Several readers have spoken highly of this 1969 book, which chronicles the first half-century of the NFL, so I tracked down a copy. Sure enough, tons of great stuff. Here are some highlights:
• First and foremost, there’s a section devoted to the evolution of the uniform, featuring a kickass series of illustrations showing what was worn by the 1920 Decatur Staleys, the 1921 Packers, the 1926 Duluth Eskimos (my favorite of the bunch), the 1948 Rams, and so on. There are some major surprises here — did you know, for example, that the Giants once dressed like this? Or that the Bears, for one season, wore this? Yabba-dabba-doo! The Lions, on the other hand, haven’t changed that much.
• Check out this illo of Lenny Moore, circa 1957. Naturally, the caption mentions his famous spats, but there’s also this: “The yellowish substance on the shoes is a resin many ball carriers dab on their fingers to get more tack on the ball.” This is the earliest reference to stickum I’ve ever seen. Also from the caption: “The sweat band on his wrist was borrowed from tennis.” So are they saying Moore was the first NFLer to wear a sweatband? Major discovery!
• There’s also a series of awesome poster-style illustrations devoted to over a dozen important NFL historical figures, including Johnny U, Crazy Legs Hirsch, John Mackey, Jim Brown, Don Hutson, Chuck Bednarik, Gino Marchetti, Leo Nomellini, Louie the Toe, Gale Sayers, Cal Hubbard, Jerry Kramer, Ray Nitschke, Night Train Lane, and Elmen Tunnell.
• Great padding/gear photo here.
• Did you know the Redskins used to wear their Indian-head logo on their chest, sort of like the Blackhawks? Look!
• There are lots of photos showing Lucite facemasks. Note that in this shot, the backfield is Lucite-masked, while the linemen have conventional cages.
• I’m fascinated by the berets and bow ties that early officials wore, as seen here, here, and here.
• Here’s the oldest, rattiest jersey I’ve ever seen. And the 8 appears to be upside-down!
• Rare shot here of the Browns’ block-shadowed numbers.
• We’ve all seen this SI cover featuring Y.A. Tittle. But I’d never seen that helmet in action until I saw this photo (note the light-colored nighttime ball, too). Also, oddly, they chose to use Tittle and his helmet as the subject for this illustration. The caption includes the following note: “Although Tittle wore high top shoes, low cuts were becoming the most popular shoes. With the mandatory taping of ankles, the high cuts were no longer necessary.” I’d never heard about mandatory ankle taping before, or its effect on footwear styles!
• Love the striping and shoulder yokes here.
• Check out this shot of the overtime coin toss from the famous 1958 championship game. No wonder the Giants lost the game — their captains were taking refuge in a sideline cape while Johnny U was rarin’ to go. Bad form, no?
• You don’t often see pics from the early-’70s Pro Bowls, back when they wore “A” and “N” helmets.
• Hey, Jim Bakken — fasten your chinstrap!
Want to get your own copy of this fine volume? Look here.
And now a note from Vince: I’m looking for unique sports-related T-shirts, not unlike the beautiful Brewers shirt Paul linked to last week. Anything different, timely, relatively unknown, undiscovered, or featuring great design would be welcomed. Have a favorite tee you’d like to share with the world, own a company that makes kick ass shirts, or know of somewhere to get some great gear? Drop me a note with the pertinent details. Thanks much.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Paul here. Fascinating story here about a factual error in one of the Steelers’ Super Bowl ring designs. … Dig these great high school hoops unis from 1972. Love those big bullseye numbers (with thanks to Chris Markham). … Mark Jones sent along this photo from the 1966 Cotton Bowl. Note that the two LSU players have mismatched pants striping. … Brazilian soccer star Ronaldinho will wear No. 80. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a number that high on a soccer jersey,” says Greg Riffenburgh. … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: The Dodgers print Andy LaRoche’s NOB in all caps, while the Pirates style his brother Adam’s NOB with a small cap. … When I visit Portland next month, I hope most of the locals can spell better than whoever created these jerseys at the Highland Games (with thanks to Ryan Hossner). … Andrew Ferguson reports that BU basketball has a new 100th-anniversary logo, although it isn’t clear yet if it’ll be worn as a patch. … Can’t remember if we’ve covered this already, but just in case: Miami will supposedly be wearing this alternate jersey this season — yikes (with thanks to Mike Camello). … Got an interesting note from Mike Frentz, who attends the same church where Marc Sagmoen is a youth pastor. Sagmoen, as some of you may recall, is the outfielder who was called up by the Rangers and issued No. 42 on April 15th, 1997 — the same day the number was retired by MLB (we’ve discussed this previously here on the site; for details, scroll down to the middle of this entry). Mike writes: “On April 15, 2007 (a Sunday, as it happens), [Sagmoen] brought in the jersey he wore for that one game, the 10th anniversary of his MLB debut. As he tells the story, he’s sitting there in the on-deck circle in the 4th inning of his big league debut. As he and Mickey Tettleton get loose, Mickey says to him, ‘Take your jersey off.’ Marc is confused, even after Mickey repeats the message. Finally, exasperated, Mickey points to the Jumbotron, where President Clinton is making the announcement that Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 will be retired across baseball. ‘Now batting, number 42…’ … Anyway, the question I the question I wanted to ask is this: Marc claims that this incident makes him the only player in the four major pro sports to play one game and then have his jersey number retired. Can you verify this, or come up with counterexamples for me to show him? I’m not talking about ceremonial comeback stints or numbers that were never used again (like Eddie Gaedel’s 1/8). The player must have played exactly one game and then had his number formally retired.” Good question. Anyone..? … I work for ESPN.com, so how come it took Stu Taylor to tell me that the site is doing a college football helmet poll? … See that little chest patch on Kyle Boller’s jersey? The Ravens are giving that to players who attended at least 85% of the team’s off-season workouts (plus they get a piece of candy, a gold star, and a nice note from the teacher to show their parents). Here’s a closer look (with thanks to Jack Krabbe). … Gibby Davis notes that Shawn Marcum appears to have a more southerly Pedro porthole. … Paul Wiederecht sent along this shot of the 1989 Pittsfield Mets. Thank got the parent club never used that striped waistband. And what’s with the one guy with the striped pants? … Good info here on Roger Federer’s Olympics attire (with thanks toBrinke Guthrie). … Here’s something you don’t often see: a Little League team in Negro Leagues throwbacks (with thanks to Michael Miller). … Scott Novosel sent along this shot from a 1976 all-star tour of Japan. Look at all the National Leaguers wearing pillbox caps! … David Sonny notes that Johnny Cueto has switched from a black glove to a red one. … DC report from John Muir, who writes: “On Thursday, July 17th, my girlfriend and I went to the 47th Annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park, the first to be held in the new stadium. I had to use my cell phone camera, because her camera battery died. Those shots, and several scans from the official program, can be found here. Some notes from the game: Democrats took the left dugout, Republicans the right; Dem. Batting helmets were blue, Reps. Red; all Congressmen wore the uniforms of their home MLB, minor league, local college (some of them were alma maters), or hometown travel team; Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) wore a No. 9 Mets home alternate, with solid blue cap and high blue socks; Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Cali) wore No. IX, in reference to Title IX; Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Az) donned the Diamondbacks road brick, with full black tights; Rep. Joe Buca (D-Cali) wore a Dodgers home jersey and cap, but with oddly piped pants; former Florida GOP Rep. Lou Frey Jr., who’s slated to be inducted into the Congressional Baseball HOF, was in attendance — he wore Dodgers off-white throwback.” … Good soccer uni site here (with thanks to A.C.). … And here’s a compendium of Olympics posters dating back to 1896 (as forward by Marcus Ramsey). … Thanks to everyone who came down to KGB last night — hope you had as much fun as I did.
#1 by Jim on 07.23.08 7:57 am |
I keep hearing that St. Louis Blues’ third jersey this upcoming season is rumored to have both the blues note and the gateway arch on the front. I don’t know about you guys, but I expect nothing but a disaster. Nothing good can come from this.
#2 by Mike McGann on 07.23.08 8:02 am |
A couple of notes on today’s column: in that shot from Pittsfield the guy in the stripes was a roving instructor. To this day, roving Mets’ instructors wear Major League uniforms while visiting farm clubs — pretty clearly that is a Mets’ ‘89 home uni he’s in.
