was more comfortable and seemed to provide more freedom for movement.

"[I] think they are interesting," Mike Piazza said. "The best part about them is that once the season is over, you can go hunting and you won't have to change your clothes."

The Mets are hoping to do some in-season hunting, though, as they look to bag an Eastern Division crown. If Tuesday's mood in Midtown was any indication, the team is ready for the challenge, with everyone eager to get to Port St. Lucie and begin working under Howe.

"It's 16 degrees out and it's 16 days until Spring Training," Phillips said. "We're counting down in one direction for Spring Training and hopefully we'll be going in the other direction with the weather. But with the turnout of players we had here today, there's a lot of excitement in the organization and among the players.

"And the caravan is a perfect place to start. It's a natural extension of our community outreach program and it gives the players a chance to give back some. It gives our fans an idea of how exciting the summer is going to be here."

The caravan will continue on Wednesday in lower Manhattan when the Mets host a clinic for Tuesday's Children, a non-profit organization created to assist the children who lost a parent on Sept. 11. Tuesday's Children was founded by the brothers, colleagues and friends of World Trade Center victims and has made an 18-year commitment to each of the children who lost a parent.

John Franco's Celebrity Bowl for Babies will take place on Thursday. Eighteen players, including Piazza, Mo Vaughn and Roberto Alomar, are scheduled to attend. All the proceeds from the tournament benefit the March of Dimes, which continues its fight to prevent birth defects and infant mortality.

"It's great to be back in New York this week," Howe said. "It gives all of us an opportunity to as a staff and players to get acquainted. And that gives us an advantage heading into Spring Training.

"Steve [Phillips] has done a wonderful job putting this team together and we feel very competitive. It's good that we've been able to speak to all the players and now we're looking forward to getting down to St. Lucie and getting started."

Kevin Czerwinski is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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