The History of Sports Uniforms

It's time to play ball! Your favorite team takes theuse the Steelmark, the logo used by the
field. You love the colors of the uniform and theAmerican Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), to honor
cool mascot on the jersey. Have you everthe Pittsburgh steel heritage. The logo's colors
wondered what some team colors mean and howrepresent the three materials used to produce
their uniforms were chosen? Here are thesteel: orange for iron ore, yellow for coal and blue
histories behind the uniforms of some sportsfor steel scrap. The Steelers are the only NFL
teams.team to sport its logo on only one side of the
Duke University's Blue Devilshelmet.
During World War I, the Chasseurs Alpins, alsoAnaheim Ducks
knows as "les Diables Bleus," were popular FrenchHow did a hockey team choose the "Ducks" for
soldiers who gained attention when their uniqueits uniforms? The Mighty Ducks were actually
skills were relied upon to bring an end to trenchfounded in 1993 by The Walt Disney Company.
warfare in their native region of the French Alps.The team's name was chosen from the popular
Their presence didn't affect the cause that muchDisney movie The Mighty Ducks, a story about a
but the Blue Devils were recognized for theirgroup of troubled kids that turned their losing
courage, and their unique blue uniform with flowingyouth hockey team around and became winners.
cape and beret captivated the public interest.Disney created an animated series called Mighty
After the United States entered the war, someDucks that included a fictional Mighty Ducks of
units of the French Blue Devils helped to raiseAnaheim team. The real team uses the Mighty
money for the war effort by touring the country.Ducks logo on its uniforms to this day.
Trinity College, now know as Duke University,Other quick uniform facts:o The Cincinnati Red
chose the Blue Devils mascot and blue/whiteStockings became the first baseball team to wear
colors from nominations that included Blue Titans,knickers instead of pants. The reason for this
Polar Bears, Royal Blazes and Blue Warriors.choice was to show off the team's high red
Pittsburgh Steelerssocks that had been designed by the owner's
The Pittsburgh Steelers, originally founded as thewife.o In 1976, the Chicago White Sox wore
Pittsburgh Pirates, changed their name toshorts during the first game of a doubleheader.
generate fan support since the steel industry wasThe players hated the shorts so much that they
the city's primary source of employment. In 1962,all switched back to pants for the night game.
Republic Steel of Cleveland asked the Steelers to