On the All-Star shot from Japan: that picture has to be from 1979…there was not a tour in 1976 or 1977 and the Reds went in 1978. Also, it features Mets’ uniforms not used until 1978 — and it features John Stearns and Joel Youngblood — neither of whom would have been selected to play on anything like an All-Star team in 1976. And Stearns would have been wearing 16 if it were 1976, which he wore his rookie season with the Mets, which was 1976 (although he was up late in ‘75).
#3 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 8:10 am |
early patriots?
#4 by Marco on 07.23.08 8:10 am |
As far as high soccer numbers, Ronaldo wore the number 99 while playing at AC Milan.
http://imgserv.ya.co...
#5 by adam on 07.23.08 8:19 am |
And Charlie Hustle wasn’t a Phightin’ Phil till ‘79
#6 by Scott on 07.23.08 8:22 am |
Jaime Moreno wears number 99 for DC United.
#7 by Kek on 07.23.08 8:26 am |
Also, the Pirates didn’t wear those unis featured until ‘77. I was wondering when I first saw the pic and the description if they had the mix-and-matches planned for ‘77 and debuted them in Japan in the offseason but that doesn’t seem to be the case from what you’re saying. (great pic nonetheless, all that pillbox goodness)
Unrelated, but is Rashard Mendenhall wearing shades in this shot? http://www.post-gaze...
Also, if anyone has a Wall Street Journal subscription, there’s a neat story today about Olympic mascots and it features a slideshow of mascots past. http://online.wsj.co...
#8 by Daniel Vasques on 07.23.08 8:29 am |
On the 100th anniversary of Flamengo, a soccer club from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Romario wore the 100 number on his jersey. I have a link to a picture of the jersey but can’t find one of him wearing it.
http://lh6.ggpht.com...
#9 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 8:32 am |
not quite uni-related, but there are some uni-related questions…
take the quiz!
are you softball guy?
#10 by Pete on 07.23.08 8:32 am |
Just confirmed something I noticed last week by looking at the Soccer Uni Website - On some teams (definitely Holland and I think also Croatia) the Swoosh on one sock is at the front and on the back of the other… I thought I’d put on my Holland Away socks (got them ‘cos I liked the color and they were on special offer) wrong, but the illsutrations confirm it. I guess they’re only allowed to put one on each sock but this way one’s always visible to the cameras…
#11 by Harry on 07.23.08 8:33 am |
#12 by Moss on 07.23.08 8:34 am |
Last night in the Tigers-Royals game, Carlos Guillen batted without batting gloves. He has been wearing batting gloves for as long as I can remember.
#13 by duker on 07.23.08 8:38 am |
Here’s the closer view of the Ravens Purple Hammer Patch!
#14 by Paul Lukas on 07.23.08 8:47 am |
Good points, everyone, on that Japanese all-star photo — should have caught all of those things myself (it was late, I’d had a lot to drinkn at KGB, I was falling asleep as I put the Ticker together, etc.). All the more remarkable, though, that they used the ‘76 caps!
#15 by Mark in Shiga on 07.23.08 8:49 am |
I love that Japan photo — check out all those flat hats! And two different number fonts for the mets!
It’s definitely from 1979 — that was the only year that all-stars from both leagues came to Japan to play (and they only played two games). In ‘78 the Reds went 14-2-1 against various Japanese teams. Here’s a list of US-Japan results, in Japanese; can’t find one ni English just yet, but the numbers are readable to anyone.
The lineups, if anyone’s interested, are (and some of this could bt wrong as it’s hard to tell the difference between an 8 and a 9 in the photo): AL, Molitor 2b, Wilson lf, Lemon cf, Cooper 1b, Singleton rf, Baylor dh, Lansford 3b, Smalley ss, Dempsey c, Langford p; NL, Matthews rf, Madlock 3b, Parker cf, Simmons c, Foster lf, Kirby 1b, Brock dh, Youngblood 2b, Bowa ss, Niekro p.
#16 by Kek on 07.23.08 8:49 am |
#17 by Kek on 07.23.08 8:51 am |
bush league
professionals should not be “rewarded” for attending offseason work outs by getting a patch, what is this the Cub Scouts?
#18 by MPowers1634 on 07.23.08 8:52 am |
http://www.dogpounds...
#19 by Jim on 07.23.08 8:55 am |
Awarding grown adults for showing up to 85% of something? Isn’t showing up for 85% of something not such a good thing? Espically when it’s your job…
#20 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 8:58 am |
i said the same thing yesterday!
