The BRUT Sign/Jere’s Yankee Stadium Tribute

Art Brut lives! As Jere takes a look at the history of the BRUT sign (and others) at Yankee Stadium.

The Stadium returned in its renovated form in 1976. A few ads appeared above the bleachers that season, but it wasn’t until the next season, when all the spaces were filled in, that BRUT made its debut. Remember, baseball cards feature pictures from the previous season, so it was Topps’ 1978 set that put the sign in little kids’ hands across the country. And they went hog wild, too—the ‘78 set would be the Brut-iest one of all. Visiting players were shot time and again on the third base side in pre-game, posed with left field behind them. Entire teams seemed to be posed, one by one. Mariners players were heard to complain, “ain’t no variety in these shots….” No less than 28 American Leaguers that year were shown with a portion of the Brut sign peering over their shoulders. Some guys, not thinking about becoming part of this exclusive list 30 years later, stood so that the sign was completely blocked. 1978 would be a huge year for these “Brut Blockers,” too, but only the men—the true Bruts—with the sign visible behind them (either a piece of bottle or letter) would join this club. I give you the inaugural class of “Bruts”: