Been over a month since our last Ricko installment, a gap that I’m sure has sent many of you into withdrawal (me, too). Without further ado:
• Check out all these white-shod N.L. all-stars from 1981. Also, note Dave Concepcion wearing red cleats — not quite as much a statement as white, but still a deviation from Cincy’s usual black footwear at the time. In this shot, from the same game, you can see Andre Dawson wearing white.
• Speaking of footwear, check out Dave Parker’s gold Brookses (interesting shin-lacing technique, too). “This shot is from ’81 also and, while not from the ASG in question, this photo got saved because it matched the shoes he wore when he made those two great throws,” says Ricko. “I know, cuz I watched that game like a hawk trying to figure out ‘What’s he wearing THIS year?’” Yes, back in the day, Ricko actually kept a running tally of the Cobra’s cleats. Unfuckingbelievable.
• “I actually have sketches (on 3 x 5 cards) of what I call ‘Innovators,’ mostly for football,” says Ricko. “First guys to tape shoes, first guys to wear white shoes, first to wear colored shoes, first to wear Saucony, adidas, puma, k-swiss… I actually did this well into adulthood. Drawn on vellum, then taped to black cards. Always thought they might look cool enlarged, that the effect would be interesting. I was right. Anyway, here are the ‘Tape’ and ‘White Shoes’ sketches for Namath. And from the ‘Colored Shoes,’ series, a NY guy like you should appreciate these.”
• “How many socks did the White Sox wear when the White Sox wore white socks?” asks Ricko. Answer: Lots, as seen in this slideshow.
• Joe Pepitone was famous for his hair-care habits, but early in his career he was close-shorn. Later on, he looked bushier. And is that a cigarette in his mouth?
• Saucony cleats used a three-stripe pattern several years before Adidas did. And look who used to wear them.
• “This photo interested me for two reasons,” says Ricko. “First, Lance Alworth, rookie year, ’62, wore No. 24. Also, Fred ‘The Hammer’ Williamson, one of the early tape guys, started spatting up his Sauconys that year (Alworth didn’t start spatting till ’63, when he changed to No. 19).
Interestingly enough, each of them had worn Sauconys the year before; Alworth at Arkansas, Williamson with Raiders. Will have to dig those photos out later. And here’s the Hammer again, also from ’62, but with more tape. Also note one of his teammates must have preferred his ‘Bears-style’ helmet from the two previous seasons (no gold stripe is first thing you notice).”
• “Here’s one of the most uni-oriented magazine covers I ever saw,” says Ricko. “And speaking of Don Maynard, that’s him in this 1960 shot, wearing his funky original Titans helmet. And here he is in the first year of the Jets, still wearing his funky Titans helmet, now repainted to lustrous white and kelly. The reason he has no helmet logo is likely because it was a preseason game, just like in this shot (although now the Jets had two stripes, not one).”
That’ll do for today. More Rickosity coming next week.
Support Our Enablers Sponsors: As you may have noticed, we have a new advertiser over in the right-hand rail, just above the Google panel: Classic Old School Gear, a custom-jersey operation that’s ideal if you’re looking to create a reproduction of, say your high school jersey. The company is run by reader Alain Nana-Sinkam, who’s a swell guy (and a card-carrying member, don’tcha know), so please check them out, ’K? ’K.
Uni Watch News Ticker: You already knew that the Vikings use a metallic finish for their helmets, but you might not have known that they also used metallic flake in their helmet decals (with thanks to Dan Smith). … This page has the following tidbit: “The next year [2004], a Royals employee went to the Dominican to scout some games or whatever. And in the middle of the day, he hears someone call his name. He turns around and it’s Jose Lima … WEARING A FULL ROYALS UNIFORM. Everything. Pants. Socks. The whole bit. During the offseason. In the middle of the day. In the Dominican Republic” (thanks, Vince). … The Magic’s new jerseys appear to have been leaked (with thanks to Rob Payne). … The Hiroshima Carp will wear 1977 throwbacks later this month to mark their final year at Hiroshima Municipal Stadium (as reported by, of course, Jeremy Brahm). … Good article here on the guy who cleans the jerseys for the Jets and Giants (with thanks to Dane Drutis). … Check this out: The 1902 Oklahoma Sooners — with their coach wearing a Texas Longhorns sweater. That shot comes our way courtesy of Dan Bewley, who also sent this early article on football equipment (here’s the second page). … Travis Hafner, like most rehabbing MLBers, is wearing his big league helmet while down in the minors (with thanks to Brendon Yarian). … Big thanks to a reader who shall remain nameless, who was kind enough to send me a set of Phillies stirrups, complete with laundry tags and Liberty Bells. And in case you were wondering the Liberty Bells are embroidered, not printed. … Speaking of reader generosity, last month I mentioned that I became a 49ers fan because I pulled this football card out of a box of cereal when I was six years old but that the card had gotten lost along the way. Three different readers arranged to have the card sent to me — you guys are amazing, really. Thank you. … Lots of chatter that this may be the Sabers’ new third jersey. Not sure if it’s legit or not, but we’ll all find out soon enough. … Rezoning and rampant giveaways to developers here in NYC have taken a massive toll on the institution of the neighborhood tavern. But yesterday local DJ Mr. Fine Wine and I spent Monday afternoon drinking and shooting pool at this fine establishment, which is only a 25-minute bike ride from my apt. but had somehow eluded my bar radar over the past two decades. Just as perfect inside as it looks from the outside. … Good site devoted to retro soccer gear here (with thanks to Michael Doucette). … My recent coverage of high-positioned shin guards led Mike Engle to point out that Henry Rodriguez pioneered that style years ago. … The Packers wore white shoes in the preseason (just as they’ve done for years), but they broke out black shoes last night. First time they’ve gone black-shod since 1975. … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: New center-ice designs for the Hurricanes and Habs. … Also from yesterday: Shorpy scores again. … Decal problems for the Huskies (with thanks to Casey Moses).
#1 by Steve Sarran on 09.09.08 8:55 am |
Im not a packers fan but the black shoes looked mighty sharp. White shoes remind me of the 80’s.
#2 by LI Phil on 09.09.08 8:56 am |
this and this are simplyfuckinamazing
ricko!
did you trace those and then ‘paint’ those colors in? absolutely amazing man!
and i LOVE LOVE LOVE studdard’s green pumas
awesome job ol’ man!
#3 by Jim MI on 09.09.08 8:58 am |
Early NHL news:
Read off of another hockey related site that the Montreal Canadiens will be wearing more than one vintage uni this year for their 100 year celebration.
Rumored are 1912-1913 and 1915-1916 jerseys. Also rumored to be 2 more but no years given.
Here is a pic of MON uni history with 1915 uni in there:
http://1.bp.blogspot...
Cannot find a pic of 1912, but I am still looking.
#4 by Sigma1042 on 09.09.08 9:01 am |
Uniwatchblog got a nice shout out on first team on fox this morning (steve czaban’s show). If anyone has XM they replay at noon. It happened about 2 hours into the show. They discussed memorial patches.
#5 by Dave on 09.09.08 9:02 am |
Not uni related, but does anyone remember the ASG that Rick mentions where Dave Parker made those great throws? I have a distinct memory of watching him throw an absolute *bullet* from the right field corner to throw someone out at home. A quick search says it was 1979, but I couldn’t find any video of it. Anyone know where I could see that again?
#6 by Broadway Connie on 09.09.08 9:03 am |
Yikes. Today’s Ricko gallery is the shit. Don Maynard as a Titan? The Evolution of Joe Namath murals? The cavalcade of pale hose? A giant strides among us.
And then there’s Jeremy Brahm, omniscient internationalist. Those Carp throwback unis! Paul, do you have info about, or a photo of, Mr Brahm?
#7 by Hurnf on 09.09.08 9:04 am |
It was 1979, and he gunned someone out at home, and someone at third base.
