Baseball Uniforms Through the Years

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Aug 11, 2009

Baseball Uniforms Through the Years

White Sox shorts (1976)

The shorts were only worn for three games during the 1976 season but that was enough to earn a permanent home on most of the Worst Uniforms Ever lists.

Real stirrups

With just about every player of the last 15 years wearing his pant legs down to his shoe tops (or beyond; we're looking at you, Ryan Howard) a treasured uniform quirk has disappeared: the stirrup. Most major leaguers abandoned them in the 1990s, though Fort Worth Star-Telegram writer Jeff Caplan recently compiled a list of those who still favor them, including Dodgers outfielder Juan Pierre, Pirates outfielder Nyjer Morgan, Athletics pitcher Josh Outman and Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer.

The Pirates' Stargell Stars hats (1979)

During Pittsburgh's championship season of 1979, Pirates star Willie Stargell handed out gold "Stargell Stars" to teammates in recognition of various on-field achievements. According to the Hall of Fame, the stars were then sewn to the honored player's cap, either between the horizontal stripes or on the bill.

Powder-blue road uniforms

A staple of the early 1980s, the powder-blues were worn by the Phillies (including Hall of Famer Steve Carlton) during their memorable 1980 season.

The Astros uniforms of the late '70s and early '80s

J.R. Richard had to endure this ghastly combination of orange, yellow and red.

Quality mustaches

(Clockwise from left) Rollie Fingers, Goose Goosage, Keith Hernandez and Dennis Eckersley would be first-ballot selections on any All-Mustache Team.

Ted Kluszewski's arms

Shortly after the Big Klu joined the Reds in 1947, the 6-foot-2, 240-pounder cut off the sleeves of his uniform. He said he did so because the tight sleeves constricted his large biceps and shoulders, and interfered with his swing.

Hanging throat protectors for catchers

Along with winning the 1981 World Series MVP as a Dodger, Steve Yeager invented the catcher's throat protector after his esophagus was pierced by a broken bat in 1976.

MLB hats with different-colored panels

The Expos' 1980s-style cap, a mix of royal blue, white and red, is popular among collectors.

V-neck jerseys

According to Baseball Alamanac.com, the "V" neck style uniform first made an appearance in baseball in the early part of the 20th century (the Giants started the trend in 1908) and most teams had them by the 1920s. Here, the look is sported by then Brave Dale Murphy.

Catchers wearing caps turned backward under their face masks

Like hockey players, catchers have steadily disappeared under protective gear. In fact, the current catcher's helmet -- introduced in 1997 by Charlie O'Brien of the Blue Jays -- was based on the modern goalie mask with a head-encompassing fiberglass/Kevlar shell and attached wire cage. Some backstops, such as Joe Mauer, still wear the traditional mask, in use for more than a century, with a batting helmet turned backward as introduced by another Minnesota catcher, Earl Battey (pictured), in 1962.

Balloon-style chest protectors on umps

For years, American League umpires used the balloon-style chest protectors before Major League Baseball mandated in the late 1970s that all new hires use the inside protector. <br><br>Send comments to siwriters@simail.com