Teams that have started horrible design trends.

[jigokusabre]

The entire NFL in 1994, for starting the "New Uniforms that are Old Uniforms" trend (esp. the Giants, 49ers, Jets, Cowyboys, and Chargers). I know the Giants/White Sox did the same thing in 92-93, but in my mind, it really exploded after the NFL 75th anniversary.

[FlyersHockey1967]

As far as I could tell, the initial offender of the vintage white trend.

http://www.nhlsnipers.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/ept_sports_nhl_experts-797636805-1253310374.jpg

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't/doesn't the Minnesota Wild red jersey have vintage white first? Although you'd be correct in saying the Boston Winter Classic jersey really kicked off the trend. The Wild would be the hipster that liked it before it became popular

http://nhluniforms.com/Wild/Wild.html

The Wild's colour is actually classified as "Wheat", and is not trying to be white.

Gotcha, thanks for the correction.

[UnclearInitial]

I think the lace ups are a good thing. I think it gives hockey a more old style feel.

To an extent. It looks nice on the older teams like the Rangers but teams like the Sharks shouldn't try to adopt an old school feel with their jerseys

There's an old school feel to the laceup collar, but I don't give that much thought because the history of the laceup is

difficult to track before the 1940s. As far as I can tell, the Rangers brought it to the NHL then, too, but before that it was a more functional thing that kept wool sweater collars from stretching out, and was usually hidden.

Why I like the laceup, is because it's unique to hockey. No other sport does it. Like the stirrup to baseball, it's one-sport-only, and it really should stand in as the iconic image for the hockey sweater

AS Roma used a lace-up collar in 1994-95

http://www.asromashirt.it/collezione/90_00/94-95.htm

[_RH_]

Charlotte Hornets. Not only the purple/teal of the 90s, but vertical stripes...

...the gateway drug to pinstripes

Are you saying these two things are BAD?!

[hockey week]

I think the lace ups are a good thing. I think it gives hockey a more old style feel.

To an extent. It looks nice on the older teams like the Rangers but teams like the Sharks shouldn't try to adopt an old school feel with their jerseys

There's an old school feel to the laceup collar, but I don't give that much thought because the history of the laceup is

difficult to track before the 1940s. As far as I can tell, the Rangers brought it to the NHL then, too, but before that it was a more functional thing that kept wool sweater collars from stretching out, and was usually hidden.

Why I like the laceup, is because it's unique to hockey. No other sport does it. Like the stirrup to baseball, it's one-sport-only, and it really should stand in as the iconic image for the hockey sweater

AS Roma used a lace-up collar in 1994-95

http://www.asromashirt.it/collezione/90_00/94-95.htm

That's fascinating! Especially so late an example! I figured there must be all sorts of examples, especially with turn-of-the-century baseball teams, but never a 90s soccer team. I realized it was such a hockey thing when I watched the 1999 movie Superstar and chuckled at the football jerseys having laceups

I guess it didn't catch on with that soccer team, so I still maintain it's something unique to the sport, but it's definitely one attempted crossover, like the old NFL Referee stirrup socks

[RyanMcD29]

Dallas Stars

TEAM NAME

00

Eh, to be fair that style's been around in college hockey forever, especially with teams like Boston University

[FlyersHockey1967]

I think the lace ups are a good thing. I think it gives hockey a more old style feel.

To an extent. It looks nice on the older teams like the Rangers but teams like the Sharks shouldn't try to adopt an old school feel with their jerseys

There's an old school feel to the laceup collar, but I don't give that much thought because the history of the laceup is

difficult to track before the 1940s. As far as I can tell, the Rangers brought it to the NHL then, too, but before that it was a more functional thing that kept wool sweater collars from stretching out, and was usually hidden.

Why I like the laceup, is because it's unique to hockey. No other sport does it. Like the stirrup to baseball, it's one-sport-only, and it really should stand in as the iconic image for the hockey sweater

AS Roma used a lace-up collar in 1994-95

http://www.asromashirt.it/collezione/90_00/94-95.htm

That's fascinating! Especially so late an example! I figured there must be all sorts of examples, especially with turn-of-the-century baseball teams, but never a 90s soccer team. I realized it was such a hockey thing when I watched the 1999 movie Superstar and chuckled at the football jerseys having laceups

http://images.allmoviephoto.com/1999_Superstar/molly_shannon_will_ferrell_superstar_001.jpg

I guess it didn't catch on with that soccer team, so I still maintain it's something unique to the sport, but it's definitely one attempted crossover, like the old NFL Referee stirrup socks http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6202/6044797079_6a0cba50ea.jpg

How about another crossover? European hockey jerseys with soccer/football kit collars (and lots of advertisements as well): http://www.frosken.com/hockey/norway.html

[shaydre1019]

I think the lace ups are a good thing. I think it gives hockey a more old style feel.

