Ryan Theriot Rocks Blade Shades

Yesterday, the Cubs played in Surprise, Arizona, which even at 9:40 locally was still nice and sunny out west. It was one of those low-sun evenings, where the shade creeps onto the field, and you can tell the players are bothered by the sun if it hits certain angles. These are the times when sunglasses are truly vital.

But what pair to wear? What style truly encompasses all that is baseball and all that is man? We're proud to note that Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot has his mid-90's style on point; yes, Theriot rocks blade shades.

You may recognize the style of sunglasses from the early-to-mid-90's. After an initial run in cycling circles, Oakley began popularizing them for baseball players, and before you know it, Jose Canseco was doing his 'roided out, Jose Canseco-thing in them. Sexy, right? The best thing about the blades is not that they were a baseball player's dream pair, but that because so many baseball players wore them, it became cool for fat, middle-aged white dudes to rock them too. Have a goatee? Look vaguely like Kenny Powers? Don't try to deny it, sir: you had a pair, too. You might still have them.

It's OK, you can be honest. If you're a Cubs fan, even better. Ryan Theriot has your back. Maybe this can be a new style thing. Maybe they can come back. Maybe the blades can be to schlubby white dudes what Wayfarers are to hipsters: a way to reclaim a better time, when music was music and baseball players were jacked up on cow testosterone.

All we need is someone to lead the way. That man is here. Ryan, please take a bow.

Eamonn Brennan is a Chicago-based writer, editor and blogger who is currently in a bidding war on eBay, so please don't bother him. You can also read him at Yahoo! Sports, Mouthpiece Sports Blog, and Inside The Hall, or at his personal site, eamonnbrennan.com. Follow him on Twitter.