Leatherheads

November 03, 2012

In the NFL the concept of the throwback jersey has become quite popular in the last decade and a half. Every team looks back into their history and chooses one, and sometimes more than one, previous team uniform to wear in a present day game. It changes things up, recalls great teams of the past, promotes loyalty, and most importantly celebrates history. Last week the Pittsburgh Steelers wore their 80^th anniversary jerseys. Many, such as this writer, thought the players looked like a cross between the inmates from “The Longest Yard” and characters from “Bee Movie”.

This week, when the Redskins face off against the Carolina Panthers, the Washington Redskins hope to erase those memories from fans’ minds by wearing their own throwbacks. These uniforms also celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the Redskins franchise. The uniforms look very similar to the ones worn by the team in 1937, the same year the team moved from Boston to Washington D.C. The uniforms consist of solid Maroon jerseys with large gold numbers on the front, gold pants, white socks, maroon and gold shoes, and gold helmets that are designed to appear to be leather, but instead conform to modern day helmet standards. The jerseys resemble uniforms worn by the Florida State Seminoles. Both teams derive their team names from Native American culture. In comparison to white colonists, Native Americans always had darker skin, which is represented by the maroon coloring used in both the Seminoles and the Redskins uniforms. This brings up the racist overtones that follow around teams whose names have any reference to Native Americans, but most sports fans forget such things and focus solely on Football. 

Authentic Store Buzz: Barry Rubin, the Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Philadelphia Eagles was recently at the store. The Pro League Authentics Nike Dri-Fit T-Shirt seen in the above picture is the new Eagles weight room t-shirt, supplied by the #1 Authentic Sports Apparel Store in Philly, Pro League Authentics. Get your PLA shirt by contacting the store or visiting us down town.

Pro League Authentics has just come out with a new exclusive line of apparel. The Legends Line- Wilt Chamberlain. A fan of Wilt the Stilt, The Big Dipper, or maybe you just know him as Mr. 100. Wilt Chamberlain was a basketball legend, considered by many to be the most athletic and talented player to ever strut onto the NBA hardwood. The big man, who wore number 13 and was famous for wearing the sweatband on his head, once dropped 100 points in Hershey, PA. PLA has the exclusive line of shirts of the Wilt Chamberlain line. For more information check out the shirts here: http://www.facebook.com/proleagueauthentics?fref=ts 

The NFL season is officially at the half way point. The Atlanta Falcons remain the lone unbeaten team, while rookies RGIII and Andrew Luck are putting on great shows in line to compete for the Rookie of the Year Award. The Eagles are looking to bounce back from their trouncing at the hands of the Falcons against another NFC South team this Monday night. PLA has a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. Check our selection out on our website, call up the store to inquire, or keep track of our Facebook Page and Twitter feed for daily updates.

++++++++++

Authentically Speaking Trivia Time:  Why do the New Orleans Saints use a fleur-de-lis as their logo, and have throughout the franchise's entire history? Answer to come Monday.

Thursday’s answer:  The 1982 logo had the Native American logo looking the other way. The team changed it back the next season, and it has remained that way ever since.  

++++++++++

Also in The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog