Schultz, You Bumbling Idiot!

I heard someone in the Igloo ask who "SCHULTZ" was, and why the Pens jerseys were blue? A question was posted on the Let's Go Pens site and I wanted to share some obscure information.

It is really not John Banner as Sgt. Schultz from Hogan's Heroes.

The real Schultz, Dave "The Hammer" Schultz, was a hero for "your" team and a hated opponent. Take a peek at his gaudy penalty minutes in his Career Statistics, and you'll see why he was loved.

Philadelphia-based Mitchell & Ness makes the vintage throwback jerseys. Throwback jerseys require permission from retired players to use their name and number.

M&N already had Schultz signed for their Flyers throwbacks, he simply agreed to lend his name for use on a jersey for another team he played for. M&N also had an agreement with Andy Bathgate, who's credited with scoring Pittsburgh's very first goal in team history. He's the guy represented in the #9 baby blue jerseys with "PITTSBURGH" on the front.

A few year's back the NHLPA felt shame for the meager pension funds left for the old timers and decided to push the union to allow retired players to reap the potential "royalties" to augment autograph sessions.

Ask Bobby Orr how he really feels about the players he represents, like Pittsburgh's Noah Welch, who might eventually earn more money in one season than Orr took a career to earn. Alan Eagleson, Orr's agent, squandered Orr's riches and now Orr has his own website to cash in on something that wasn't possible when he played. Other former players have had difficulty earning money after hanging up the skates.

People don't line bookstores and card shows for old-time NHL'ers like they would for former NFL or MLB players.

As for why the Penguins jerseys were blue?, PittsburghHockey.net has a history of the blue jersey and logo in the "uniforms" link.