Are Pittsburgh Pirates Really Going To Wear Camouflage Alternate Jerseys?

May 26, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Brandon Cumpton (58) pitches against the New York Mets during the third inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Maybe it really does all even out.

A couple months after the Penguins unveiled spectacular alternate uniforms, the Pirates might be about to bring the Pittsburgh sporting sartorial scene down a notch.

As reported by the esteemed Chris Creamer at SportsLogos.net, most signs point to the Pirates revealing camouflage-themed alternate jerseys and caps Saturday at their annual PirateFest fan convention. Creamer comes to this conclusion through information provided by anonymous sources, along with the fact that the Bucs have a at least two camo-related giveaways planned for 2015.

This news arrives a few days after a supposed leak of a predominantly yellow/gold jersey popped up on the internet. According to Creamer, that was a hoax – or maybe some wishful thinking by an enterprising Pirates fan.

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The Bucs sporting camo wouldn’t be completely foreign, as they have joined the rest of MLB in wearing military-inspired uniforms on Memorial Day and Independence Day in recent seasons.

However, aping the armed forces feels like a real missed opportunity.

Not only does wearing camo look tacky, it also trivializes the military. Camouflage is designed to shield soldiers from the enemy, not to serve as some watered-down attempt at a tribute. In my mind, it’s a cheap alternative to expressing real emotion.

What’s more, if the Pirates did don a replica from the late 1970s, it would be an almost guaranteed hit. The “We Are Family” Pirates of 1979 remain an emotional touchstone, with their garish uniforms remaining a large part of their championship identity.

Instead of hearkening to a glorious era of Pittsburgh baseball – as the Pirates have done with their 1971 Sunday throwbacks over the past two years – it appears the Bucs will join the Padres as the only two MLB teams to make camouflage a regular part of their uniform.

UPDATE: Noooooo…..