The Stanley Cup finals get underway tonight in Newark, N.J. with the Devils and Kings battling it out for Lord Stanley’s hardware. And, as has been the case in every NHL final series since 1989, the two teams will wear cup final commemorative patches on their jerseys.
Major League Baseball got into championship patch marketing two seasons earlier for the 1987 World Series, although only the Cardinals wore the patch, not the series winning Twins.
For the Super Bowl, commemorative patches actually began in Super Bowl X between Pittsburgh and Dallas honoring the nation’s bicentennial, and once again to celebrate the 25th game played in 1991 in Tampa between the Giants and Bills.
It wasn’t until the 1997 game in San Diego, Super Bowl XXXII with Denver facing Green Bay, that both team regularly wore a Super Bowl patch.
In the NBA Finals, patches date back to the great Chicago Bulls era of the ‘90s, with the 1996 championship series between the Bulls and Seattle the first time a small trophy patch was added to the jerseys.
++++++++++
“M” is for memories: The Twins have been on an “M” kick with their on-field cap of late, replacing the standard “TC” version. Not only did they wear the alternate “M” as their Stars and Stripes cap Monday against the A’s, they wore the traditional “M” Tuesday night versus Oakland as well.
The “M” cap was the Twins primary home and away cap from 1987-2001. In 2003 they went back to the “TC” at home and the “M” on the road until 2009, then a season later the team unveiled a new road version of the “TC” cap.
Minnesota wore the “M” cap at home for three games last August, part of the 20th anniversary of the 1991 World Series championship club, but not in 2010, therefore this week’s sighting is a little unusual.
++++++++++
A reminder: For more news about Pro League Authentics and thoughts on the world of sports uniforms, Like our Facebook page, converse with us @PLAphilly, and visit our YouTube page.
