Profile: Arizona Cardinals

Uniform used for years

The Arizona Cardinals are technically one of the oldest teams in the NFL. The origins of the franchise date back to 1898 when Chris O'Brien formed the Morgan Athletic Club in Chicago, Illinois.

O'Brien bought used red jerseys from the University of Chicago that he called a 'Cardinal Red," hence the nickname of the franchise. In 1920 the team known as the Racine Cardinals but was changed to the Chicago Cardinals after two seasons. In 1960 the team moved to St. Louis, Missouri and then later moved to their current location in Phoenix, Arizona in 1988.

The Arizona Cardinals' uniforms have stayed consistently the same over a number of years. When the team was originally in Chicago they used the cardinal red jerseys that O'Brien bought. Since then, no matter the location of the franchise, they have worn cardinal red jerseys at home. Only minor details have changed since the early years of the team.

Current Uniform

When the team moved to Arizona, the state flag was added to the sleeves of the jerseys. In the spring of 2005, the Cardinals introduced their first major uniform changes in over a century.

The new jerseys include several design trim lines and more use of color. The back of the jersey features the cardinal logo just above the last name of the player. A detail that is unlike any other team. The new design included an update to the cardinal on the helmet.

In April 2010, Arizona added a black alternate home uniform to their rotation. This version was first seen on the field during the 2010 preseason.

Retried Arizona Cardinals uniforms: #8 Larry Wilson, #40 Pat Tillman, #77 Stan Mauldin, #88 J.V. Cain, and #99 Marshall Goldberg

Bring Back the Throwback #1

This is our first look at teams that have recently worn a throwback uniform as their alternate uniform, and whether or not they should keep the alternate look.

The first team we will look at is the Buffalo Bills. They have been wearing a throwback uniform as their alternate for a couple years now. Each year there is talk about how the Bills should change back to the throwbacks. I couldn’t agree more. What do you think?

What makes the throwback so popular? The clean design? Stripes? Tradition? If you like the current design, why do you like it so much? Flashy? Darker colors?

Current Uniforms

60s Throwbacks

 History: In 2005, the Bills revived the standing bison helmet and uniform of the mid-1960s as a throwback uniform.

In the Year 2012: Nike is Official Provider of NFL Uniforms

Nike Designed Broncos'  Pants

For some this is exciting news, for others it is just another sign that 2012 will mark the end of the world. Where do you sit? Do you care? Do you think this will be exciting time for innovation and a solid addition to the history of NFL uniforms?
 
In an announcement made on Tuesday, Nike will become the official uniform provider for the NFL, beginning in 2012. Additionally, New Era will make the caps worn on the sidelines.

"Reebok will remain the league's official outfitter through the 2011 season. Beginning in April 2012, the official partners will be Nike, New Era, Under Armour, Gill, VF, Outerstuff and '47 Brand."

The announcement has already created an excitement on Wall Street. Darren Rovell, CNBC sports reporter, reported that the company's shares hit an all-time high of $83.40. Nike issued a statement in conjunction with the NFL's announcement.

"Nike is proud to become the official sponsor of the NFL," said Nike Brand president Charlie Denson. "With this relationship, Nike's position in our largest market in the world will be stronger than ever. We believe our agreement with the NFL enhances the Nike brand, and provides a significant opportunity to drive growth across the business -- both in our performance products and sportswear."

It's been a while since we have seen a Nike check on an NFL uniform (Well if you don't count the Denver Broncos). It will be interesting to see what happens in the years to come. It will be interesting to see who will bow down to Nike's plans for innovation and reinvent their team's identity at the hands Nike's designers.

Why are NFL players wearing pink?

October is breast cancer awareness month.

per the NFL on nfl.com:

"The NFL, its clubs, players and the NFL Players Association are proud to support the fight against breast cancer. Our campaign, "A Crucial Catch", in partnership with the American Cancer Society, is focused on the importance of annual screenings, especially for women who are 40 and older. Throughout October, NFL games will feature players, coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel, on-field pink ribbon stencils, special game balls and pink coins - all to help raise awareness for this important campaign. All apparel worn at games by players and coaches, along with special game balls and pink coins will be auctioned off at NFL Auction (www.NFL.com/auction), with proceeds benefitting the American Cancer Society and team charities. This is an issue that has directly touched the lives of so many in the NFL family, and we are committed to helping make a difference in breast cancer prevention."

Bears in Throwbacks Monday Night

Tonight the Chicago Bears are in their throwbacks that are honoring the original Monsters of the Midway from the 1940s. As of the first half, they look good in uniform... not on the field. 

Note: the plan blue helmets are the alternate to the leather helmets of the Monsters of the Midway era. 

(AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

 

Philadelphia Eagles Need To Go Old School With Uniforms

 By Will Holt  over at the bleacherreport on September 15, 2010

Kelly Green.

Never has one color made a blue-collar, tough-guy city made a fan base get weak in the knees as it does in Philadelphia.

On Sunday, September 12, the Philadelphia Eagles honored the 50th anniversary of the 1960 championship team. In doing so, the organization decided the current edition of the Eagles would sport the uniforms worn by the 1960 team, minus the long sleeves.

By all accounts, the players, and more importantly the fans loved the the throwback uniforms.

Every team in the city has gone old school recently and it has been an incredible success with the fan base.

In 1992 the Phillies changed their uniforms to a look that was inspired by the 1950 ballclub.

The Sixers changed their uniforms last year and went with a look similar to the uniforms worn in the '80s.

And in 2008 the Flyers tweaked their sweaters to look like those donned by the Broad Street Bullies in the '70s.

Al Bello/Getty Images

So why doesn't someone in the Eagles' front office make something and happen and go back to the kelly green uniforms?

 

Why not?

The fans would go ape-bleep over the change.

The biggest problem facing the Eagles if they make the change is deciding which kelly green uniform to go with. The Eagles wore the color between 1941 and 1998 with numerous variations occurring along the way.

Some of the jerseys had stripes on the arm, others had the team's logo, while others, such as the 1960 team were plain. The pants and helmets also went through a lot of changes as well. There were white helmets and pants, along with silver.

My personal favorite was the uniform worn between '89 and '98.

The silver pants were great and the logo of the bird on the sleeve added to the uniform as well.

I know this time marked a dark era in franchise, but you know what? The uniforms were great and there were plenty of great players and memories to make the change worthwhile.

Those uniforms are synonymous with the "Body Bag Game," Reggie White, Randall Cunningham, and Andre Waters.

And how great did that Eagle logo look at midfield instead of that stupid cartoon head that is normally painted at midfield?

The Eagles need to realize the best uniforms in the NFL are all old school and they need to return to one of the classic looks.

Think about it for a moment.

The Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, and San Diego Chargers have some of the best uniforms in the league and they are all inspired by old school looks. Even the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Washington Redskins have great uniforms because they either stuck with a classic look or went old school.

Meanwhile teams like the Eagles, Denver Broncos, and Buffalo Bills have some of the worst uniforms going because they tried to go with a modern look.

The controversy surround Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb is clearly more important. But every now and then you need to step back from the mind-numbing talk and focus on a lighter topic.

Tebow's Broncos jersey edges McNabb as April's No. 1

CBSSports.com wire reports
(May 5, 2010)

NEW YORK -- Tim Tebow already leads the NFL in one category: jersey sales.His Denver Broncos No. 15 was by far the most popular on the NFL's website for April. His celebrity clearly trumps the debate over whether he'll ever make it as an NFL quarterback after winning the Heisman Trophy and two national championships at Florida.Tebow is, at best, third on Denver's depth chart at QB. But the 25th pick of the first round still had the best-selling rookie jersey since the NFL started keeping track in 2006. Thirty percent of the orders came from Florida.

The Broncos were tops in the league in merchandise sales on NFLShop.com in April after ranking 10th for the year ending March 31 -- and without any other Denver player's jersey in the top 25.The draft's top pick, the St. Louis Rams' Sam Bradford, was at No. 9, behind not just Tebow but the second selection, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. The new Detroit Lion, who ranked eighth, is the only lineman in the top 25.April's No. 2 seller was an old quarterback on a new team: the Redskins jersey of Donovan McNabb.