#8 by LI Phil on 09.09.08 9:04 am |
notice gibril wilson of da raidahs…no white sock…the ENTIRE raider DBs were so attired last evening…gotta think the fashion police would like a few words…
also…
surprisingly, the GU63 patch didn’t look so bad on the silver and black
#9 by Stuby on 09.09.08 9:10 am |
Last GU comment for me, I swear. Here’s a shot of the GU patch encroaching on the uni numbers of the Packers.
http://scores.espn.g...
Quick Jose Lima story: Late 90s at Candlestick, Lima with the Astros. He’s talking to some high school kids in the crowd when one of the kids asks him for a dip. Lima takes the can out of his back pocket and tosses it to the kid. Kid takes a dip and tosses it back to Lima. Classic.
#10 by MPowers1634 on 09.09.08 9:16 am |
As for OJ in the saucony cleats:
http://farm4.static....
It shouldn’t be a surprise sonce there was a line of them known as the “Juicemobiles”:
http://i.cdn.turner....
#11 by xyz on 09.09.08 9:18 am |
Ricko,
I know Wilson used three stripes on their cleats in the late 60’s and early seventies. Also, I know Spot Bilt was making alot of the early cleats (1960’s thru 1970’s) and thought maybe that you had mixed up Saucony with Spot Bilt. (Saucony merged or bought out Spot Bilt in the mid to late 70′.)
#12 by Stuby on 09.09.08 9:21 am |
Check out the short pants on #81 of the Jets in that second link. They look rolled up, but are approaching Al Harris territory.
#13 by MPowers1634 on 09.09.08 9:23 am |
#14 by MPowers1634 on 09.09.08 9:25 am |
I noticed that and Posted last night…all of the Raiders DB’s as well as one of the linebackers were wearing black socks and cleats.
D’Angelo Hall was as well, especially when he had two personal fouls on one drive!
I actually likes the look, especially with their addition of three black northwestern stripes on the sock.
#15 by Hank on 09.09.08 9:26 am |
Pepitone pics: In case anyone is interested (as was I) in what the ‘Harmonica Incident’ was as featured in the caption of the photo here it is: http://www.baseballs...
This stuff can only happen in baseball.
#16 by Shabe on 09.09.08 9:28 am |
Kid Carter looks entirely too happy in that first foto.
#17 by Justin on 09.09.08 9:39 am |
anyone notice/said anything about Favre still wearing his Packers shoulder pads? http://graphics8.nyt...
#18 by seven on 09.09.08 9:43 am |
Paul, I know you don’t have a great memory for soccer stuff, but I think you’ve posted the TOFFs link at least 2 other times.
#19 by floormaster squeeze on 09.09.08 9:51 am |
I think Toffs makes fine merchandise and cool retro kits but I had a really bad experience with them. They advertised a jersey they did not have, charged me for it, then explained they did not have and would refund me.
I sent them a nice note back saying that while they should have updated their offerings list to prevent that sort of thing happening–they should never have charged me for something they did not have. Well, I got a surprisingly nasty and unprofessional note back. Pretty classless.
#20 by MPowers1634 on 09.09.08 9:52 am |
Good eyes, Stuby…I’m wondering if the Jet didn’t take the kneepads out of his pants and tuck them under to avoid th extreme weight of wet pants!
#21 by Kek on 09.09.08 9:53 am |
Am I missing something? I was on the Classic Old School gear page, is that the only page of the website? The description on the page leads me to believe that there is more (i.e. examples of the work)
#22 by John T on 09.09.08 9:56 am |
and add to that, in the picture they both have on Met caps!! I reckon it was around ‘67 (picture), and the incident was in 64
#23 by Hank on 09.09.08 9:56 am |
The site is a little slow to open. There are links to samples, etc.
#24 by Justin in AR on 09.09.08 9:59 am |
That’s unfortunate, because I would really like to have that Man U George Best shirt. You suggest I look elsewhere?
#25 by Bob A on 09.09.08 10:04 am |
Yup, Mets caps in what seems to be Yankee Stadium. Probably a shot taken at the Mayor’s Trophy Game they played annually back then. Getting Berra and Linz in a picture together with the harmonica at their old ballpark was some sports editor’s idea of high comedy.
#26 by sleepyfloyd on 09.09.08 10:10 am |
Alain NS here. It seems like my page is presenting problems for some browsers. Try the direct link at www.classicoldschool...
I am good at the jersey stuff, not so much with the web stuff.
#27 by Cork on 09.09.08 10:12 am |
Could be wrong, but i believe those years correspond to the year the specific sweaters were introduced. So if you are looking for 1912, just look at 1911-1912. And if that is the case I cannot WAIT for those striped sweaters to be worn. One word. AWE.some.
#28 by timmy b on 09.09.08 10:12 am |
what truly amazes me about Ricko is not the fact that he did all of this stuff and did it quite well, but the fact that he SAVED EVERYTHING he ever did.
astonishing.
#29 by Kek on 09.09.08 10:15 am |
I’m getting an error in the bottom left of the window, I’ll try to peep the site at home on either firefox or chrome (you suck sometimes IE).
The direct link changes to the extended URL with Uniwatch in it.
#30 by Jim MI on 09.09.08 10:17 am |
Yeah I know, I have found the 1915 jerseys, still no 1912.
It’s hard to find because the NHL wasn’t founded until 1917, so record are hard to come by.
#31 by Jet on 09.09.08 10:23 am |
Yeah Tim, it is freakin’ MIND-BLOWING.
And oh man, I hope the Canadians do up those old jerseys right. Nothing lamer than seeing those old striped hockey SWEATERS rendered in new-fangled RBK polyester.
-Jet
#32 by Pat on 09.09.08 10:23 am |
So am I to believe that you can just go and purchase those Phillies stirrups? Or do you have to have a special connection to acquire a pair? If they were available for purchase I think I would buy a few pairs.
Anyone know for sure?
#33 by Mark on 09.09.08 10:24 am |
Looks like the blue jays have 2 stars and stripes hat
http://www.lids.com/...
http://www.lids.com/...
#34 by Jim MI on 09.09.08 10:30 am |
Here’s a gallery of Georges Vezina, who played in both 1912 and 1915 seasons for MON.
http://www.legendsof...
No years in pics, but still uni goodness.
#35 by Beats in Buffalo on 09.09.08 10:31 am |
The leaked image of the Sabres third jersey is very likely to be legitimate, not only does it correspond to the leaked description but a few years ago when the backlash of the current jersey design began the Sabres President assured fans that the old logo would be reintroduced but in line with the new color scheme which would avoid last years terrible look of a royal blue jersey with navy helmets and pads.
#36 by Jake Pride on 09.09.08 10:42 am |
An obsessive detail that only readers of this blog might notice: did you see that the font on the NFL referees’ uniforms now matches the font used in all of NFL’s TV and web advertising? It’s true!
Look at the number and abbreviation on the uni:
Now look at the new NFLShop.com logo.
There’s a league that’s got its marketing mojo working.
#37 by Jim MI on 09.09.08 10:43 am |
I actually kind of like the buffalo’s ‘buffaslug’ as some call it.
(waiting to get something thrown at me in disgust)
Don’t get me wrong, they NEVER should have left this design:
http://cardsgaloreca...
But I like the current deisgn a hell of a lot better than this:
http://www.hollywood...
Or This: ewww….
http://www.sabresleg...
Personally never understood why they left the actual sabres off their unis. They went to straight up buffalos. They are not the Buffalo Buffalos. They’re they Buffalo Sabres, put some sabres in your logo for God’s sake.
http://i119.photobuc...
Very nice…
#38 by floormaster squeeze on 09.09.08 10:45 am |
Well, I could just be a crazy posting in comment sections!
Toffs does have some pretty exclusive stuff and others may well be very happy with their service. I am just a sample of one, but I found I can live without doing business with them.
#39 by Paul Lukas on 09.09.08 10:45 am |
There are additional links at the top of their home page.
#40 by Ricko on 09.09.08 10:45 am |
I didn’t mean to imply it was about the manufacturer, as much as watching the introduction of white “trim” on football shoes…and saying that “three stripes” originally was brought to American football by someone other than adidias (Raymond Berry wore a three-stipe model of some kind in the late 50s, but blacked out the stripes; wore them in the 1958 Sudden Death game, in fact).
In ‘64 when I found a pair of the soccer version of the shoes in the Charlie Johnson photo,I immediately bought them. By that time adidas had become well-established for track & field and soccer, but I learned this was a brand called “saucony”. So I was sort of reverse-engineering the history as best I could.
Those shoes on Simpson at CCSF are adidas, some of the first introduced in U.S. for football (even in ‘66 and ‘67 very few around). Just included it to show he was among the earliest to wear them.
—Ricko
#41 by Jim MI on 09.09.08 10:45 am |
Lets’ try that second link again….
http://www.hockeyfor...
#42 by interlockingtc on 09.09.08 10:46 am |
I thought the Starlight Lounge was ficticous, the stuff of stories and film. But, damn, there it is. Long may it live.
Another stellar Ricko installment.
I look at that Canadiens centre ice shot, and all I see is commercialized clutter. An eyesore. I know that’s the way of the world, but, still…you hardly notice the anniversary logo amidst the crap.
#43 by Cosmo on 09.09.08 10:46 am |
Decal problems for the Huskies (with thanks to Casey Moses).
I noticed that in week 1 against the Ducks. Except even worse. Paint chipping off in large sections. Do they use cheap paint for those helmets or what?
#44 by Perry on 09.09.08 10:47 am |
Also described by Jim Bouton, who was there, in Ball Four.
#45 by Scott Little on 09.09.08 10:50 am |
• Saucony cleats used a three-stripe pattern several years before Adidas did. And look who used to wear them.
Is there further evidence of this? All of my information here points to adidas before saucony/spot-bilt.
#46 by Stuby on 09.09.08 10:51 am |
Team Astana disputes the rumor that Lance Armstrong will be riding for them in ‘09 in this article:
http://sports.yahoo....
But isn’t this a picture of Lance wearing their uniform on the Trek website?
http://www.trekbikes...
#47 by Brad on 09.09.08 10:51 am |
I noticed the black shoes and socks look by the Raiders DBs as well. I personally thought it looked pretty good for the Raiders.
Did anyone notice that Gibril changed shoes at halftime though. I’m pretty sure he went from the all black to white shoes. I’m still looking for a pic though, can anyone help?
#48 by MPowers1634 on 09.09.08 10:57 am |
Whether it is my age or simply my ignorance, I had barely heard of “Ball Four”.
Just from hearsay on this site, it seems to be one of those sports themed “must-reads”.
Am I right in assuming this? If so, I’ll head to the library directly after work!
#49 by Ricko on 09.09.08 10:59 am |
It may well be, Scott. As I said, I was an early teenager catching glimpses of shoe trim in an era before cable TV or even instant replay, LOL, looking at the shoe trim, trying to figure out who made it and getting mixed signals. One of the photos I sent to Paul that day is Pervis Atkins in the same shoe as C. Johnson from a ‘60 or ‘61 football annual. Is it adidas or saucony? I honestly don’t know. I just know when I actually found the shoe it was a saucony.
It’s not about me being right or wrong, cuz I don’t know. Just helping with “evidence trail” so to speak.
—Ricko
#50 by Kek on 09.09.08 11:01 am |
Absolutely. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it (perhaps I should pick it back up but I’ve got a lot of books going right now and not a lot of time).
I put it with Friday Night Lights as favorite sports books in my library.
#51 by Ricko on 09.09.08 11:10 am |
Also, I’m talking only about three stripes on shoes for American football.
#52 by Scott Little on 09.09.08 11:10 am |
• Saucony cleats used a three-stripe pattern several years before Adidas did. And look who used to wear them.
Ricko,
I’m picturing an overzealous reader picking that up, and telling everyone who wears adidas, you know, that was saucony’s design…
Here’s what I know. adidas was the first to do three stripes, and were using it regularly by the early 50’s. Adi Dassler’s strong suit was not law, and adidas didn’t protect the three stripe design very vigorously in America early on. You remember seeing a lot more knock off three stripe shoe brands when you were a kid than now? Anyhow, my opinion is, there was a lot of three stripe copycats, adidas was the first three striper.
#53 by Hank on 09.09.08 11:11 am |
1912-13 Montreal Canadiens team picture:
http://4.bp.blogspot...
Referenced blog: http://wwwrealityche...
#54 by Paul Lukas on 09.09.08 11:14 am |
I’ll post this in tomorrow’s entry, but no reason not to get a head start on it now…
For years I’ve thought (and said) that the white “410″ mark on Shea Stadium’s centerfield wall was changed to black during the Hernandez era, because Keith supposedly found the white numerals distracting.
I thought this was the case throughout Hernandez’s tenure with the team. But this screen grab from the 1986 World Series clearly shows I was wrong:
http://farm4.static....
I’m still pretty damn certain that the “410″ was changed to black at some point during Mex’s stint with the Mets. Can anyone help fill in the blanks for me here? Better yet, anyone got a photo (like from a yearbook, say)?
#55 by Jim on 09.09.08 11:18 am |
Paul,
UniWatch got some serious love on FSN’s First Team radio show this morning, Keep up the good work for eveyone who “gets it”.
#56 by Robert on 09.09.08 11:20 am |
Oh my. “Must-read” is an understatement. Get thee to the library immediately. This and “The Bronx Zoo” by Sparky Lyle are the most important non-fiction works to me . . . except possibly for Okkonen’s book.
#57 by Scott Little on 09.09.08 11:32 am |
Ricko,
Is your opinion saucony ushered in the first appearance of three stripes on a gridiron? Is that the first appearance of “style” on a football shoe?
I have one of these really old adidas football cleats at my house. For funsies, here’s a link to it on my site:
http://www.burnsshoe...
#58 by Ricko on 09.09.08 11:33 am |
I guess that’s kinda what I’ve been saying (and not too well): Adidas was big in Europe, but “three stripes” started showing up in American football long before adidas actually got into that business. Some of what I saw (I imagine CFL for example) may well have been guys wearing adidas soccer shoes…but it was so hard to get a look at them back then, who knew?
And you’re right about some readers not seeing I was talking only about U.S. football.
Ooops.
#59 by Teebz on 09.09.08 11:34 am |
If that’s the case, I’ll take the mismatched blue over the god-awful striping of that leaked jersey any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
Seriously, it looks like someone got his/her mom to put those stripes on with a sewing machine in the dining in the middle of the night. Absolutely horrible!
#60 by Jim MI on 09.09.08 11:35 am |
AWESOME!!
Talk about stripes! Definitely looking forward to these vintage unis. Wonder if it’ll be forced to be a RBK template, or the NHL will be kind and let MON do it in period correct fabrics. Lets all hope…
From the linked blog…
http://2.bp.blogspot...
Wish my hockey stick cost 50 cents…
Wish it was big enough to read.
#61 by Teebz on 09.09.08 11:37 am |
Damn my inferno of rage! I missed an important word! LOL
#62 by david on 09.09.08 11:59 am |
the three stripes was used by several companies. which is what made spot bilt, nike and converse so different. being an equipment manager and a coaches son-my dad had all kids of stuff!!
#63 by Robert on 09.09.08 12:03 pm |
That’s not Lance. That’s Levi Leipheimer.
#64 by MPowers1634 on 09.09.08 12:11 pm |
What is the difference between Ball Four and Ball Four Plus Five?
No Snarky comments please!
#65 by Ricko on 09.09.08 12:12 pm |
Three stripes? Yeah, kinda think maybe…other than a occasionally a guy trying a pair of european adidas soccer shoes for football.
As far as white trim in general, Riddell introduced the white snug-ties around the heel in about ‘57 or so, and the white arch trim (what WAS that called? Snug-fit, maybe) in late ‘59 and for sure a few players wore them in ‘60. Among them, Julian Spence, Oilers, and R.C Owens, 49ers, but he removed the snug-ties. Ironically in the world of shoedom, Riddells with the “snug-fit” tab under the arch seemed to first emit from Oregon. Oregon State (Terry Baker era) and Oregon were among the first college teams to have most backs and ends wearing them.
Don’t know when spot-bilt debuted the white band with three black holes. Probably also about ‘57 or ‘58.
I think the oldest clipping I have of three stripes is NY Giants linebacker Cliff Livingston in ‘59 or ‘60. But, Raymond Berry was wearing the same shoe with the stripes blacked out as early as, possibly, 1957. That shoe also had a bit of white trim around heel…some lines and a tiny dot or two. The maker? Have no idea. Wasn’t adidas. Wasn’t the saucony I found later. Maybe that’s the Wilson someone mentioned?
I’ll have to do some digging when I get home.
—Ricko
#66 by tribe22 on 09.09.08 12:13 pm |
Not sure if anyone else picked this up in that 1981 All-Star game photo, but the “Cubs” guy waiting to greet Parker and Ozzie was actually the team trainer Tony Garafalo.
Not that it is horribly interesting, other than the fact that the Cubs used to outfit their trainer in a BP jersey.
The Cubs only all-star that year was Buckner and that’s not him.
#67 by Jen on 09.09.08 12:15 pm |
Wait Paul, you mean THE Mr. Fine Wine?
#68 by Stuby on 09.09.08 12:16 pm |
Damn, looks like Lance. I guess alot of guys look alike with the helmet and glasses. Thanks, Robert.
#69 by Mark in Shiga on 09.09.08 12:20 pm |
I hate that new referee jersey font — the block numbers they used to use were just fine, and you could actually read the numbers from far away, unlike now.
Which reminds me — after they switched to the block numbers around 1990 or so, there was one referee (#9, Jerry Markbreit, I think) who kept his older curved-number style for many years. In the ’80s they used a number font that looks like Futura (if you’ve got it on your computer). Why was #9 allowed to keep his old style?
And, nothing to do with anything, but the fold in Salomon Torres’ jersey makes it look like he’s one of those elusive single-digit-uni-number pitchers. (Of course his real number is 16. Only a thin “1″ could have produced such a perfect fold.)
#70 by Johnny O on 09.09.08 12:23 pm |
Someone posted here about a week or so ago all the 3rd jerseys/sweaters for the NHL this year… and the Montreal jerseys/sweaters were in that link.
Anyone have that link again??
#71 by Dave D on 09.09.08 12:48 pm |
http://www.jerseydat...
http://www.jerseydat...
They are just concepts based on a reporter’s description!!!
#72 by Jeff P on 09.09.08 12:54 pm |
Actually in two parts- and these are not the real designs, they’re guesses based on leaks of the designs. Probably not all accurate.
http://www.jerseydat...
http://www.jerseydat...
#73 by E_Ro on 09.09.08 1:00 pm |
I am very suspicious of that buffalo sweater. It doesn’t look right to me.
What’s the deal here anyway? I thought uniwatch didn’t post speculative leaks?
#74 by seven on 09.09.08 1:03 pm |
I’ve ordered from TOFFS a couple of times & had excellent service. You can also order some retro shirts directly from the United website.
#75 by Robert on 09.09.08 1:09 pm |
“Ball Four Plus Five” has some supplemental writing from Bouton, updating folks on his career and such.
(Please note that I would have italicized the book’s title instead of using quotes, except that I cannot figure out how to get italics to work when I post.)
#76 by Hot Rodd on 09.09.08 1:13 pm |
I don’t get to hear all of the Czabe’s show(it is on from 3am -6am here in Phoenix) but I have long thought that he deserves honorary uni-watcher status, as he is consistently on the nose with his observations.
#77 by Teebz on 09.09.08 1:14 pm |
I’ve been saying that exact same line for the last two days.
Again, it doesn’t fit the EDGE template, it clearly looks like it was made in a Grade 9 Home Economics class, there are no tags shown inside the jersey, and the tie-up lace is white (even the Islanders got that part right).
It seems like an extremely convincing knock-off rather than the real thing.
#78 by lwiedy on 09.09.08 1:16 pm |
In the 4th quarter Sunday, Jon Gruden was caught on camera popping in a dip. Can’t imagine the league is thrilled that a member of the “Coaches Club” is using tobacco on the sideline.
Paul, thanks for the mention and you’re welcome!
#79 by lwiedy on 09.09.08 1:18 pm |
Not to worry Yanks fans, TBS still believes:
http://sports.yahoo....
#80 by lwiedy on 09.09.08 1:27 pm |
Ricko, this one’s for you. I thought this guy http://cgi.ebay.com/... was old in 1969, but he nearly made it another 40 years!
http://www.comcast.n...
#81 by lwiedy on 09.09.08 1:39 pm |
Here’s the “Packers 5″ on Maxie Baughan of the 1971 Redskins.
http://images.auctio...
#82 by Paul Lukas on 09.09.08 1:49 pm |
Yes. Longtime pal of mine.
#83 by Saru on 09.09.08 1:54 pm |
I think Toffs makes fine merchandise and cool retro kits but I had a really bad experience with them.
I’ve had good luck with Toffs–way better than Ebbetts Field Flannels who basically just took my money. I think it sometimes just comes down to individual experiences.
Toffs often sells stuff at a steep discount on UK eBay (as do individual sellers). Another good option is Score Draw, for whom you can also find good deals on UK eBay including shirts they no longer make.
#84 by JTH on 09.09.08 2:14 pm |
Someone posted yesterday about the possibility of the NFL forcing Devin Hester to change his uniform number. Here’s a blog entry about it from the Chicago Sun-Times’ Brad Biggs:
http://blogs.suntime...
#85 by JTH on 09.09.08 2:59 pm |
Holy crap! I had a pair of those orange-soled eyesores when I was about ten or twelve years old. Sidenote: they were actually branded as Spot-Bilt, not Saucony.
#86 by Ricko on 09.09.08 3:34 pm |
Thanks. Sketched or traced in pencil on vellum. Only paint is the white areas, everything else is colored pencil with just a bit of black felt tip here and there. Vellum then taped onto 3×5 black card so the whites would “pop”. Sometimes to make make a color bright (Steeler gold, for example, and sometimes red), I’d paint it white and color the dried paint with marker. After attached to card, sprayed with Krylon Cyrstal Clear for an overall gloss…especially to the painted areas…and it darkened the vellum just slightly, too.
Damn, I had to think about how it was I DID do those things.
In almost all cases it’s the actual guy. Once in awhile, in the case of an obscure player, I’d use an equally obscure photo of a player I knew was built like the guy I was drawing.
—Ricko
#87 by LI Phil on 09.09.08 3:34 pm |
*ahem*
…is this thing on?
anyhoo…
it was 39 years ago today
see you in october
#88 by Ricko on 09.09.08 3:41 pm |
Did KEK say something about having it on video?
Don’t know
I DO know that Parker’s arm was nicely warmed up that night. I remember hearing that during batting practice he, Ellis Valentine and Reggie Smith had put on an impromptu, jaw-dropping throwing exhibition. One media member said it was of the most amazing things he’d ever seen on a baseball diamond. I guess people reacted they way they do now to the Home Run Hitting Contest.
—Ricko
#89 by scott on 09.09.08 3:42 pm |
Maybe Paul can do a column on the outfits trainers have worn over the years. They used to get to line up on the field before All-Star Games, usually wearing polo shirts with the team logo on the breast. But I don’t think they get the privilege of being on the field for introductions anymore.
#90 by Stuby on 09.09.08 3:46 pm |
Don’t know if this has been addresed, but why is Jason Taylor allowed to wear #55 if he’s a Defensive End? Clearly, by the rules, he should have to wear 60-79 or 90-99.
#91 by rc on 09.09.08 4:00 pm |