It is true what they say – sometimes old things really are better than newer things because they have got stories in them. This is true for people, cars and yes, even sports memorabilia.
Of course, as you have read the title of this article you know that the particular “older” things that we are interested in discussing are vintage sports jerseys.
Now, you might be asking yourself, “What classifies as vintage?” Is it the age? Or maybe it is a particular look.
According to most serious collectors, “vintage” includes all items produced less than 100 years ago, but which are older than 40 years from the current time. For our purposes, that means that what we would consider “vintage” sports jerseys would have been made between 1920 and 1980.
Jerseys from these decades are incredibly valuable for a host of reasons. They hold great punitive value, historical significance and personal meaning for many dedicated sports enthusiasts.
Therefore, in this article we will be talking a bit about some of the coolest vintage sports jersey finds out there and what makes them significant. Some of these throwback jerseys are so good that they will make non-fans want to hang-up one in their man cave! We will also tell you where you could possibly get your very own.
Some of the Coolest Vintage Sports Shirts & Their History
#1) San Diego Chargers 1960s Alworth Throwback Jersey
This is one of the most iconic of the throwback jerseys, known as the “Gold Standard” of throwback uniforms. The Chargers first used this jersey in the 1960s when receiver, Lance Alworth, led the team to their first ever AFL title in 1963.
The Chargers have brought this jersey back several times over the years and many people agree that this powder blue novelty is a true legacy amongst vintage sport jerseys. You can read more about the legend of the Chargers powder blue jersey by clicking here.
#2) New Jersey Nets ABA 1970s Erving Jersey
This jersey is known as one of the best basketball jerseys of all-time! Featuring the iconic red lettering and stars and stripes, this jersey is indeed a hall of fame worthy jersey. Julius “the Doctor” Erving famously led the Nets to their first ever ABA title in this jersey in 1973-1974, ultimately defeating rivals, the Utah Stars.
This win solidified both Erving and this jersey as some of the greatest of all time. You can read more about the incredible journey that this jersey signifies by click on this link.
#3) Kansas City Royals Majestic Cooperstown 1980 Brett Jersey
George Brett was the third batsman for the Kansas City Royals and was one of baseball’s best ever hitters in the major leagues. His best year in the batter’s box was in 1980 when he almost hit .400 in a season. This powder blue uniform, which Brett wore during his entire legendary season (must be something in the blue?) is iconic in baseball history.
#4) Buffalo Bills Late 60s/Early 70s Uniform
There is not much to this jersey – it is dark blue in colour with a roaming buffalo on the side. This design was adopted in 1962.
Perhaps what adds to the distinctiveness of this particular jersey, however, besides that this uniform saw the team through their 71-100-7 record, two AFL titles and six winning seasons (between 1962-1973) is that famous O.J Simpson was wearing this jersey in 1973 when he became the first player to rush for 2000 yards in a single season. You can read more about the history of the Buffalo Bills by clicking here.
These didn’t catch your eye? See our list below of where you can find other amazing vintage sports jerseys.
Where To Buy Your Vintage Sports Jerseys:
- Glass-Onion.com
Glass Onion is an online retailer store that sells a variety of rare and vintage clothing items, including sports jerseys. They are reasonably affordable and their products range from £20 to £120.
They also offer discounts to students and persons purchasing two or more items at a time. We suggest checking them out if you are looking to start your own vintage sports jersey collection on a budget!
- Game7sportswear.com
Here you can easily find vintage sports jerseys from the NBA, NFL, NHL and the MLB and from an extremely extensive list of sports teams. Their vintage jerseys average about £80.
When you click on their products, you are provided with a description of the item’s condition (out of 10), the size, condition details (any faults, label description etc.), brand, player and name set style (printed/stitched). An awesome store if you are looking to get your hands on some legit vintage items. Plus, you get free delivery when you spend over £50, so what is there to lose?
- Ebbets.com
Here, you can get all of your vintage jerseys and equipment, as well as replica jerseys. While finding items from before 1960 can be quite difficult, here you can buy items and replicas from as far back as the 1940s! They are however, much more costly at around $215 for bestsellers, like their Montreal Royals 1946 Road Jersey.
- Etsy.com
Esty is an online marketplace where individual vendors advertise and sell a variety of unique products, including amazing vintage sports jerseys! You can find over 1000 search results for the words “vintage jerseys”, but you will have to dig for the truly cool vintage finds. But there is a huge chance of coming across a rare find, so give it a try! Prices vary by vendor.
Now to end off…
In this article we looked at four iconic, sport Hall-Of-Fame worthy sports jerseys and their respective historical significance for their teams. These jerseys are not “just” jerseys for many. Instead, they are monuments of great sporting moments and represent the timeless dedication of sport enthusiasts.
Vintage is in! And if our list of the coolest vintage sports jerseys doesn’t do it for you, we suggest checking out the online stores we have mentioned above to find the kind of vintage that does.