McNabb's Eagles jersey wasn't even in the top 25 for the year ending March 31, trailing even teammate Michael Vick.His trade to Washington has sparked not just interest in McNabb but in his replacement in Philadelphia, Kevin Kolb. Ready to make his debut as a full-time starter, Kolb was No. 12 in the April rankings.Just as eye-catching is the drop in jersey sales for a quarterback in the news for very different reasons: Ben Roethlisberger. The Pittsburgh Steelers star, a longtime mainstay among the league's most popular jerseys, ranked 11th for the year ending March 31.He's nowhere to be seen in the top 25 for April, a month when he was suspended without pay for six games for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Prosecutors decided not to charge Roethlisberger in a case involving a 20-year-old college student who accused the quarterback of sexually assaulting her in a Milledgeville, Ga., nightclub.

LaDainian Tomlinson's move from the Chargers to the Jets boosted sales of his jerseys. He ranked 16th for the year ending March 31, but shot up to sixth for April.The rest of the top 10 for April includes many of the usual suspects: Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, Tony Romo and Troy Polamalu.

Third Jersey Reflects Rich History Of Packers

by Mike Spofford, Packers.com

The Packers officially unveiled their third jersey and uniform for the 2010 season and beyond on Friday at Fan Fest, and it's a re-creation of the team's uniform from 1929, the year of Green Bay's first world championship.

That year actually marked the first of three consecutive titles, as the Packers recorded a 34-5-2 cumulative record in official league games from 1929-31. The Packers have won 12 world championships in all.

"We wanted to celebrate the history and tradition of the Packers," President/CEO Mark Murphy said. "Those who remember history and follow the history of the Packers know it was a very successful era for the organization."

The jersey is navy blue with the number on the front inside a gold circle. The circle and number are enlarged a bit from their 1929 size to comply with NFL regulations regarding jersey numbers. An enlarged number is also on the back, with a nameplate above the number, another modification that wasn't present in 1929.

The helmet is a solid brown color without a logo to best simulate the leather helmets worn during the era. The uniform pants are a tan color.

"Some teams use different colors, like the Bears have had an orange jersey, but for us what really makes sense is to have a historical jersey and uniform," Murphy said. "What's exciting about this is it's so different. The colors are different, and I think our fans will really enjoy this." 

NFL teams are allowed to have a third jersey that they can wear for up to three games per season (no more than two home games) over a five-year period. Murphy said the Packers would wear it for home games only, and for one or possibly two games this coming season, with potential future use to be evaluated. Which game or games will depend on the team's schedule, which will be released sometime in April.

"It would be nice to use it against one of the original NFL teams we played in that era," Murphy said. "But I don't know if that's possible."

The re-creation of a historical jersey has been a coordinated effort between the administration and the football operations headed by General Manager Ted Thompson. Working through the league, the team started the process roughly a year ago, wanting to focus on a historical jersey that had not been previously used in "throwback" games.

In their 2001 Thanksgiving game in Detroit, the Packers wore replicas of their 1939 uniforms, while in the NFL's 75th anniversary season in 1994, the team wore 1937 uniforms.

"I think the players will really like this, especially the younger players," Murphy said. "They probably have read and heard a little bit about our history and tradition, but to actually wear a re-creation of a uniform that our team has worn will be exciting for them. We'll have a lot of fun with it."

The third jerseys, as well as the accompanying sideline apparel that the coaches and support staff will wear during the game, will be available to fans in the Packers Pro Shop at a later date. Murphy anticipated that would be sometime around training camp or the start of the regular season.

Buc logo creator, artist Lamar Sparkman dies at 88

From tbo.com:

 

TAMPA - When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers resurrected their orange uniforms and winking-pirate helmets during November's throwback game at Raymond James Stadium, it was an unforgettable afternoon for the franchise's longtime fans.

For Lamar Sparkman, the widely known sports cartoonist who designed the "Bucco Bruce'' logo, it became an emotional experience.

