The Evolution of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hat
Considered cornerstones of the function-over-fashion movement in professional baseball, players in the 1800s would wear circular-brimmed straw hats on the field, like farmers. As the 20th century unfolded, early versions of today’s MLB hat were adopted and logos stitched onto the front. You can imagine the baseball diamond an expanse of tumbleweeds with straw hats blowing all … Read more
The Evolution of the Philadelphia Phillies Hat
The City of Brotherly Love: a critical cog in the clockwork of our young nation. History runs through its architecture, politics, and culture. From Benjamin Franklin and the Liberty Bell to the Philly cheesesteak, Philly knows all about making a name for itself. Philadelphia has such strong conviction that even its baseball team has an … Read more
The Evolution of the Toronto Blue Jays Jersey
The Toronto Blue Jays came into existence in 1976, after the American League voted to expand into Canada – or more specifically, into the city of Toronto. The Jays received their name after holding a “Name the Team” contest in ’76, involving close to 4,000 names and 30,000 entries. The results proved “Blue Jays” to be the winner, but … Read more
How Baseball Uniforms Have Changed
1917 Ye Olde Tigers The Old English D on the Tiger uniform has been around for more than a century now, providing a nice aesthetic link from Ty Cobb to Miguel Cabrera. According to Chris Creamer’s wonderful history of sports logos website (sportslogos.net), the first Old English D was used by the Tigers in 1904. It was … Read more
The Evolution of the Chicago Cubs Hat
The defending World Series champion Chicago Cubs are primed for an electric follow-up to last year’s curse-crushing performance. As one of the most storied teams in the MLB, a follow-up championship appearance would certainly bookend the team’s success. In fact, the Chicago Cubs first one a World Series title in 1907 and again in 1908. The Cubs first … Read more
The Evolution of the Texas Rangers Hat
“T” is for Texas, and it represents the Rangers. In 1972, the new American League franchise kicked off their inaugural season with their lucky block letter “T” stitched into their caps. With two recent World Series appearances (and losses) in 2010 and 2011, the Rangers are right on the doorstep of major league glory. After 45 years of … Read more
This Gif Shows Pitching Mound And Field Evolution
While the game of baseball developed and experienced a series of changes, so too did the field dimensions, specifically the pitcher’s mound. Nowadays, the pitcher is often viewed as one of the most vital positions on the field, but this wasn’t always the scenario. The early years of gameplay employed the pitcher to merely toss the … Read more