A week ago in this space, we told you about Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun's affinity for fashionable T-shirts.

Baseball uniforms don't afford much opportunity for individual expression. But, there are plenty of people walking around town in authentic Brewers caps and jerseys these days and that got us thinking ...

How much does it cost to outfit the average Brewer? What does the team pay for socks, jocks, jerseys and jackets and the other clothing / equipment that comprise the tools of the trade?

Our quest for an answer brought us to longtime Brewers clubhouse manager Tony Migliaccio, who orders the equipment and keeps a giant stock room behind the home dugout filled with extra everything.

The results were surprising. Did you know that game jerseys cost $135? Pants cost $65. Or that a year's supply of maple bats can cost more than $6,000?

Using ballpark figures (pun intended), we came up with a figure of $10,473 just to get a player on the field. Here is a bottom-up look at the cost of outfitting our prototypical Brewers player (a catcher who prefers maple bats and a hockey-style mask) from head to toe:

Spikes and shoes ($315): "Most players have deals with shoe companies, so they get their own," Migliaccio said. "But, we have some around in different sizes. The spikes run about $95, the turf shoes that guys were in batting practice and on artificial turf are $50, and each player gets a pair of running shoes that cost about $75." Migliaccio said players go through a couple pairs of spikes in a season. They often are "breaking in" a new pair while wearing another.

Socks ($15): The days of stirrups are pretty much over. There are still some "sanitary" socks in the clubhouse, but the main sock players wear are solid soccer socks that cost about $5 a pair. How often do they change? "Guys are different that way," Migliaccio said. "Some guys go through a lot. Other guys are superstitious. If they're playing well, they don't want to change anything."

Underwear ($158): Players are issued two dri-fit T-shirts ($25 each) and two cotton long-sleeved undershirts ($30 apiece). Players are issued a couple pairs of compression shorts, which are made by a company called "Toolshed" ($18). They also get an athletic supporter and cup ($12).

Pants ($290): "The pants cost $65 a pair," Migliaccio said. "We have home, Retro Friday and the road gray pants. Players have two pair all the time, in case they rip them. Some guys like their paints tight. Other guys like them baggy. Some have them tapered at the ankle. They like them different ways. It's funny  Page 1 of 2 (view all on one page)

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5 comments about this article. Post a comment / write a review.

Recent Talkbacks ...

Posted by phoner on June 20, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. (report)

maybe the brewers should switch to all cotton jerseys, that way they'd be five degrees cooler than the other team.

Posted by poodiddles on June 20, 2008 at 9:21 a.m. (report)

Maybe they should stop buying gear from Haliburton.

Posted by High_Life_Man on June 19, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. (report)

Like most companies, they should make the workers pay for their uniforms. It's not like they don't make enough money.

Posted by Kierk on June 19, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. (report)

Do they throw out stuff that was only worn once (ie. batting gloves) or do they donate them to after school programs or something like that? (EDITOR'S NOTE: Drew Olson reports that much of the "gently used" equipment in the major league clubhouse is donated to players at the minor-league level. Some goes to the academies in the Dominican Republic).

Posted by sijan_heights on June 19, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (report)

TOOLSHED ! ? ! ? That rules. Word on the street is that Corey Hart needs a Toolshed large enough for a riding mower. Thanks for these interesting insights into the Bigs, Drew.