"I called him during the game and he was too choked up to speak,'' said Sparkman's grandson, Carter Toole. "He was an artist who took great pride in his work. To be able to see that, especially with the Bucs winning, he just loved it. He saw that his work was still remembered.''

How could it be forgotten?

Sparkman, whose popular cartoons appeared on the pages of the Tampa Times and Tampa Tribune for 40 years (1947-87), died Wednesday morning after complications from pneumonia. He was 88.

A private burial service is Friday. The funeral is Saturday morning at 11 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Tampa.

Sparkman is survived by two daughters, Rosemary McAteer of Brooksville and Lamar Toole of Charlottesville, Va., along with three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, who passed away in 2005.

He was known for regular football cartoons about the University of Florida ("The Adventures of Alli-Gator''), Florida State ("Song of the Seminole'') and the Buccaneers (the "Buc Bomber'' – a World War I-style fighter plane that navigated treacherous surroundings in the franchise's early years).

He was a regular at the Masters – three of his paintings still hang at Augusta National – and a personal favorite of the legendary Arnold Palmer.

His drawings also captured notable accomplishments from local athletes – and many have been preserved as cherished keepsakes.

Sparkman, who attended Plant High School and UF, worked on despite health woes, including a near fatal cranial aneurysm and a cancer that forced the removal of his left eye shortly before his Tribune sports retirement to concentrate on painting portraits.

"If van Gogh can work with one ear, I can work with one eye,'' Sparkman said at the time.

"No other newspaper in America had a Lamar Sparkman,'' former Tribune sports editor and columnist Tom McEwen wrote in "The Cartoon World of Lamar Sparkman,'' a compilation of the artist's work that was published in 1994. "He entertains, informs and editorializes.''

The beginning of Sparkman's craft was modest.

"I always liked to doodle and draw things,'' he said.

Sparkman, a World War II veteran who was working as a salesman, produced his first cartoon for the afternoon Tampa Times on Aug. 21, 1947. The subject was Tampa's Broughton Williams, the former Florida Gator who was playing in the College All-Star Game against the defending NFL champion Chicago Bears.

His work caught on, and he became a fixture on the sports pages.

"He never made deadline,'' McEwen said. "But deadlines hold for someone who offers something so special as Lamar Sparkman has.''

Sparkman's most notable contribution occurred in 1975, when he was commissioned to design a logo for the Bucs.

On his first attempt, he produced a skull-and-crossbones design (ironically, very similar to the Bucs' new logo, which debuted in 1997), but it was rejected by the team's advisory board. Sparkman eventually submitted a winking Buccaneer, wearing a feather-plumed hat.

It was enthusiastically supported by the advisory board.

Initially described as a "high-class cutthroat'' with a "devil-may-care attitude,'' it was intended to be a cross between Errol Flynn, Robin Hood, Jean Lafitte and D'Artagnan (one of the Three Musketeers).

The logo fell out of favor when the Bucs suffered through 14 consecutive losing seasons. The current red-and-pewter look gained enormous traction in 1997 – perhaps because the Bucs then began a run of five playoff appearances in six seasons – but Sparkman's original logo enjoyed a nostalgic comeback this season.

"My grandfather got to see that and enjoy it,'' Toole said. "He was a very passionate person and he was passionate about the Gators, the Bucs, all the sports in the Tampa Bay area.''

In Sparkman's memorable corner of the world – cartoons and portraits – he made contributions that won't be forgotten.

Helmet Prototypes

Stumbled on these helmet prototypes the other day... what do you think? Are any of these better?

 

The Classic, the Good, the Bad and the Ugly of NFL Uniforms

By Tim Joyce

Real Clear Sports

December 27, 2009

Running counter to our human instinct to fundamentally resist change, our society embraces it. Demands it, in fact. Whether it be apparel, technology, furniture or music, the updates and alterations to what we consume and enjoy are a constant. This obviously stems from a desire to avoid blandness and sameness, so we can expand our creative senses. Even though a common and often unintended result of trends and change is homogeneity. It's one of the seemingly endless ironies in our culture it would seem, that we both seek and fear stability.

