The Shibe Vintage Sports History Blog

On January 1^st, 2013 the Michigan Wolverines will play the South Carolina Game Cocks in the 2013 Outback Bowl. Watching an actual wolverine and game cock duke it out might be an interesting way to settle this score, but fear not, no animals fighting will be involved. Instead the 10-2 Game Cocks come into this game having not made the SEC championship game for another year, while the Wolverines come in with an 8-4 record.

This will be the final game for both teams this season. In commemoration of the bowl game, the Wolverines will wear special uniforms just for the occasion. The uniforms resemble the special unis worn by Brady Hoke’s team in their first game this season against another SEC opponent, the University of Alabama. The uniforms are white with blue on the shoulders, instead of yellow against Alabama, with maize numbers on the shoulders as well as maize numbers on the back. Those numbers on the backs of the jerseys will have navy outlining, while the navy on the helmets will be flat. In addition, the uniforms have a special Outback Bowl patch on the left chest of the jersey. The pants remain maize, and Adidas, the company responsible for all of Michigan’s uniforms, produced the entire ensemble. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: Which NBA player has played the most games on Christmas and how many has he played? Answer to come Wednesday.

Saturday's answer: The team removed the black undershirts from the vest ensemble, using only white or red. 

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The Toronto Raptors haven’t been involved in a big time sports story since Vince Carter roamed the floor of the Air Canada Center in Toronto. Don’t worry, nothing has changed in that regard. Today, the Raptors sport a lineup with such names as Jose Calderon, DeMar DeRozan, Amir Johnson, and Andrea Bargnani. This rag tag team has posted a 9-19 record, which is good enough for last in the Atlantic Division. Nonetheless, forward Amir Johnson is still proud to be a Raptor. So proud in fact, that the Westchester High School product had the Raptors most recent dinosaur foot print logo shaved, with color, into the back of his head. Okay, so this isn’t a tattoo, but a tattoo would have been more expected and less demonstrative than shaving a logo into your head. We’ve seen NBA players shave someone’s initials or number into their head, but nothing like the monstrosity of a haircut that Amir Johnson decided to rock. Judge it for yourself, but other than the obvious passion Johnson feels for his team, nothing justifies this abomination.  

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: In 2000, the Reds changed a part of the team's uniforms, what did they change? Answer to come Monday.

Thursday's answer: The team's blue away jerseys were retired when the club switched logos. 

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Canada may have given the U.S. Hockey, but for now, all we have reaped is 95 years of a great sport, and soon to be two completely locked out seasons. Conversely, the United States introduced American Football to the Canadians, and 54 years ago the Canadian Football League was founded. While the CFL hasn't become the dominant football league in North America, it remains popular in the great white north. Given that Canada sports zero NFL teams, as opposed to the other 3 major sports in which at least Toronto is represented, Canadians vigorously support the CFL. In order to properly deliver the backhanded slap to the face of the U.S., the CFL is introducing a new team, which, according to Chris Creamer, has a chance at being named after the Canadian band Rush. Rush will enter the Rock n' Roll hall of fame, another American institution  this year, making the name of the new CFL team in Ottawa ever more a fascinating choice. While this isn't official, it is fun to speculate. On the other hand, the NBA just allowed one of it's teams to change its name from the Hornets to the Pelicans, so who are we to judge.

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: The Washington Capitols retired a jersey color. What was it? Answer to come tomorrow.

Thursday's answer: First it was Orbit, then Junction Jack, and after a campaign to bring back Orbit, Orbit now rules again. 

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Back in high school, every athlete wanted to earn varsity letters, play on the big stage, and become a school sports legend. One way in which you knew that guy walking down the stairs was a jock was that he wore the classic letter jacket. You remember, the jacket that buttons in the front, reminds you of the one’s the guys wore in Remember the Titans. Well, a lot of the allure of those jackets was that they symbolized being a part of the time. It was a way to separate those varsity athletes from those who were not. Also, the jackets created more camaraderie, something every team needs.