85% attendance at my job gets me canned, not rewarded
#21 by Mike on 07.23.08 9:06 am |
It’s not a pro sport, but Travis Roy played one game at BU, then had his number retired.
#22 by jeff on 07.23.08 9:07 am |
The 77 all star photo shows Chuck Tanner of the Pirates wearing a uni combo that was never used during the season. Yellow shirt with white pinstripe pants!
#23 by Original Jim on 07.23.08 9:08 am |
I didn’t know that the Detroit Tigers also wore pillbox hats. Look at the player standing behind Ted Williams…
#24 by scott on 07.23.08 9:15 am |
Looks like Aurelio Lopez… it is odd to see him in a pillbox, assuming that’s a Tiger cap.
#25 by Kevin from Ohio in Virginia on 07.23.08 9:15 am |
In the pic Paul shared of the Browns’ block-shadowed numbers, #76 appears to have an upside-down “9″ for a “6.”
#26 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 9:16 am |
i din’t think they did, jim…seeing as the NATIONAL league was celebrating their centennial when the caps were worn (i believe), not the AL…so…
how in the hell did a tiger get on that team (which appears to be all NLers to begin with) and what is he doing wearing the pillbox?
great detective work
#27 by Dave in VA on 07.23.08 9:16 am |
Are we sure that’s Ted Williams and not Roger Craig (Padres manager in 1978)? I believe the game is from the 1978 offseason, since Dave Kingman (back left, behind Parker) didn’t play for the Cubs until ‘78, and Aurelio Lopez (Tigers) didn’t play for Detroit until 1979, but was traded to the Tigers in December of ‘78. Also, Ozzie Smith’s first season with the Padres was 1978.
#28 by tomasher on 07.23.08 9:16 am |
Watching the Phillies game last night, I noticed that Joe Blanton’s NOB was spaced incorrectly, compared to the rest of the team. The guy’s been on the team for a week, for crying out loud.
I don’t have the photos to back me up, but it ticked me off through the entire game… until the 9th inning, anyway.
#29 by scott on 07.23.08 9:18 am |
How come more teams that DIDN’T wear pillboxes in 1976 (like the Padres) are wearing them in that photo? According to Dressed to the Nines, only five NL teams wore them that year.
#30 by Dave in VA on 07.23.08 9:21 am |
Follow-up on my previous post: Aurelio Lopez was traded from the Cardinals to the Tigers in December, so that could explain why he was in Tigers gear but with the NL.
#31 by Joe Hilseberg on 07.23.08 9:24 am |
Mystery solved! Santa spends his off-seasons attending O’s games! Look over Marcum’s shoulder.
http://farm4.static....
#32 by Pat on 07.23.08 9:25 am |
I just came down to the comments section to mention the same thing.
#33 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 9:25 am |
apparently no one else does
#34 by Tony In Erie (at home) on 07.23.08 9:26 am |
Yay! I actually get to play along today!
Michel Briere played one season for the Penguins in 69-70 then had an auto accident; the Pens retired his #21.
#35 by Tony In Erie (at home) on 07.23.08 9:27 am |
I better lay off the medication. Forget I said that, its early, I just woke up hung over.
One game does not equal a season, Tony. *eyeroll*
#36 by Kurt Kaufmann on 07.23.08 9:34 am |
Regarding the Japan All-Star photo: Does anyone know anything about the blue jacket Chuck Tanner is wearing?
#37 by Bryan Redemske on 07.23.08 9:40 am |
Please. I’d kick Softball Guy’s ass.
#38 by u2-horn on 07.23.08 9:47 am |
That’s Tug McGraw
#39 by teamcinnamon on 07.23.08 9:49 am |
Not only that - but it appeared that his cool base jersey was a shade of gray darker than his pants were. I remember reading on the site a while ago about how the materials would be different and this would occur from time to time.
Carlos Ruiz’s also looked a tad darker.
Blanton:
http://philadelphia....
#40 by Bryan on 07.23.08 9:49 am |
Dig these great high school hoops unis from 1972. Love those big bullseye numbers (with thanks to Chris Markham)
I wish we had that whole article page…that is Tom Izzo and Steve Mariucci in which led to a long friendsip.
http://blog.mlive.co...
#41 by Rich O on 07.23.08 9:50 am |
In the wider shot, the Ravens patch looks kinda like the arm is holding a big old cartoonish lollipop.
#42 by scott on 07.23.08 9:53 am |
Hey, fellas, sorry about that. I typed that it was in the 1976 on that photo. McGann impressive human encyclopedia skills! Awesome!
#43 by Patrick on 07.23.08 9:54 am |
I’m sort of surprised this story hasn’t gotten mention yet.
Jack Wilson is claiming he’s broken his recent slump by changing his socks. Now that he got a hit, however, he’s going back. Although, if he always wore high socks, he’d never fall into a slump, right?
Unfortunately, no pictures with the story, but you can see Exhibit A if you watch the game highlights from Monday.
#44 by Kek on 07.23.08 9:54 am |
I’m not so sure about that. There was some material I prepared that didn’t run with the Star Power piece last week. I basically said to Paul that the Okkonnen/Dressed to the Nines sketches of the mix-and-match era were inconsistent and didn’t take into account ALL the combos. Although I don’t have any photos right now, I think the Bucs did experiment with using the striped pants with both the yellow and black jerseys. I don’t think it was as widespread as the other combos though.
#45 by Kek on 07.23.08 9:57 am |
It was later in the evening, so you might have missed it:
http://www.uniwatchb...
http://www.uniwatchb...
I noticed it right away watching the game. It was nice to see that look on a Pirate, not too many do it.
#46 by Kek on 07.23.08 9:59 am |
BTW, a picture really is worth a thousand words huh? That photo of the MLB players in Japan has set off enough talk that it could have been an entry all to itself!!!!
#47 by Dustin on 07.23.08 10:06 am |
Also, what’s the case of inconsistency? Some Phils are wearing the pillbox, and others aren’t! What’s more, was Detroit in the National League (far left) for a period of time, and I wasn’t aware of it? It also appears that the Cubs, Dodgers, Braves and Cards didn’t have the pillboxes (and that the Pirates only had three stripes, with possible exception to the Pirate on the far left).
Check out the “C” on the Pirate that’s partially obscured by the Padre and Met just left of center, too. Is this one of Baseball’s first captain’s insignias? The guy to his right (from our perspective) didn’t get the memo that the Pirates were wearing yellow tops/black hats, either.
Finally, what’s the blue jacket on the Pirate on the far right? I can’t seem to determine what it is at all.
#48 by Rick on 07.23.08 10:08 am |
The Ravens offseason camps (just like every team in the NFL) are optional. So for you smart asses out there, that means you do not have to attend. The patches were given to the players who put in the extra effort to attend.
The patches are only for training camp so lighten up. At least the Ravens do not participate in the NFL Captain patch stupidity.
#49 by Phil on 07.23.08 10:09 am |
And Charlie Hustle wasn’t a Phightin’ Phil till ‘79
I don’t see Charlie Hustle in that picture. Are you looking at Tug McGraw?
#50 by Dave in VA on 07.23.08 10:14 am |
Everyone looked so happy to be in that team picture, as well.
#51 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 10:15 am |
it appears the pirate with the “C” is wearing a jacket…so if it is a captain’s designation, it’s not on his jersey
the pirate in the blue jacket appears not to be wearing a pirate jacket…i enlarged the picture to 150%, but still can’t make out the logo…maybe the phils????
#52 by Un-Original Jim on 07.23.08 10:22 am |
That definitely looks like Pete’s Disco Mane, but I believe that is Tug McGraw.
#53 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 10:31 am |
that’s DEFINITELY roger craig…he was the pods manager at the time (1978-1979)…
although…there does exist a picture of ted williams in a san diego padre uniform
…only it’s from 1935, when he was a minor leaguer
…………
also, and it’s been confirmed several times already, that’s definitely TUG, not charles hustle
r…the uni number is “45″…tugger’s ##54 by Walaitis on 07.23.08 10:37 am |
Bon Jour, y’all!
I’m back at work this morning after a week in Paris, and I will say I have some VERY interesting Uni news to share, from medieval times, nonetheless!
Unfortunately, I don’t have the spare time to go through it today, but by early next week I promise to get some surprising stuff out here!
#55 by Ricko1 on 07.23.08 10:38 am |
Yeah, they did. With black hat was standard, but at least once with gold hat. Was part of the regular home rotation.
What’s odd is the gold stirrups with that combo. That wasn’t part of the rotation. Was black socks virtually all the time with pins pants, no matter which jersey of the three jerseys.
At work now, but can get several photos to Paul.
standard “nine” combos were…
HAT, JERSEY-PANTS(sleeves),STIRRUPS
Black, gold-gold (bk), black.
Black, gold-black (bk), gold.
Black, gold-pins (bk), black. *
Black, pins-pins (bk), black. *
Black, pins-gold (bk), black.
Gold, pins-black (go), gold. *
Gold, black-pins (go), black.
Gold, black-black (go), gold.
Gold, black-gold (go), black.
They messed about with it, though..as I said i have some SI shots of..
Gold, pins-gold, black, for example.
#56 by pete goegan on 07.23.08 10:40 am |
“Lou the Toe,” not Louie! And, though The Toe wore #76 for the Browns during his career, the fellow wearing it in the picture is the great Marion Motley.
#57 by Jason on 07.23.08 10:44 am |
You beat me to the punch. That is the general practice of most clubs regarding their roving instructors.
#58 by Ricko1 on 07.23.08 10:46 am |
Self-noted…
They may have worn the pins pants on the road, but not the white pins jerseys.
#59 by Isabelle on 07.23.08 10:47 am |
I’m fascinated by the berets and bow ties that early officials wore
Those aren’t berets–those are big news-boy type caps. Can’t you see the brim? No brims on berets . . .
#60 by Ricko1 on 07.23.08 10:49 am |
I’d guess a lot of the player wore the pillboxes just because they could on a tour like that, much as players change shoe colors for the ASG.
There were pillbox fan caps for every team, as I recall, whether the team actually wore them or not….so the hats would have been readily available.
#61 by Eric Drummond Smith on 07.23.08 10:49 am |
First, I just want to say I love your blog. Secondly, the refs aren’t wearing berets, which are bill-less hats, but rather driving/drivers/newsie hats. A beret would be useless in blocking glares, which of course is essential for playcalling. Keep up the great work, and if you get the chance, check out a few more small college teams - that always makes my entire day.
#62 by Hank on 07.23.08 10:50 am |
It’s Tugger. You can see the “5″ portion of his uni #45. And Rose has a bigger, rounder noggin’. The other Phightin’s are Larry Bowa and Greg Luzinski. (Plus Burger Bill Giles getting a massage by Chuck Tanner. Yikes.)
#63 by Mark in Shiga on 07.23.08 10:52 am |
One more thing on the 1979 Japan photo — here’s my theory about why they wore these special hats. 1979 was the 30th anniversary of the two-laegue (Central and Pacific) system in Japan, and in the Japanese all-star game, they wore pillbox hats with stripes!
Here’s a photo of them from Japan’s Hall of Fame.
I suspect they chose the pillbox-with-stripes motif in imitation of the same design worn in the majors three years earlier.
So maybe they figured it would be a fun idea if the visiting major leaguers did the same thing. I’m trying to find game action photos from that series, to see if the Japanese teams also wore the special hats, but can’t just yet. I suspect it would involve trekking to a library and hunting through 29-year-old newspapers!
#64 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 10:53 am |
what’s the “M” several players have on their cleats (and also sneakers - for the dodger coach)?
#65 by Walaitis on 07.23.08 10:55 am |
Ricko? Have you multiplied since I left town?
#66 by Mark in Shiga on 07.23.08 10:55 am |
Here’s a chronological collection of Nankai Hawks caps. The fourth one from the top is the 1979 All-Star Version. Pillbox and stripes!
#67 by Ferdinand Cesarano on 07.23.08 10:56 am |
A few other observations on the 1978 NL picture:
* Joel Youngblood appears to be wearing black stirrups with his Met uni. (I thought this might have been just a lighting issue, until I noticed Garvey’s blue Dodger stirrups.)
* The different number fonts on Youngblood’s and Stearns’s Met jerseys have already been mentioned. However, it is necessary to add that Youngblood’s is the wrong one for that team. Also Ozzie Smith has the wrong number font on his Padres jersey. Perhaps these particular jerseys were not from the season, but made for this trip?
* How about the crazy Expos pillbox cap sported by the player right behind Aurelio Lopez? It is not the solid blue that we’ve seen before, but it has a blue top and bill, with white around the “pillbox”! (One would expect that there should be some blue stripes going around; but I don’t see them.)
#68 by Ricko1 on 07.23.08 10:58 am |
That sounds plausible, because as far as i know any of those hats produced for U.S. consumption (MLB on-field or as fan caps) had only three stripes…like the Pirates.
#69 by Urban Runoff on 07.23.08 11:00 am |
The “A” on the old AFC Pro Bowl helmets looks a lot like the Arizona Wildcats. -Runoff
#70 by Ricko1 on 07.23.08 11:01 am |
Those are the first Mizunos.
Had an M on the side.
#71 by Dave in VA on 07.23.08 11:01 am |
Those shoes were made by Mizuno in the late 70’s.
#72 by Ricko on 07.23.08 11:03 am |
Oops, my email address has that “1″, sometimes fingers just keep going.
#73 by Ricko on 07.23.08 11:04 am |
I got a 23 on that “softall guy” quiz. How’d anyone else do?
#74 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 11:05 am |
thought so, but wasn’t sure…thanks
…question…did they pick those up (i assume they are of japanese origin) just for that series, and did they ever wear them in the states with that logo? i don’t ever recall seeing mizuno footwear with anything other than this logo…
#75 by Dave in VA on 07.23.08 11:07 am |
I do know that Pete Rose wore them in (at least) ‘79, his first year with the Phils. I have an old ‘Camera Night’ photo of him from that year - the game where the Phils wore the all-burgundy uniforms - and he’s wearing the Mizuno cleats.
#76 by Saru on 07.23.08 11:08 am |
High numbers are not uncommon in Italian soccer. Cristiano Lucarelli wore 99 for Livorno–not just a high number but also “an homage to left-wing ultras group Brigate Autonome Livornesi, which was founded in 1999.” (From Wikipedia, though I have read about it here as well.
#77 by Steven on 07.23.08 11:08 am |
http://farm4.static....
Jaime Moreno of DC United has worn 99 for the last few seasons. (also note the TM by the DC logo? and Becks behind him in a long sleeve shirt…the field temp was like 120 degrees that day)
http://www.flickr.co...
Jeff Cunningham is wearing 96 this year at Toronto. He uses his goal total at the start of the season(or has in the past)
http://farm3.static....
Bofo Bautista of Chivas de Guadalajara wears 100.
#78 by Ricko on 07.23.08 11:10 am |
Yup, lotsa player wore them, including Rose with the Phillies, I think, and number of the A’s. I’ll do some digging.
Well, there’s this…(check Keough)
http://vault.sportsi...
an’ ol’ Petey…
http://vault.sportsi...
#79 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 11:10 am |
YES
…awesome…thanks
#80 by ryan c #40 on 07.23.08 11:15 am |
the “compendium of Olympics posters” the mexico 68 poster is VERY clever!!! love it!
#81 by Steven on 07.23.08 11:18 am |
And while I’m posting…Rep. Baca, why not wear your districts Minor League team uni? Inland Empire 66ers? I would understand if the team was on the outskirts of the district that also included parts of LA. But, no. One more reason for me to dislike him.
(to be fair the 66ers are a Dodgers farm team…but still)
#82 by MPowers1634 on 07.23.08 11:20 am |
A Bit OT for just a second…I found this pic of Kirby Puckett and Sparky Anderson, from presumably the 1993 ASG.
Check out the length of the pants and how good both their unis look!
http://www.greenarro...
Anyone ever notice what a good job Lou WHitaker did in magic markering his number in 1987?
http://farm1.static....
BTW.
#83 by MPowers1634 on 07.23.08 11:20 am |
Lou Whitaker was ‘85 sorry!
#84 by Jim on 07.23.08 11:23 am |
Beijing’s symbol:
Is that a running man AND a chinese character? Or just one of them alone?
#85 by Ben on 07.23.08 11:30 am |
Whats with the Brewers untucking their jerseys after each win lately? http://sports.espn.g...
GO BREWERS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Cubbies are coming down from first tonite!
#86 by Craig D on 07.23.08 11:30 am |
A little nugget in the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the Cleveland Browns Brownie Elf.
“Brownie’s return: The elf came back in 1999 on the capes worn during cold-weather games. When the NFL suggested putting Brownie on the team’s helmet, coach Butch Davis said, “I don’t want to coach the Elves.”"