This also holds true for sports. More specifically, I'm referring to uniforms. Especially NFL garb. I don't know what it is but for some reason football fans seem to most passionately identify with their teams' look more than with the other major sports. Perhaps it's the compressed intensity of the season and the few times (only 16 most of the time) that a fan can witness their team in battlefield regalia. Whatever it is, the uniforms of football players are greater symbols of their teams than in other sports.

And interest in uniforms, both current and vintage, has never been higher. Over the last several years NFL fans have been treated to an eye-pleasing - or disturbing, depending on one's taste - parade of throwback uniforms of the original AFL teams. As a recent New York Times article pointed out, this is having a positive effect on those merchandising the classic outfits as their business is experiencing something of a boom even during this all-encompassing recession that has beset the country.

So I started thinking why have NFL teams changed their uniforms so frequently (and this obviously applies to not just the NFL as teams in all sports have frequently altered the look of their clothes)? Aren't logos supposed to be eternal identifiers?

After all don't most companies strive to maintain a standard image - think Coke or IBM or Apple. These are all iconic logos which have changed very little through the decades. We live in a country where instant brand recognition is one of the most highly sought after aspects of commerce. Isn't the goal to not confuse the consumer - or fan in this case? It's mystery that so many teams have significantly changed or altered their uniforms. That is, unless they were truly ugly to start with.

There are those teams that have had minor changes and then there are those who for some reason made wholesale alterations for the worse, much worse.

Two teams that I would have qualified for the classic category but now just merit inclusion in the good level are the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers. The Dallas uniform was once the standard for the NFL. But the change to a brighter blue back in the 90's away from a duller blue/gray/silver look didn't enhance it. Also, the fabled away uniform (which teams used to force Dallas to play in on occasion back in the 70's) also went for a stronger color. Just remember how great those 70's Cowboys looked.

The 49ers had an even worse fashion moment. The Joe Montana-led Niners looked iconic in their red and gold, with thin numbers. But again, management disobeyed the axiom of "if it ain't broke don't fix it" and decided to block the numbers and shine up the colors too much. Thankfully, this year's 49ers decided to return to something approximating their old threads and are now once again one of the better uniforms in the league.

Perhaps there was no worse disregard for esthetics when changing uniforms than with the two New York teams, the Giants and Jets. Though they don't' fit into the "classic" category, both teams did have solid uniforms before the late 70's. But in came the 80's - a bad decade for many things - and a futuristic, plain lettering and they looked awful. But to their credit, both squads returned to their vintage look and are now upstanding members of the good class. The San Diego Chargers have returned to their 1960's look as well but the Chargers' foray into change was not nearly as reprehensible as the Jets or Giants.

And then there were those teams that succumbed to what I call the "Raiderization" of sports uniforms. Black became the in color and teams like the Eagles and Falcons traded their bright colors - green and red, respectively - for the more menacing look of black tinges. But it doesn't look good. The Rams, while not going black, also exchanged a brighter color pattern for their new look and with it, took away a part of their identity.

But without question, the ugliest and most offensive change was that of the New England Patriots. Though their original uniform may not have been all that stellar - the patriot in a center position, ready to snap the ball on the helmet, with a red jersey - their current wardrobe choice is awful. In fact they are up for worst uniform with five other teams. All teams in the ugly category look like they're wearing homely college football or USFL jerseys and helmets.

So with all this in mind, here's one fan's categorizing of all 32 NFL teams. They fall into one of four classes -- Classic, Good, Bad and Ugly. Most everyone will take issue with some of these choices. Though I suspect that a few at the top and bottom can be universally agreed upon.

Classic: Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers.

Good: Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New York Jets, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, San Diego Chargers.

Bad: St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons.

Ugly: New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars.

For a League of the Past, the Uniforms Live On

By Ken Belson New York Times, December 6, 2009

It’s every retailer’s dream: a product so hot that demand outstrips supply. The Denver Broncos could not have guessed that this season’s hot product would be one of the ugliest sports socks ever created, the brown-and-yellow, vertically striped leggings that the team wore a half-century ago.

That does not seem to bother Tim Kellond, who runs the Broncos’ team store in Denver. Kellond has sold more than 1,800 pairs of the high socks at $14.95 and receives about 250 calls a week from customers asking when more will arrive from the manufacturer who, he said, has run out of brown yarn.

“I thought I ordered a whole lot that would last until next year,” Kellond said. “My problem is deliveries. I get them in and sell them out in two hours.”

The socks have been an unexpected hit for the Broncos and the N.F.L., which is near the end of its season-long 50th-anniversary celebration of the American Football League. The original eight teams — the Buffalo Bills, the Denver Broncos, the Los Angeles Chargers (now the San Diego Chargers), the Boston Patriots (the New England Patriots), the Oakland Raiders, the Houston Oilers (the Tennessee Titans), the Dallas Texans (the Kansas City Chiefs) and the New York Titans (the Jets) — have been featured in legacy games that have included vintage uniforms.

The last of these 16 matchups will be Sunday when the Patriots play the Miami Dolphins, who joined the A.F.L. in 1966. The Cincinnati Bengals became the 10th team in 1968. The commemoration of the A.F.L. has provided a much-needed lift for the teams and the league, which were looking for ways to offset the effects of the recession on merchandise sales. More than two dozen licensees have been making about 100 A.F.L.-related products, which have produced tens of millions of dollars in sales, said Leo Kane, the N.F.L.’s vice president for consumer products.

“This economy has been challenging, so it’s been a great story for our clubs to have a positive story out there,” Kane said.

Sales of throwback goods are a small slice of the $3 billion worth of N.F.L. merchandise sold annually, but they are proving to be the biggest sellers this year.

In New England, sales of A.F.L. and 50th anniversary goods have made up 20 percent of overall sales, compared with 12 percent last year, said Stacey James, a spokesman for the Patriots. The best sellers have been 50th-anniversary T-shirts for $19.95 and red jerseys worn in 1963.

The Chiefs, who started in 1960 in Dallas, played the Dallas Cowboys this season in a contest billed as “the game that never was” because the teams never faced each other when they were both in Texas. Sales of red sweatshirts with the original Dallas Texans logo have been hot sellers.

“We didn’t have vertically striped socks, but it did very well,” said Jim Fisher, the manager of merchandise services for the Chiefs.

Russ Brand, the chief operating officer of the Bills, said 30 percent of all merchandise sales this year had been 50th anniversary or A.F.L. related.

“There was a lot of hype, and it’s certainly helped,” he said.

Bills fans have celebrated their team’s 50th anniversary at an exhibit at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society, which has 900 team-related items, many of them from the collection of Greg Tranter, an avid fan.

The exhibit includes black-and-white photographs of players caked in mud at the old War Memorial Stadium, which had notoriously bad drainage. Tranter, who has 100,000 Bills-related items in all, is clearly fond of the team’s original, silver-and-blue uniform.

Few exist because old uniforms were given away to high schools at the end of the season, said Tranter, who grew up in Elmira, N.Y., and went to his first Bills game in 1965. His other favorites include a Johnny Hero doll in a 1965 Bills uniform and a straw hat that says “All the Way with O. J.”

The A.F.L. still resonates with fans not just because of the snazzy uniforms and innovative marketing, but because the league was a scrappy underdog derided as a Mickey Mouse league filled with N.F.L. rejects.

“The fans definitely felt that the A.F.L. represented something new,” said Angelo Coniglio, who runs RemembertheAFL.com. “The owners were rebels, and they acted the part.”

That spirit lives on in an HBO Sports documentary from 1995, “Rebels with a Cause: The Story of the American Football League.” The one-hour program will be rebroadcast on Dec. 31 and several times in January.

“There are a lot of 20-somethings looking at all these funny uniforms and do not dig any deeper,” said Ross Greenburg, the president of HBO Sports. “This truly was the first sports league that became a power on its own.”

Week 12's Monday Morning Throwback

 

Great week for some throwback action with five teams participating. Hands down, my favorite throwback are the Buffalo Bills' 1960s version.  It seems that so many dislike the Bills' regular uniforms... it wouldn't surprise me if the franchise decided to go with the throwbacks full-time.  The Atlanta Falcons are also a favorite of mine. I definitely think that all the throwbacks are an upgrade over the current versions. What do you think? Are the classic uniforms better?

NFL Uniforms We Miss

via Josh H. Ellis cocktailsports.com (Nov 10th, 2009)

On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wore their creamsicle throwback uniforms, possibly the most outlandish uniforms in modern day sports history. Personally, I love this uniform. It’s one of many uniforms I wish would make a return to sports. Here are the top 5 NFL uniforms, from my lifetime (1978-Present) I wish would make a comeback:

1.) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976-1996 – Discussed above. I was 4 years old when I first saw this uniform and instantly fell in love with the helmet logo and color scheme. Somehow, it just fits Tampa Bay.

2.) Seattle Seahawks 1983-2001 – I am a huge fan of the way the Seahawks integrated three of my favorite colors: blue, silver and green, into a uniform. Plus, the Seahawk logo on the helmet was much more intimidating than their current logo.

3.) New England Patriots (merger-1992) - Though I hate the Patriots more than any other professional sports franchise, I love this uniform. The color scheme fits the name Patriot better as well.

4.) Denver Broncos (1968-1996) – This uniform, in part, gave rise to the nickname, “Orange Crush.” The Broncos have since opted to go with more muted shades of blue and orange.

5.) Houston Oilers – The NFL should have forced Bud Adams to release the Oilers name, uniform and history to Houston when they were awarded their new franchise. Instead, “Love Ya’ Blue” belongs to the folks up in Nashville. Pure blasphemy!

Retro Style: Knoxville apparel company gets boost from throwback jerseys

By J.J. KINDRED  knoxvillebiz.com 

Football fans following the NFL this season have noticed that the lightning bolt has returned to the San Diego Chargers. The Tennessee Titans have been spotted in baby blue uniforms and helmets emblazoned with an oil derrick, just like the former Houston Oilers.

Even pro baseball is getting in on the retro look now and then.

Throwback jerseys, pants, hats and helmets have mushroomed from a fun fad to a revenue river for pro sports organizations and apparel distributors.

And the popularity of throwback uniforms is a bonanza for Knoxville apparel company Volunteer Apparel Inc. and its manufacturing plant in Luttrell, Tenn.

In the NFL, eight teams have worn the vintage-style uniforms this season in honor of the 50-year anniversary of the launch of the American Football League.

As president of Volunteer Apparel, specializing in sports wear, athletic uniforms and throwback jerseys from most major sports, Dick Jacobstein has overseen an industry with ups and downs rivaling the stock market.

With its factory headquartered in Luttrell, Jacobstein describes Volunteer Apparel as a contract manufacturer of current and throwback athletic uniforms and active wear that makes apparel for major athletic clothing suppliers and shoe companies.

Volunteer makes uniforms for most major sports, including baseball, football and basketball. The company also makes uniforms for track and field, wrestling and lacrosse. The company's clients include high school and lower-division college teams as well as recreational league teams in different sports.

The number of uniforms made varies from season to season, with five percent of revenue attributed to throwback jerseys.

One of Volunteer Apparel's contract affiliates is another Knoxville company, Letrell Sports, a manufacturer of athletic uniforms with no involvement in anything throwback.

An exploding trend

But one of the most high-profile affiliates Volunteer Apparel has is Mitchell & Ness, an internationally known company based in Philadelphia that distributes throwback jerseys and memorabilia, featuring a clientele of well-known athletes and celebrities.

Jacobstein said the popularity of throwback jerseys had cooled off, but he noted the trend has heated up once again. He also described how Volunteer Apparel has remained in business since 1976, partially thanks to the efforts of Peter Capolino, Mitchell & Ness's founder and owner.

"The idea came up with throwback baseball uniforms, using Hall of Famers and other well-known players that went back over the years," Jacobstein said. "(Capolino) went to Major League Baseball and got the license to do throwback uniforms and started manufacturing them."

