Spudart's post about the Chicago Cubs' old jerseys made me curious about the history of their uniforms. I did a little google action on, "cubs uniforms throughout history" and came across this incredible ESPN article by Paul Lukas published just last week. If you're fan of the Cubs, baseball, design or nostaglia, then you absolutley must read this article.
Lukas discusses how the Chicago Cubs are the definitive pioneers in baseball uniform design. He gives 10 (it's actually 13) specific examples why this is so. Along with each example are multiple photographs. Each example has an explanation as to why it's unique and just for fun he considers the "Curse Quotient" for each.
Here's a quick summary of the ten (by all means, please read the article. The photos are great and Lukas offers great detailed insight):
1. The Cubs are the only team to use a embroidered felt appliqué on their batting helmets.
2. The current Cubs team is the only team in baseball history to wear their logo on their pants.
3. The Cubs are the only team in MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL to have a trademark or circle R symbol on their uniforms.
4. The Cubs' current blue alternate jersey is the only time that the National League logo has appeared on a jersey. No AL team has featured the American League logo.
5. The Cubs are the only MLB team to have the Captain "C" patch on the sleeve.
6. The '72 Cubs are the only team in MLB history to wear their uniform numbers in the center on the uniform fronts.
7. The 60's and 70's Cubs are the only team to write uniform numbers in the middle of the logo on their batting helmets.
8. The 1957 Cubs are the only team to have both city name and team name on the front of th jersey in equal proportions.
9. The 1937 Cubs were the first team to wear zippered jerseys. (see photo above)
9B. The 1940 Cubs were the first eam to wear vests.
9C. The Cubs were the first team to wear pleated pants.
9D. The Cubs were the first team to wear baby blue.
10. The Cubs were the first and only team to wear baby blue jerseys with pinstripes.
What's the link to the article? Just kidding. You linked to it THREE times. Personally, I'm a fan of the single link. Anytime there are multiple links in the same article, it can be confusing to the reader, because he might think there is more than one article. The exception would be if you linked to it at the beginning and then at the end.
Ok, blog nitty stuff aside. These are all very interesting points. Say, that article also lists a "curse quotient" for each uniform point. Curses. Sheesh. That's so extremely ridiciulous. I wish people would get off this curse bandwagon. It's just so incredibly lame.
I never knew the Cubs were such innovators of uniforms. You look at their uniforms now, and they seem so traditional. But it's interesting to see how they have done extraordinary things (baby blue unis) and the little details (logo on pants). You know why the Cubs are such innovators in uniforms? It's because the Tribune Company is a company of innovation. WGN radio was innovative. WGN tv was innovative. Uh... Hopefully Tribune now will be innovative (according to Sam Zell, we can be). But then again the Tribune has only owned the cubs since what? 1981? A lot of these uniform innovations were before then.
What would you like to see the Cubs try now with their uniforms?
How about every day, Derek Lee's uniform has a special code number on it. And you have to watch the cubs on tv, and then enter the special code from Lee's uniform on cubs.com to win. Or maybe you enter the code to get a special piece of information.
Actually what I'd like to see is the Cubs to make it standard that all ballplayers wear their pants to end just below the knee. Enough of this pants to the shoes look. This is baseball, people.
