For the past several seasons, the Oakland Athletics and almost all of the other Major League teams have celebrated the Fourth of July with special patriotic uniforms. From camouflage-colored hats to logos adorned with stars, there is no doubt that the uniforms reflect the spirit of the holiday.
When the A’s took the field on Saturday afternoon, they had flag patches on the sleeves of their jerseys, just like all of the other teams. The design is similar to that of the patches worn on military uniforms, and it is certainly meant to be an honorable tradition. But are those patches really conveying the message of respect that the teams intend for them to convey?