Capolino said the throwback trend exploded between 1999 and 2003, pointing out that nostalgia jerseys were a hit because they became a "fashion item, not just a fan item."

"For every one fan, there were 100 people who wanted to wear it as a fashion item," Capolino said.

Volunteer Apparel's production quota mirrors Capolino's statistic. The Knoxville company is filling contracts to the tune of up to 4,000 throwback items a month.

Capolino detailed how the trend died down from 2004 to 2007, but there has been a resurgence in demand since '07. The retro look has transcended other styles, including popular hoodies, T-shirts and warm-ups.

Capolino said nearly every Major League Baseball team and most NFL teams are represented in throwback gear, noting that the jerseys of players from Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson to Nolan Ryan, Cal Ripken and Reggie Jackson are made. Mitchell & Ness and thus Volunteer Apparel are not licensed to make current wear.

"You're not going to see us doing Andy Pettitte and Jorge Posada," Capolino said, laughing, giving a nod to his Philadelphia Phillies.

Capolino called the trend nationwide that has even spilled over to Europe, saying vintage looks in fashion are here to stay.

And Joanna Hunter, an NFL spokesperson, agreed.

Hunter said fans are buying the retro merchandise and appear excited about the AFL Legacy project.

"People love it," Hunter said. "There has been demand by fans, and with the popularity of the Legacy uniforms we'll see them again next year."

Jacobstein credited Capolino with making throwback wear as close to the original as he could.

"It became successful, people started to buy (the jerseys), he got distribution in sporting goods stores around the country and did some promotion and started to build his business around it. He'd get athletes and rappers coming in the store, and some guys started to collect these things. Mitchell & Ness got all this publicity as these athletes wore these things on MTV and other TV channels, as well as at appearances, shows and so forth."

As sales of retro sports apparel grew, Jacobstein said his business grew, too. Volunteer Apparel then began manufacturing throwbacks for Mitchell & Ness.

"We did basketball, baseball and actually did some football uniforms. As the business grew, (Capolino) started take some stuff offshore, and also did a little college stuff, particularly for local schools in Philadelphia. He never pursued the college end of the business more because he had his hands full with the rest of what he was doing."

A thriving business

Baseball throwback jerseys and uniforms are the top items that Volunteer Apparel makes for Mitchell & Ness, which was sold to Reebok years ago. The jerseys are made from wool, the main material that was used for baseball uniforms during the early part of the 20th century.

The wool jerseys, as well as others in select sports, range from $300 to $400, according to Jacobstein.

"There are not a whole lot of wool manufacturers left," he said. "Some of the wool comes from companies in the United States and some comes from Mexico. We sell the high-priced throwbacks, but we still continue to do wool jerseys. We manufacture them in Luttrell, and the lettering is mostly done elsewhere, so we never really see the finished product back here."

Volunteer Apparel made the old New York Giants baseball jerseys for the 50th anniversary of Bobby Thomson's 'Shot Heard Round the World,' said Al Horn, vice president of operations for Volunteer Apparel, referring to Thomson's home run that sent the Giants to the World Series in 1951.

Horn said the Giants jerseys were auctioned.

"It's still a thriving business," Jacobstein observed. "Collectors buy these jerseys and have them autographed by the player and they end up being mounted on the wall in somebody's office or somebody's home."

He said a number of players' jerseys continue to sell year after year. Also, if a former player is back in the news, their jerseys rise in popularity.

Horn said that Volunteer Apparel's Luttrell plant can produce 300 to 500 units a week using special textile equipment to put the products together.

According to Jacobstein, Volunteer Apparel isn't involved in determining the value of its products.

"Leagues set a rate of their fees," he said. "We don't know what the percentages are - whatever Mitchell & Ness and Reebok negotiate.

"Leagues have raised fees over the years. They have arrangements with the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball. Organizations get a set percentage of the wholesale price. As those fees gone up, retail has gone up with it."

Then Jacobstein said with a laugh, "All we really are is a cut and sew shop."