Baseball uniforms are as unique and rich in history as the sport itself. The history goes back to April 4th, 1849, when the New York Knickerbockers wore the baseball uniforms for the first time. The uniform was simple blue woolen pantaloons, white flannel shirts, and straw hats. The next evolution came in 1882 when teams started wearing stockings. Next, they began to wear colors and patterns to distinguish between the teams. 1888 brought the popular vertical stripes in the uniform. By the end of the century, all major league teams started wearing uniforms with vertical stripes. Every team did its experiment with a unique look. The Brooklyn Bridegrooms introduced checkers in 1889. The New York Giants came out on the field in purple-lined baseball uniforms, while the Kansas City Athletics combined gold and green in their uniforms in 1863. All in all, history shows a fascinating journey of baseball uniforms from the 1800s to now. We will shed some light on the baseball uniform, that how they evolved in past decades to reach the current form.
Jerseys, jackets, and vests
The New York Giants was the first team to wear collarless Jerseys in 1906. The beginning of the century witnessed a full-sleeved flannel pullover with a laced or buttoned front and a fold-down collar. Many teams wore these jerseys with a breast pocket. Later, the turned-up collars became common that used to be fastened at the throat. The cadet style remained popular for some time, but the collarless still dominates. Some teams continued to adorn laced shirts at the onset of World War 1. Other teams remained stuck to fold-down collars. By 1915, the shirt pocket vanished completely from the fields. V-necks became common by the 1920s, followed by modified sleeves and collars. Zipper front also remained popular till the 1950s and 1960s.
Coming to the jackets, windbreaker styles with bunched wrists and waist marked 1920s baseball uniforms. In 1940, the Chicago Cubs promoted the sleeveless vests over a sweater. This style lasted for a short time. However, it raged back in the 50s and 60s. The vibrantly patterned sweaters replaced the flamboyant baseball coats. The current baseball jerseys remain collarless, lightweight shirts. Most of the teams prefer to wear letterman type of jackets in colder seasons.
Pants
The quilted woolen pants in summer baseball games! Imagining this combination is enough to give the heatstroke. But perhaps those were the earliest time when summers were not hot like they are now. However, baseball teams should be grateful to the Cincinnati Red Stockings, who introduced the “knickers” in 1868. They have undergone some changes since the 1900s. In 1976, the Chicago White Sox emerged on the field wearing shorts for the first time. Close to skin long pants became the rage of baseball fields in the 1990s. Both full-length and knee-length pants became popular simultaneously. The style provided a little liberty to players to create new looks.
Baseball headwear
The baseball cap has become a part of streetwear culture in America. After the straw hats in the earliest days, a basic cap with visor and crown has always remained the headwear of baseball uniforms. The main purpose of these caps is to keep the sunlight out of the eyes. Since no rule governs the official look, baseball caps could undergo various wild trends in all the past years. The “pillbox” of the 1890s, the cake box style of the 1900s, and the “Brooklyn” style with classic snug-fit topped with a button are some most popular styles of baseball caps. The baseball uniform is finally settled on the earlier classic Brooklyn design. Helmets also became an integral part of baseball uniforms during the early 1970s. In 1971, batting helmets became a part of Major League laws. The first helmet, however, was introduced by Roger Bresnahan, the legendary catcher. He introduced the idea of helmets after he got injured during a game.
Customization
Customization with graphics, logos, and numbers goes hand in hand with baseball and softball uniforms. Custom uniforms with logos became the marketing tool as well. All the Major League teams had customized their uniforms with logos by the end of the 1930s. The Washington Senators were the first team to put nicknames on their jerseys. Their jerseys had the term “the Nationals” written on them. This idea rapidly became an effective tool for marketing. There are various logo designs on baseball uniforms that the fans still remember and crave. The famous elephant logo adorned the Oakland Athletes’ uniforms in 1905. The St. Louis Cardinals wore the famous Cardinal logo (two birds on a bat) in 1922. The Astros used the colorful Rainbow as their logo in 1975. Numbers are another thing to customize baseball uniforms. The Reading Red Roses started numbering their players so the fans could identify them. Soon, the player numbers became the permanent part of the baseball uniform. All Major League players were assigned with their numbers by 1932.
All in all, teams experimented a lot with baseball uniforms. Some of the ideas hit home, while some vanished in history. We cannot say that the current form of baseball uniform will not change in the future. Baseball uniforms will continue to evolve till the world is playing it as an international sport.
