Baseball ain’t what it used to be.

We’re not talking about steroids, designated hitters, bloated payrolls, abbreviation nicknames or the troubling scarcity of Pavano-style mustaches. We’re talking about something even more important: the uniforms.

Allow us to elaborate.

Not so long ago, there was a day when fitted jerseys, calf-length pants and high socks with stirrups were de rigueur. Just take a look at this fine fellow and ballplayer-extraordinaire, Michael J. “King” Kelley, of the 1887 Boston Beaneaters. It’s old-timey, sure, but the style still holds up. Compare it to the league-wide wide trend of baggy jerseys and full-length pants—look no further than recently retired poster boy Manny Ramirez—and it looks even better.

Now that Manny has ambled off into the L.A. sunset, it’s given us hope that guys will start tucking their jerseys again. Just imagine how many more stolen bases could be tallied if it weren’t for all that billowing excess of jersey rippling in the wind. Or how nice it would be to see a few more ‘staches dotting the diamond.

We could all use a little more Rollie Fingers.

—N.B.