MLB: How St. Patrick’s became baseball’s holiday

A Reds Nation once again,
A Reds Nation once again,

On March 17, Al Lopez Field crackled with electricity: The Reds were hosting the team that the previous season had inherited their World Series laurels, the Yankees.

The Reds went through the typical pregame rituals—batting practice, infield—in their regular uniforms. Show business as usual. But while the players were on the field, gremlins—or were they leprechauns?—were busy in the clubhouse.

After workouts, the Reds dragged their perspiring bodies off the field and retreated to the clubhouse—closed, uncharacteristically, to the media—took a look and then did a double-take at their lockers ... green uniforms hanging in front of each.

“Did we get traded to Oakland?” catcher Johnny Bench asked.

Shortstop Davey Concepcion squinted at his green No. 13 uniform and said, “I’m not wearing that. I’m Venezuelan, not Irish.”

But they all giddily changed into the head-to-toe green.

“Everywhere that was usually red had been changed to green—the team name, the logo, the player’s name on the back, socks, all the trimmings,” Tuttle said. “The hats were solid green with a white ‘C.’

“Everyone stayed out of sight until game time ...”