To an extent. It looks nice on the older teams like the Rangers but teams like the Sharks shouldn't try to adopt an old school feel with their jerseys

There's an old school feel to the laceup collar, but I don't give that much thought because the history of the laceup is

difficult to track before the 1940s. As far as I can tell, the Rangers brought it to the NHL then, too, but before that it was a more functional thing that kept wool sweater collars from stretching out, and was usually hidden.

Why I like the laceup, is because it's unique to hockey. No other sport does it. Like the stirrup to baseball, it's one-sport-only, and it really should stand in as the iconic image for the hockey sweater

AS Roma used a lace-up collar in 1994-95

http://www.asromashirt.it/collezione/90_00/94-95.htm

That's fascinating! Especially so late an example! I figured there must be all sorts of examples, especially with turn-of-the-century baseball teams, but never a 90s soccer team. I realized it was such a hockey thing when I watched the 1999 movie Superstar and chuckled at the football jerseys having laceups

I guess it didn't catch on with that soccer team, so I still maintain it's something unique to the sport, but it's definitely one attempted crossover, like the old NFL Referee stirrup socks

Didnt stirrups originate because the die in the socks was like bad for wounds and would infect them and whatnot?

i think basketball and football both used stirrups. Baseball of course is the most prominent, and turned them into a fashion trend.

[hockey week]

I think the lace ups are a good thing. I think it gives hockey a more old style feel.

To an extent. It looks nice on the older teams like the Rangers but teams like the Sharks shouldn't try to adopt an old school feel with their jerseys

There's an old school feel to the laceup collar, but I don't give that much thought because the history of the laceup is

difficult to track before the 1940s. As far as I can tell, the Rangers brought it to the NHL then, too, but before that it was a more functional thing that kept wool sweater collars from stretching out, and was usually hidden.

Why I like the laceup, is because it's unique to hockey. No other sport does it. Like the stirrup to baseball, it's one-sport-only, and it really should stand in as the iconic image for the hockey sweater

AS Roma used a lace-up collar in 1994-95

http://www.asromashirt.it/collezione/90_00/94-95.htm

That's fascinating! Especially so late an example! I figured there must be all sorts of examples, especially with turn-of-the-century baseball teams, but never a 90s soccer team. I realized it was such a hockey thing when I watched the 1999 movie Superstar and chuckled at the football jerseys having laceups

I guess it didn't catch on with that soccer team, so I still maintain it's something unique to the sport, but it's definitely one attempted crossover, like the old NFL Referee stirrup socks

Didnt stirrups originate because the die in the socks was like bad for wounds and would infect them and whatnot?

i think basketball and football both used stirrups. Baseball of course is the most prominent, and turned them into a fashion trend.

the story I was told, and I don't know if I could back this up as evidence, was that with teams being known for the color and style of their socks, they were an important part of the uniform and therefore reused all season, sometimes multiple seasons. These used to be complete socks, but they would need replacing: they would wear out in one of two places, the toe, or the heel. So, enterprising team owners cut the toes and heels off their socks, told the players to wear sanitaries underneath (something that might have already been common practice with re-used socks), and only the small stirrup would keep the sock in place. Over time, those would get stretched out to the point where you'd see the 3", 5" and 7" stirrups, usually an indicator of how old the sock was.

I've seen it in other sports, usually with old game-worn uniform pieces. I think the Packers were big on stirrup socks for the same logic as the above, more use with less wear, and it was always covered with ankle tape. Ditto hockey socks. Some, especially for younger kids, have the strip of elastic on the bottom for under the foot. I think baseball is the only place where using a stirrup instead of a sock went from dirty little secret to a sense of pride, and later a fashion trend.

[BBTV]

It was because of the dye. Hence the term "sanitary" for the white undersocks.

[guest23]

I think the lace ups are a good thing. I think it gives hockey a more old style feel.

To an extent. It looks nice on the older teams like the Rangers but teams like the Sharks shouldn't try to adopt an old school feel with their jerseys

There's an old school feel to the laceup collar, but I don't give that much thought because the history of the laceup is

difficult to track before the 1940s. As far as I can tell, the Rangers brought it to the NHL then, too, but before that it was a more functional thing that kept wool sweater collars from stretching out, and was usually hidden.

Why I like the laceup, is because it's unique to hockey. No other sport does it. Like the stirrup to baseball, it's one-sport-only, and it really should stand in as the iconic image for the hockey sweater

AS Roma used a lace-up collar in 1994-95

http://www.asromashirt.it/collezione/90_00/94-95.htm

That's fascinating! Especially so late an example! I figured there must be all sorts of examples, especially with turn-of-the-century baseball teams, but never a 90s soccer team. I realized it was such a hockey thing when I watched the 1999 movie Superstar and chuckled at the football jerseys having laceups

I guess it didn't catch on with that soccer team, so I still maintain it's something unique to the sport, but it's definitely one attempted crossover, like the old NFL Referee stirrup socks

Didnt stirrups originate because the die in the socks was like bad for wounds and would infect them and whatnot?

i think basketball and football both used stirrups. Baseball of course is the most prominent, and turned them into a fashion trend.

the story I was told, and I don't know if I could back this up as evidence, was that with teams being known for the color and style of their socks, they were an important part of the uniform and therefore reused all season, sometimes multiple seasons. These used to be complete socks, but they would need replacing: they would wear out in one of two places, the toe, or the heel. So, enterprising team owners cut the toes and heels off their socks, told the players to wear sanitaries underneath (something that might have already been common practice with re-used socks), and only the small stirrup would keep the sock in place. Over time, those would get stretched out to the point where you'd see the 3", 5" and 7" stirrups, usually an indicator of how old the sock was.

I've seen it in other sports, usually with old game-worn uniform pieces. I think the Packers were big on stirrup socks for the same logic as the above, more use with less wear, and it was always covered with ankle tape. Ditto hockey socks. Some, especially for younger kids, have the strip of elastic on the bottom for under the foot. I think baseball is the only place where using a stirrup instead of a sock went from dirty little secret to a sense of pride, and later a fashion trend.

that is story is very plausible but from what I heard is that the dye used to color the wool socks was semi-toxic and could not be worn directly on skin thus forcing baseball and football players to wear sanitaries underneath...players then quickly figured out that that wearing two pair of socks inside a cleat/spike/boot caused discomfort so they began to cut the heels and toes out of their colored socks.

nonetheless the stirrup was never intended to be a unique piece and should have never gained a place as part of any "traditional" uniform aesthetic as they look stupid and are so not functional(especially high pulled ones from the 60's/70's/80's)

[Xodius]

Not practiced that much now (outside Buffalo and San Jose), but Buffalo started the front numbers in 07 with their vintage alternate:

A few initial EDGE designed featured the front numbers:

[BBTV]

The helmet numbers are such a better solution.

[lahaye7]

lol

I don't think you can call it a "trend", thank goodness, but the "four stripe" patch the Isles brought in with the return of their traditional look...that could have been a trend. The only other I can think of is the Oilers black alt paying homage to the five cups.

I think we may be out of the woods for that becoming a "trend".

Montreal's "Stanley Cup stripe patch"

[lahaye7]

or was that skinny at one time

If you would have told me that Shaq wore shorts that short in the NBA I never would have believed you without seeing it...

[TheOldRoman]

Whoever started the current boring faux-retro trend in sports would be the worst offender.

In hockey, that's definitely Reebok's ultra-futuristic Edge v1 set that started that trend. The "Vintage" series in 2003-04 didn't work out that well sales-wise. Nobody bought the '68 baby blue Pens jersey then, everybody bought one when the Winter Classic used it

I think in baseball, you could make a case that the Phillies change from their 70s-80s set to their current one in 1992 would be one of the first moves to a faux-back design.

Since then, when the neo-retro stadiums started opening, and teams like the Indians started wearing old-style uniforms, I think that's when the fad really started.

In football, I think that the Lions throwbacks for the '94 season (and to a lesser extend the 49ers) really got teams thinking about older looks, and then in less than a decade we saw the Giants and Jets go back to old looks.

Obviously, the popularity of the Chargers powder blue started a trend as well, as teams like the Nuggets all of a sudden decided that bright blue and yellow were a good combo. That eventually morphed in to the blue-on-blue craze, which Dallas, Memphis, and (most eggregiously) Utah followed (along with countless hockey teams.)

I think the fad in baseball started with the White Sox. They revamped the 1950's look for the new stadium opening in 1991. They were the first of the wave of new stadiums opening, and teams started using their stadium openings as reasons to rebrand, often going retro.

As for football, I don't think there has been an overwhelming retro trend. That Lions set didn't lead to anything similar, including the Lions twice changing their unis after that. The 49ers liked the black dropshadows and decided to include them in the 1996 set, but that was the only aspect of the set which could be considered retro. The Jets and Giants went back to older looks, but since then teams have generally gone away from older looks. The only somewhat traditional look which was brought back was the Bills in white helmets, and that happened in large part because they went so far in the other direction on their previous revamp.

[AAO]

1999, Nike, the NBA, and the wishbone collar. Two colored uni--only for the Raptors, no one else bought into it. They pulled it off nicely though.

[CrazyAnna]

Didn't the Patriots uniform template eventually lead to the Rams current look?

[kw11333]

The infamous bib design started by Reebok

Luckily all but one of these teams completely ditched those looks. I have no idea why Colorado still has them...

[kw11333]

Yankees started one nearly 100 years ago. Pinstriped to make Ruth look skinnier(really).