In the wide world of sports, the baseball field stands out as rather unique. Unlike most team sports and their rectangular field or court, the timeless game of baseball is played on a wedge-shaped field that roughly resembles a quarter of a circle. The most common term for a baseball field is “diamond.”
Since the Knickerbocker Rules of the 1840s, the basic layout of the baseball diamond has changed very little. And since Major League Baseball (or at least The National League portion of it) started holding professional baseball competitions on diamonds across America way, way back in 1876 (the American League joined the NL clubs in 1901), there have been very little interruptions in play — with the stoppages that did occur being almost exclusively related to financial battles between players and MLB team owners.
Until 2020. Where, as we all know now, things tend to be a little bit…different.
There was a pandemic-interrupted season in 1918 (which also saw many star players putting aside their bat and glove to serve in World War I), but MLB still managed to play close to 130 games — even though several baseball players died from the ravages of “the Spanish Flu.”
Now, MLB is launching an abbreviated, 60-game season. This highly unusual and unique campaign will run 102 games less than the 162-game seasons teams have been playing every year since 1961 – with Opening Day taking place 119 days after the originally scheduled start date of March 26.
Watching MLB teams and players return to the diamond provides a much-needed respite and long-overdue indulgence for many sports-loving Americans — even if they aren’t allowed to attend games in person. It also allows players to sport some of their favorite jewelry pieces. Because unlike the also-aiming-to-return-to-play NBA (which we chronicled in an earlier blog post), MLB allows its athletes to flash some bling when they’re flashing the leather or the bat.
Here’s a closer look at some stories involving diamonds…out on the diamond.
Loose Diamonds on the Mound
During the 2017 MLB season, then-Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Chris Archer was warming up on the bullpen mound at Toronto’s Rogers Centre. Suddenly, his diamond necklace snapped, and loose diamonds went flying all around the dirt. Apparently, one of the diamonds in Archer’s necklace had gotten stuck in his jersey, and the violent pitching motion caused the chain that held them all in place to snap. Lucky for Archer, he and other players and crew were able to dig all but three of the missing diamonds out of the bullpen dirt.
NOT Safe at Second? Cespedes’ Necklace
The following season, flashy and powerful New York Mets outfielder Yoenis Cespedes experienced a similar mishap — but out on the baseball diamond, during the course of a game. As the speedy Cespedes slid safely into second base, the diamonds around his own necklace were ruled…OUT! Thankfully, Cespedes’ teammate Asdrubal Cabrera was able to locate many of the missing diamonds when he took the field in the next half-inning.
Smaller Bling…Big Bat
Possessing a rare blend of power, speed, contact ability and outfield defense, L.A. Dodgers star Mookie Betts is regarded as one of the five best players in MLB today (and the Dodgers just inked him to a massive long-term $365-million deal to secure his services for many years to come). Far from flashy off the field, Betts doesn’t sport anything nearly as dramatic as a high-octane diamond chain when he takes the field. But the former Red Sox star does take great pride in his game-day jewelry. Betts sports a gold chain his father gave him when he signed with Boston in 2011 — along with a far simpler necklace with a tiny baseball and bat. The backstory with the simpler piece? It was given to Betts by a young Red Sox fan at a spring training batting practice session.
Faith in His Bat
Right there with Betts amongst the best young outfielders (and hitters) in MLB is Washington Nationals wunderkind Juan Soto. Soto helped lead his team to its first-ever World Series title last season, belting 5 home runs and driving in 14 runs in 17 postseason games as a 20-year old. Also unassuming off the field, Soto is a deeply Faith-driven player — and his game-day jewelry reflects as much. Soto proudly sports a jewelry piece called The XL 2.0 FiveTool Baseball Bat Cross. Produced by a company called All in Faith, Soto’s shiny silver chain showcases a cross formed by the union of three crossed baseball bats — meant to represent the three aspects of The Holy Trinity.
Keep YOUR Jewelry in the Game
We’re not sure if any of these players have jewelry insurance to protect or replace their prized pieces. But Zillion is here to make sure you can bat 1.000 when it comes to protecting your jewelry — including diamond engagement rings. We can help keep your jewelry safe at home — or on the road. A jewelry insurance policy with us is simple to understand, simple to use and certainly more affordable than a free-agent MLB player signing. It can provide you with peace of mind.
And as many professional athletes can tell you, you don’t want to find out the hard way what it’s like to have to scramble to recover lost or stolen jewelry. Let us help you. Together, we can form a winning team!