It’s a sidebar in this article
http://blog.clevelan...
The NFL is STILL pushing the Browns to add something to the helmet??? Sure it was a few years ago…but geez…Say No To LOGOS!
#87 by MPowers1634 on 07.23.08 11:32 am |
That is something about sneakers that I didn’t know about…Cool!
Although, the M Logo looks very much what the company Merrell uses today:
http://i256.photobuc...
http://www.merrell.c...
http://farm2.static....
#88 by u2-horn on 07.23.08 11:32 am |
My brother had a white Expos pillbox. It did have blue stripes.
http://i33.photobuck...
#89 by Dustin on 07.23.08 11:43 am |
It’s something that’s quite unfortunate, but they’ve been doing it for a most of the season (remembering Paul’s comments on multiple occasions). It looks sloppy, but it’s their thing after wins.
#90 by TD on 07.23.08 11:44 am |
That’s definitely Aurelio Lopez, and he definitely didn’t play a game with the Tigers until 1979. He was in the Cardinals organization in ‘78 and his rights were traded to Detroit in December of 1978.
Also, Gene Garber (Atlanta #26) wasn’t a Bravo until midseason 1978 - he was traded from the Phillies on June 15th.
#91 by Ricko on 07.23.08 11:48 am |
I can’t speak for anyone else, and I’m a great believer that stadia, ballparks, arenas and covention centers are—if you wanna be a major market player—part of a community’s infrastructure.
And I frickin’ love pro football. The game itself, that is. Inside the white lines.
But the Vikings are asking for some $600 million from the public for a new stadium. The team, including the NFL’s contribution, will put up about $250 million. For a place to play, what, 10 games a year?
And those are games you really can’t take a family to anymore because, even beyong the cost, far too high a percentage of any NFL crowd is so drunk and obnoxious they make you never want to go back.
The NFL has become a marketing machine, focussing on retail sales, cable TV money and filling stadia with corporpate bigwigs who sit in private behind glass watching–and laughing at–the rude drunks with whom they’d never dream of associating, and who are marching relentlessly downward toward soccer holliganism.
Not to mention players who, as a group, seem to have a seriosuly deteriorating idea of how a responsible, civilized adult should behave.
Has anyone noticed that L.A. seems to be surving just fine without an NFL team?
Remember how attendance and viwership lagged for a time after the last work stoppage? Trust me, I spoke with insiders back then who were pretty scared. They realized Americans had come dangerously close to discovering there were plenty of other great things to do on an Autumn Sunday.
Sometimes I think it’s about time we all did exactly that.
#92 by LI Phil on 07.23.08 11:51 am |
miami too
#93 by Ricko on 07.23.08 11:53 am |
Cincinnati and Phoenix, also.
Was gonna say Detroit, but Detroit ain’t doing fine any way you look at it.
#94 by S. Bennett on 07.23.08 11:59 am |
Worst Uniform Ever.
http://lieve.blog.ka...
SB
#95 by Mark in Cincy on 07.23.08 12:12 pm |
I didn’t see anyone comment on this, but I was looking through the pictures of the Congressional game and I found a picture of John Boccieri (D-OH) batting for St. Bonaventure in his college days. It looks like he is wearing a long-sleeve jersey! I can’t link right to the picture, but it is the first picture in the third row of snapshots.
Am I right, or am I just seeing things?
http://picasaweb.goo...
#96 by Ricko on 07.23.08 12:16 pm |
Wow, would be pefect for the Ompa Loompa team.
Green hair, orange faces, dizzying blue bullesye unis.
And, wow, if each Oompa Loompa were holding a yellow lava lamp…?
Far out, psychadelic, man. When I watched ‘em play I’d see God an’ everything.
#97 by KT on 07.23.08 12:19 pm |
Someone wore #100 for Chivas de Guadalajara in the season of the club’s 100th anniversary.
80 would be nothing new.
Jeff Cunningham was changing his jersey number every year to reflect his career goal totals. I’ve forgotten what his career goal total actually is now, and, to be honest, where he’s playing these days.
#98 by Robert on 07.23.08 12:22 pm |
Check out George Foster, on the right side of the 1976 Japan tour. Since he was in Japan and away from the supervision of Reds management, he got gutsy and pulled up his stirrups, showing plenty of white. The Reds had a team rule precluding such showmanship.
http://farm4.static....