Vintage Makes a Comeback in Sports

The world is always changing whether we like it or not. Pop culture changes the fastest of all, and the rest of the world is obligated to keep up with it. So we’ve seen fast food places and sports teams get new logos, to match with everything else that’s sleek, modern and shiny.

However, the vintage designs of many sports jerseys and logos tend to be fan favorites. Take a look at Pat Patriot, who frequently makes appearances of “Best Logos of All Time” lists. It’s unusually detailed, but perfectly represents the old Yankee spirit. The current “Flying Elvis” logo just doesn’t compare with Pat Patriot’s raw grit.

Vintage logos and uniforms evoke nostalgia in older fans, and help younger fans appreciate the team’s history and how far they have come. Specific designs can call back to glory days in a team’s history. Fans can recall memorable or pivotal games, and long win streaks. Occasionally, some baseball teams may wear uniforms to pay tribute to defunct teams. Some teams may even wear jerseys styled for a certain decade before the team existed. These are referred to as “fauxback”, and it’s a fun way for the fans to imagine what the team might have been like in bygone decades.

Usually, teams will need an occasion to don their old apparel. In 2009, several charter members of the American Football League wore throwback uniforms from the 60s for the 50th anniversary of the AFL. Some teams will have throwback styles as their alternate uniforms, such as the Detroit Lions. Others, such as the San Diego Chargers, will regularly wear their throwback uniforms, usually twice a season.

In some instances, teams will go back to old styles as their regular uniforms. For example, check out the Washington Wizards. They used to be known as the Washington Bullets, but in 1997, had their name and uniform changed. Fans didn’t much care for the blue and black color scheme, so in 2011, the uniform design was changed. It now has the horizontal red, white, and blue stripes that the Bullets originally wore. This design is a much more patriotic tribute to a team representing Washington D.C.

One company, Starter, will begin producing jackets to meet the growing demand for vintage apparel. Starter jackets were very popular among basketball fans in the 80s and 90s. Twenty years later, pop culture dictates that the 80s and 90s are cool again, spurring high-budget movies based on classic cartoons such as G.I. Joe and Transformers. Young adults are embracing their childhood loves and proudly wearing apparel to match.

Most importantly, throwback uniforms generate conversation. Fans will talk about the best and worst uniforms, and what throwbacks they would like to see on the field next. They talk about memorable eras and game-changing plays. There are always complaints about ugly designs. And of course, more merchandise sold, from jerseys to hats to t-shirts. Do you have throwback apparel? What are your favorite teams and logos? What throwback uniforms would you like to see more often?