The Houston Texans are going back to high school. No, this isn’t a Black Griffin Kia Optima commercial, but the Texans are using a similar premise. In this case, the entire team, coaches included, got personalized high school-style leather varsity jackets. Each on has the player’s number and position stitched onto the right arm, with the Texans logo on the front left part of the jacket. The jackets are button up, and not created by Nike, the official apparel sponsor of the NFL. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: What is the name of the Houston Astros new mascot? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday's answer: The team will  James M. Shuart Stadium, on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, which was home to the original Cosmos club during the 1972 and 1973 seasons.. 

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Ever heard of the Belk Bowl? I hadn’t either, but it brings up the fact that Bowl season is upon us. NCAA Football and NCAA Basketball have many similarities and many differences, but one major distinction is that basketball has March Madness while football has Bowl Season. Some bowl games you’ve heard of, like the Rose Bowl or the Cotton Bowl, while others like the Capitol One Bowl or the Belk Bowl haven’t come across your radar screen before.

Well, the University of Cincinnati Bearcats play in this years Belk Bowl against the Duke Blue Devils, known more for their hoops than their pigskin skills. The game will take place on December 27^th at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Bearcats come in as favorites after winning 9 games this past season, in comparison to the Blue Devils who won the mandatory minimum of 6 games to qualify to play in a bowl game. Just like the Bearcats did in 2011, the team will introduce and wear a new alternative helmet for the occasion. This year their helmets reflect not the black in their jerseys, but the red. The helmet has a black facemask and black “C Claw” on it, but the entire background is done in a red carbon pattern, giving it a metallic look. Apparently, the helmet was supposed to be introduced via social media, but excited players took up the cause of getting the news out instead. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: The newest team in the NASL is the New York Cosmos. Where will they play home games, and why is that venue special to the franchise? Answer to come tomorrow.

Tuesday's answer: The team was forced to change the color of their shorts from black to red. 

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The Pittsburgh Pirates haven’t made the playoffs or even fielded a winning team since the early 1990’s. Pittsburgh fans have experienced championship joy, but only in Hockey and Football. While the Pirates recent history has been marred by constant losing, the franchise has had a wonderful history dating back to the late 19^th century. Players like Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski, Honus Wagner, and Ralph Kiner took the field for the Pirates in the 20^th century, helping the Buccos to 5 World Series titles, the most recent coming in 1979. 

Finally, the Pirates sport another player who, at the end of his career, might be placed in the same breath as those other Pirate greats. Andrew McCutchen has put together some great seasons recently, accepting a long-term team friendly contract, and just adding an incredible energy to the team. This year, at Piratefest, a winter fan experience for everything Buccos, the Pirates introduced a new alternative uniform. McCutchen showed off the new uniform combo, that includes a hat and jersey. The hat is a gold color with black brim and “P” on the front. The jersey is a pullover is based on the 1971 jerseys the team wore when they beat the O’s in the 71’ World Series. The cuffs on the sleeves have yellow, black, and white stripes, and the words/numbers are done in block lettering. The jerseys are classic looking, and will be worn by the Pirates at every Sunday home game in the 2013 season. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: Bayern Munchen originally wore Black and White, but were forced to change something about their uniforms when joining the MSC? Answer to come tomorrow.

Monday’s answer: Shibe Park become known as Connie Mack Stadium. 

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Very few sports teams in the country have names that don’t end in “S”. We have the Orangemen, the Red Storm, as well as others. One of those “other” teams is the Tulane Green Wave. The Green Wave plays in Conference USA, and does so in the Superdome since Tulane University is located in New Orleans. The Green Wave won the inaugural Sugar Bowl game, and has won 3 other bowl games in the football program’s history.

Well, the Green Wave will keep their unique team name, but they will be changing something. In this case that something is their uniforms. It is still unknown what exactly Tulane players will be wearing next season, but three helmet designs have been released as possibilities. One is a light blue helmet version of the white helmet they currently sport. Another is a throwback to the early 1980’s with the U and the T interlocked while the third option is a white helmet with a blue stripe down the top with the “Wavy T” on the side, worn in the 90’s. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: Both the A's and the Phillies played in Shibe Park, or as it became known later...? Answer to come tomorrow.

Saturday’s answer: September 1971. 

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With week 15 not far away, the Seattle Seahawks and Nike officially unveiled Seattle’s new alternative jersey. Nike is calling the ensemble the “grey wolf” line because the entire uniform, minus the helmet, is a metallic grey. The uniform is essentially an inside-our look of the Seahawks regular blue uniforms with the grey from inside the uniform numbers making up the whole of the jersey, and blue stripes on the shoulders. The lime green remains a staple of all Seattle Seahawks jerseys as the color still outlines the numbers on the front of the uniform. The Seahawks will first wear these new alternatives in week 15 at home against the Buffalo Bills. Combine the Seahawks recent success on the field with the two new alternative jerseys the team has introduced this season, it isn’t a surprise the Seahawks jersey sales have risen by more than 200% since last April. The team expressed that the grey wolf jerseys are symbols of the Seattle environment, hopefully the team wasn’t speaking of the constant clouds and rain.

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: When did the Bears begin to use Soldier Field as their official home? Answer to come Monday.

Wednesday’s answer: Going into the 2006 season. 

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Less than a week after the Phoenix Suns celebrated the fans by giving them a chance to get their money back after a game against the Dallas Mavericks if said fans felt as though they hadn’t gotten their money’s worth. Now, the Suns are reverting back to more conventional methods by unveiling the team’s Hardwood Classic uniforms for this season. The team is bringing back jerseys from the glory days of the 1990’s, when Charles Barkley, Jason Kidd, and Kevin Johnson. The Suns will wear these alternatives 10 games this season, including three road games and 2 black vs. black jersey games vs. the Spurs and the Brooklyn Nets. The jerseys are the black Suns jerseys of the mid 1990’s (1994-1995/1999-2000) with the word “Suns” written across the chest above a basketball with a comet streak, made to look like a sun, coming off of it. During the offseason, Phoenix will unveil a new jersey design for the 2013-2014 season. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: When did Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots, switch from grass to turf? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: The team removed the word Anaheim as well as the blue background behind the large "A". 

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When it comes to having players’ names on the backs of their jerseys, many schools of thought exist. Some believe that the old school approach of no names, just numbers on the backs of jerseys is more traditional, and shows the players that the game is less about the man than about the team as a whole. Some don’t care, and when it comes to jersey sales as well as fan knowledge, having the player’ s name on the back of his jersey makes everything easier.

Well, Notre Dame, not surprisingly, doesn’t have its players’ names on the backs of their uniforms. Or, should I say the team usually shies away from the practice. For the BCS National Championship Game on January 7^th, Notre Dame will have their players’ names on the backs of their classic jerseys. This will mark the second time in the last two years this has happened. The last time being when Notre Dame played in the Sun Bowl in 2011 against the University of Miami. Notre Dame eschewed the practice of no-names on their blue uniforms three times already, but January 7^th against the Alabama Crimson Tide will mark the 4^th. 

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: When the Angels changed names from Anaheim to Los Angeles, what changed about their logo? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: The original star was just a solid shape of a star, no outline. 

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Recently the Cincinnati Reds held their annual Redsfest extravaganza. Generally, this is a time for the players and the fans to be in the same place to interact, and keep the fan base excited for next season. This year the Reds unveiled a new uniform as well. The “Los Rojos” alternative jerseys will be worn on select dates next season. While the team’s regular jerseys don’t say “The Reds” on them, these Hispanic oriented uniforms include the word “los” meaning “the”, making the jerseys actually read “The Reds” instead of the usual “Reds” that line the Cincinnati players’ jerseys. The uniforms are all red with black and tan piping.  

Authentic Store Buzz: 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. 

As the NFL season continues, PLA continues to provide a great selection of authentic NIKE NFL jerseys including the newest one, a home blue Andrew Luck jersey. In fact, PLA is now offering 50% off on any NIKE NFL jerseys. All are authentic. 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.

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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: What did the original Dallas Cowboys star look like? Answer to come tomorrow.

Wednesday’s answer: The team's first mascot was a vision of Sasquatch due to the team's secondary logo of a footprint of Sasquatch. 

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