Shipping $3.99 / FREE for orders over $65

John McGraw and the White Elephants

October 27, 2011

When the A’s joined the American League in its first year of existence in 1901, team owner Benjamin Shibe wasted little time in offering exorbitant contracts to star National Leaguers, in effect raiding them of their talent. John McGraw, who had managed the Orioles in the AL but flipped over to the Giants of the National League, was disgusted by Shibe’s actions, but thought that spending so much money was going to tank the team. And so, while speaking to a reporter in 1902, McGraw stated that Shibe had a “big white elephant” on his hands. The term, popular back then, described something that looked nice but whose upkeep made it impossible to take care of. Connie Mack heard what McGraw had said and showing that he had an outstanding sense of humor, ordered all Athletic’s gear to carry a white elephant on it. (You can see it below on Chief Bender’s sweater. He’s talking to the Giants Chief Meyer earlier in the 1911 Series.)

By the time the 1905 World Series came around, it was obvious that the A’s were a profitable franchise. And so, in playing a practical joke on McGraw, before Game 1 of the Series, McGraw was given a statue of a white elephant (above) at Columbia Park in Philadelphia (The Park was located at 29th and Cecil B. Moore). According to the book John McGraw, the surly manager hammed it up this time, as he “doffed his cap and made a deep bow to the hooting spectators.”

Also in The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

Today marks 4 years since Jake Elliot's 61-yard game-winning field goal

September 24, 2021

Take a Shot at a Shibe Prize Pack and Help Support Youth Football!

September 22, 2021

The History of the Frankford Yellow Jackets - Philly's First NFL Franchise

August 24, 2021

Size Charts

Select your brand and style to read more about how your purchase will fit:

Use these tips as a general guide when finding your measurements:

Chest/Bust: With your arms at your sides, measure around the fullest part of your chest, across shoulder blades and under arms.
Waist: To measure your natural waistline, wrap the tape so it intersects your navel. Keep tape flat, but comfortably loose.
Hips: Stand with your heels together and measure the fullest part of your hips. Make sure the measuring tape is level all the way around your body.
Inseam: Stand up straight, and start the tape measure high in your crotch. Straighten the tape down the inside of your leg to the bottom of your ankle.
Hat Size: Measure your head about a half-inch above your eyebrow where the hat will sit. If you are unsure or between sizes, buy the larger size.

American Needle Fitted Hats

If you do not know your size, first determine where on your head you want to wear your hat. Usually it is worn about a half-inch to an inch above the eyebrows and/or just above the ears. Have a friend hold the tape measure (cloth, plastic, or download a printable version here) at the point where you want the hat to rest on your head. Insert the tip of your little finger between the tape and your head. Record the measurement and find your Fitted Hat size using the chart below. This should provide you with a comfortable fit.

'47 Brand Hats

47 Brand Adjustable Hats Size Chart	Size	Hat Size	Circumference (cm)
Adjustable Hats	Men's	6 7/8 - 7 5/8	55 - 61
	Women's	6 5/8 - 7 1/4	53 - 58
	Youth	6 5/8 - 7 1/8	53 - 57

47 Brand Fitted Hats Size Chart	Size	Hat Size	Circumference (cm)
Fitted Hats	XX Small	6 1/2 - 6 5/8	52 - 53
	X Small	6 3/4	54
	Small	6 7/8 - 7	55 - 56
	Medium	7 - 7 1/8	56 - 57
	Large	7 1/4	58
	X Large	7 3/8 - 7 5/8	59 - 61
	XX Large	7 5/8 - 7 3/4	61 - 62
	XXX Large	7 7/8	63
	XXXX Large	8	64
	XXXXX Large	8 1/8	65

47 Brand Stretch Fit Hats Size Chart	Size	Hat Size	Circumference (cm)
Stretch Fit Fitted Hats	Youth	6 1/2 - 6 5/8	52 - 53
	Small / Medium	6 7/8 - 7	55 - 56
	Medium / Large	7 1/8 - 7 3/8	57 - 59
	Large / X Large	7 1/2 - 7 5/8	60 - 61
	One Size Fits All	7 - 7 1/2	56 - 60

47 Brand Knit Hats Size Chart	Hat Size	Circumference (cm)
Knit Hats	Youth	6 1/2 - 6 3/4	52 - 54
Knit Hats	One Size Fits All	6 7/8 - 7 1/2	55 - 60

'47 Brand Apparel

47 Brand Men's Size Chart	S	M	L	XL	XXL
Neck	14"-14.5"	15"-15.5"	16"-16.5"	17"-17.5"	18"-18.5"
Shoulder	21"	22"	23"	24"	25"
Chest	36"-38"	39"-41"	42"-44"	45"-47"	48"-50"
Waist	28"-30"	31"-33"	34"-36"	37"-39"	40"-42"

47 Brand Women's Size Chart	S	M	L	XL
Size	2-4	6-8	8-10	10-12
Shoulder	14.25"	15.25"	16.25"	17.25"
Bust	32"-34"	35"-36"	37"-38"	39"-42"
Waist	26"-27"	28"-29"	30"-31"	32"-33"

Majestic apparel

**Men's Sizing** (measurements in inches)
	S	M	L	XL	XXL	3XL	4XL
Chest	34-36	38-40	42-44	46-48	52-52	54-56	58-60
Waist	28-30	32-34	36-38	40-42	44-46	48-50	52-54
Hip	34-36	38-40	42-44	46-48	50-52	54-56	58-60
Sleeve	32-33	33-34	34-35	35-36	36-36 1/2	36 1/2-37	37-37 1/2
Neck	14-14 1/2	15-15 1/2	16-16 1/2	17-17 1/2	18-18 1/2	19-19 1/2	20-20 1/2

**Women's Sizing** (measurements in inches)
	XS	S	M	L	XL	1X	2X
Size	0-2	4-6	8-10	12-14	16-18	16W-18W	20W-22W
Chest	32-33	34-35	36-37	38-40	41 1/2-43 1/2	43-45	47-49
Waist	24-25	26-27	28-29	30-32	33 1/2-35 1/2	36-38	39-41
Hip	34 1/2-35 1/2	36 1/2-37 1/2	38 1/2-39 1/2	40 1/2-42 1/2	44-46	46-48	49-51
Sleeve	29 1/4	30	30 3/4	31 1/2	32	32 1/2	33

**Youth Sizing** (measurements in inches)
	S	M	L	XL	XXL	3XL
Size	6-8	10-12	14-16	18-20	20	22
Chest	24-26	28-30	32-34	36-38
Waist	21-23	25-27	29-31	33-35	37-39	40-42

Majestic Jerseys

Adult Men's Replica Jersey Sizing
Jersey Size	Small	Medium	Large	X Large	XX Large
Neck (diameter of neck)	6.5	6.75	7	7.25	7.5
Chest (underarm to underarm)	20 1/2	22 1/2	24 1/2	26 1/2	28 1/2
Sleeve (back of inside neck to end of middle sleeve)	8 1/2	8 3/4	9	9 1/4	9 1/2

Apparel Sizing Tips:

Use these tips as a general guide when finding your measurements:

Chest/Bust: With your arms at your sides, measure around the fullest part of your chest, across shoulder blades and under arms.

Waist: To measure your natural waistline, wrap the tape so it intersects your navel. Keep tape flat, but comfortably loose.

Hips: Stand with your heels together and measure the fullest part of your hips. Make sure the measuring tape is level all the way around your body.

Inseam: Stand up straight, and start the tape measure high in your crotch. Straighten the tape down the inside of your leg to the bottom of your ankle.

Red Jacket apparel

Junk Food apparel

Next Level apparel (Shibe Originals)

General Size	Neck (in inches)	Chest (in inches)	Waist (in inches)	Arm (in inches)

Small	14-14.5	34-36	28-30	31.5-32
Medium	15-15.5	38-40	32-34	32.5-33
Large	16-16.5	42-44	36-38	33.5-34
X-Large	17-17.5	46-48	40-42	34.5-35
XX-Large	18 – 18.5	50-52	44-46	35.5-36

All Eagles

Shibe Vintage Sports