D-Backs bring back the bullpen car

Byyankeebiscuitfan

It was a phenomenon that started in the 50s and disappeared after 1995: The bullpen car. But since MLB is trying everything to speed up the game, bullpen cars came to mind not so long ago when commissioner Rob Manfred proposed to bring them back. Now the Arizona Diamondbacks will bring back the bullpen car.

The phenomenon was introduced by the Cleveland Indians who used little karts to transport relief pitchers from the bullpen to the mound in 1950. A year later, the White Sox used buggies that set the tone for years to come. The Milwaukee Brewers were the last to use a means of transport to bring pitchers to the mound. It wasn’t a bullpen car though but a Harley Davidson with a sidecar.

The Diamondbacks will bring back the gimmick but it will be a contemporary one. Of course, there will be advertising on it. And of course, the car is green as it has an electric engine.

But instead of one, the Diamondbacks will have two bullpen carts. One for the home team and one for the visitors. It is not clear yet how the visitors’ bullpen car will look like.

The two cars are made by Tampa based SportsKartz.

Next to the classic bullpen cars that are showed above, some teams used regular cars to transport pitchers. The Yankees, for example, used a Datsun (now Nissan) and so dit the Brewers in the 70s, which caused a political stir as it was seen as a slap in the face of those who worked in a Wisconsin based Chevrolet plant.

According to Cleveland manager Terry Francona, who is thrilled about the return, “bullpen cars bring a bit of personality to the game of baseball. Baseball is likely the only sport that can do something like that.”

The Diamondbacks will not force their pitchers to use the bullpen car. But the club expects their pitchers to give it a try.

Let’s hope the Diamondbacks are a trendsetter and other clubs will follow swiftly.

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