JUPITER, Fla. — Ralph Scott Torrellas has a new costume story to tell.
As a wardrobe designer for some of baseball’s biggest stars, the man players simply call ‘Scott’, uses his trusty tape measure and a keen eye for prints to help famous athletes make fashion statements.
Torrellas, owner of Raphael Wardrobe Design, has a cellphone contact list that would make baseball agents salivate. He’s become a staple of spring training, touring camp to camp in Florida and Arizona to meet players eager for sartorial upgrades. Usually his customers buy for their own closets. Sometimes they have someone else in mind. But Torrellas has never encountered an order quite like the one he just executed from the cardinals’ camp.
“I don’t think it’s ever been done, and I’ve been doing it for 30 years,” Torrellas said.
This week behind the Cardinals clubhouse at Roger Dean Stadium, one could find a table covered in high-end fabric swatches. Rich colors and beautiful textures floated in the breeze. If you’re looking for something subtle, like a gray or blue suit, Torrellas has it. If you want to make a splash, with bright splashes or a floral print, no problem. If you prefer to settle somewhere in between, a nice stripe, perhaps, he will gladly be your guide.
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Torrellas is known here. Cardinals receiver Yadier Molina is one of his most loyal clients. Both were introduced by Albert Pujols years ago, when Molina was just starting his major league marathon. Molina ordering something from Torrellas is nothing new. Nor is it a player ordering a suit for a favorite rookie or coach. Especially around here. Tradition is sewn into Cardinals baseball.
Manager Oliver Marmol, then the team’s bench coach, was offered a jacket by then-manager Mike Shildt when they worked together. Second baseman Tommy Edman received a suit from his agent last season. Scott Rolen bought two suits from Adam Wainwright early in his career.
“I still have them too,” Wainwright said. “I gave away all the other old costumes that didn’t fit or had a different style, but I kept those two, because they were my first two. It’s something that’s important to be a veteran clubhouse leader.”
So nothing was out of the ordinary when Molina asked Torrellas to measure beloved coach Jose Oquendo for some suits the catcher wanted to give Oquendo as a gift. But then Molina took Torrellas aside and asked if he could come back to camp for a second day. He did, and when he arrived there was a list waiting for him.
A steady wave of Cardinals employees soon began stopping by Torrellas’ table. They weren’t his usual customers. The Cardinals’ coaches walked to the patio, took off their shoes and stood still for the measurements. Then the clubhouse employees started lining up. They filled out order forms, debated which models to choose, decided whether they wanted French buttons or cuffs, and let Torrellas know if they wore a watch, and if so on which wrist, so he could let a little extra room at the end. of this round. They were having fun. Torrellas was training.
“Can someone bring me a Red Bull?” he asked at one point.
Pitching coach Mike Maddux has a bit more length in his leg because he wears cowboy boots. Bench coach Skip Schumaker noted that he prefers muted colors. Willie McGee joked that he probably wouldn’t wear it enough. “Thank you,” longtime club member Patrick Cramer told Torrellas after confirming it would be his first bespoke suit.
“Don’t thank me,” Torrellas corrected with a smile. “Thank you Yadi.”
Yes, Molina had Torrellas tailor each member of the practice and clubhouse staff for a suit. Everything uniquely done, down to the number of buttons. The list had 20 names and then grew. Molina continued to add more, even sending minor league coaches. The catcher, entering his 19th and final season with the only team he’s ever known, takes the substantial tab.
“I have to take care of my coaches,” Molina said. “Simple reason. That’s it.”
It’s Molina. Some words. Great deeds. Before starting this farewell season, the future Hall of Famer says thank you.
“I can’t remember the last time I measured so many people like that,” Torrellas said. “It was a bit wild, spur of the moment. He thought it was a good idea. I said to him when I thanked him, ‘You know what’s great about this gift? It’s not like a vacation. It’s not like a gift certificate for a fancy steakhouse or an overpriced bottle of scotch. It’s something that every time they put it on, they’ll think of you. They will own this thing for the rest of their lives.
The gesture will last as long if not longer than the threads.
“Legend”, said Harrison Bader. “Yadi always talks about how the Cardinals have helped him and been a part of his life and his family’s life for so long.”
“He cares a lot about people,” Marmol said. “He’s always looking for opportunities to do things like that, especially when it’s unexpected. Most of the time nobody knows.
“The guy has a lot of love in him,” Wainwright added. “He also has a lot of fighting spirit in him. But he has a lot of love in him. Once you enter Yadi’s inner circle, he will give you the shirt on his back.
Usually it’s just one sentence. This time it’s a fact. The shirts will be included with the costumes, thanks to the precious receiver who decided to give a lasting gift.
“Nobody,” Wainwright said, “is going to get rid of those suits.”
