Rick was a heck of guy alright. Many good times with him late night.

Yes he sure was, I learned a lot about him through our emails away from this forum.

Allright I noticed that the A's players wear this necklace as well. Any info on what is it for? What does it represent? Is it just a fashion statement? Almost looks like a piece of rope.

Major League players have been wearing those for quite a while now and to me on a pitcher they look kind of stupid, big ropes around their necks.

Well I agree 100 percent, they just look kinda silly on all of the players no matter what position they play. Yea I think I first noticed this about 4 or 5 years ago, and have always had a casual interest as to the history of this ornament...I see these guys coming through the airport all the time, wish I could remember to ask them when they do! maybe it's their Union Solidarity Symbol!:-) Thanks for responding!

I don't know what the story is behind these rope necklaces the players wear but every team has players wearing them and I don't think they are anything special and they look like they would bother a player around their necks. They almost look as silly as those pearls that A. Cab wore the first year he was in the Majors but I read that the pearls he worth were his Grandmothers and he wore them to honor her.

Hey if you get a chance to ask and find out about these ropes around their necks let us know, I would be interesting to find out if there is a special reason or if it symbolizes anything.

Gonna tie a little "rope" around my wrist so I remember, will report for sure!;-)

what you're seeing is actually two necklaces twisted together to make one. they're Phiten brand, designed to alleviate or help with joint pain. i have one, never noticed a difference. i think most of the players that are wearing them are probably paid endorsers, like w/ shoes or sunglasses.

LOL Okay....

There has been copper bracelets and bracelets with magnets in them and now it seems like this necklaces are the newest tread to do something that everyone will find out after a while doesn't work either. Last night I noticed the only one I saw with the Indians with one I remember was Choo. Looks like they don't help with pulled muscles either.

allright I work with a guy who wears a bracelet around his wrist and claims this also helps him with joint pain...allright i've heard about this before....thanks for the info!

LOL....as long as they can find some items that can keep them off the DL!!

As far as the security goes, rest assured that they have plenty of passive systems that the average fan doesn't notice. Security cameras you don't see are all over the park. And as crazy as it sounds, CPD on occasion has snipers watching over the game. Last August I went to the Thomecoming game and saw them walking through the plaza by gate A with their deployment bags before the game. Can't really disguise a highpower rifle all that much.