Third jersey

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The University of Oregon is famous (or infamous) for their alternate jerseys.
The University of Oregon is famous (or infamous) for their alternate jerseys.

A third jersey or alternate jersey is a sports team's alternate design for the previously established other two jerseys, the home and away outfits. They are used in all four of the North American major professional sports leagues as well as college sports, semipro leagues, and other sports leagues throughout the world.

Currently, third jerseys are primarily used in the United States and Canada[citation needed], although 'third kits' are also commonplace in European football. One notable incident occurred in 1996, when Manchester United changed into their blue third kit at half-time, with manager Alex Ferguson blaming the grey away kit for several sub-par performances.[1]

Contents

[edit] Major League Baseball

After decades of wearing the same uniforms, Major League Baseball teams began to experiment with numerous designs in the early 1970s, ranging from popular designs (such as the Pittsburgh Pirates' pullover jerseys that most MLB teams later adopted) and not so popular (such as the Chicago White Sox wearing shorts).

Among such designs that were also tested were third jerseys, to break the traditional mold that baseball teams wear white uniforms at home, and gray on the road. This began in 1972 when the Oakland Athletics' flamboyant owner, Charlie O. Finley, introduced new uniforms to the team. Taking after the lead of the Pittsburgh Pirates, the jerseys were pullover spandex that would later catch on in MLB (though this would be phased out by the early 1990s in favor of the more traditional button-down jerseys), but by going one step further than the Pirates, the A's introduced alternate gold and green jerseys. The gold jerseys, lighter in color, were considered "home" alternates while the darker green jerseys were considered "away" alternates.

Soon, many teams caught on with different colored jerseys. The Pirates even went as far as to having a rotation of which jerseys to wear, matching white pinstriped, gold, and black pants to wear with jerseys of the same color. The white pinstripes were later phased out in favor of solid white.

While some tradition-rich teams such as the New York Yankees have not and likely will not adopt a third jersey, third jerseys otherwise remain popular in baseball today, wearing either an alternate design or a throwback known as "Turn Back the Clock Night", which also includes promotions such as food prices in line with past prices and opportunities to win classic cars. (The Milwaukee Brewers, in fact, wear their 1978-1993 home uniforms every home game on a Friday.) In the late 1990s, some teams experimented with "futuristic" jerseys as to what that team may wear in the year 2020 (the New York Mets dubbing themselves the Mercury Mets), but this wasn't as popular with fans and was eventually dropped. The Toronto Blue Jays change from their traditional blue and grey jersey to a red alternate jersey every Canada Day to help celebrate the National Holiday. In 2007, the Jays announced that as part of the team's popular "Flashback Friday" promotion, the team would use replica uniforms based on the powder-blue road uniforms used in the 1980's at all Friday night home games, starting with the 2008 season. To complete the look, the Jays also wear the original blue and white caps, with their traditional logo on the front of the uniform as well as on the caps. The Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox and the Atlanta Braves wear a red jersey for every home game played on Sunday. The Pittsburgh Pirates wore a red alternate for every home game played on Friday during the 2007 season, even though red is not an official team color.

[edit] National Hockey League

In the National Hockey League, each team has its own distinctive jersey design. (Hockey tradition usually refers to jerseys as "sweaters," since hockey players actually wore sweaters on the ice until the 1960s.) Prior to 1995, (save a few isolated instances), each team only had two jerseys: One for home, and one for the road. One jersey was dominantly white (or in a few instances, a light color), and the other dominantly a dark color. The white jersey was originally the road jersey with the dark jersey being home, but this was reversed from 1971-2003. With the introduction of the third jersey, teams were allowed to use a completely new jersey. Every team in the league except the Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Carolina Hurricanes have introduced a third jersey at one point since the program began. Following the NHL's lead, the NBA and NFL also use three jerseys. The National Hockey League suspended the third jersey Program after the 2006-07 NHL season because of the new Rbk Edge style NHL jerseys which were unveiled at the 2007 NHL All-Star Game, with an exception being made to the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic, where the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres had worn throwback uniforms for the game. It is expected that the third jerseys return for the 2008-09 season.

[edit] Usage

The infamous, never used St. Louis Blues jersey.
The infamous, never used St. Louis Blues jersey.

Once a team has been granted permission by the league to use their new design, they will request and be allowed ten to fifteen games during the season in which they may use their third jersey. They may continue to use the third jersey in subsequent years as well. This alternate design allowed the team's appearance to flirt with radical designs which have occasionally gone on to become the new looks for some of the participating teams, though they can also be quite garish. An infamous example is a third jersey planned to be used by the St. Louis Blues: an over-the-top mix of trumpets, musical notes and staffs, it was rejected by then-coach/GM Mike Keenan, who reportedly said that "this shirt is never going to be worn, ever." It never has: it currently sits framed in league offices, as a warning to teams designing third jerseys. Sales of third jerseys to fans have also provided significant additional income for cash-strapped NHL teams.

[edit] Chronology

Several teams have had multiple designs of their third jersey.

[edit] National Football League

The NFL was the last of the major professional sports leagues to adopt the third jersey rule in 2002, with the only exceptions being the 1994 season, when teams issued a throwback uniform in honor of the league's 75th Anniversary, as well as the Dallas Cowboys using the "Double Star" jerseys in addition to their current uniforms during the mid-1990s. The NFL rule states that a team may wear their third jersey only twice a year. There are currently no rules on wearing alternate pants.

In alphabetical order, the teams that have used third jerseys through the 2007 season:

  • Atlanta Falcons - Adopted a red alternate in 2003 when the team redesigned the uniforms. The red alternate became the primary home jersey the following season, and the black jersey is still used as an alternate today and was worn 9/17/2006 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers and 11/26/2006 vs. New Orleans Saints.
  • Baltimore Ravens - Introduced an alternate black jersey in 2004. Mostly used in nationally-televised games during the night time. For the 2006 season, they were worn on 12/31 vs Buffalo. Also worn in 2007 vs the New England Patriots.
  • Buffalo Bills - Used the O.J. Simpson-era uniforms as alternates in 2005. These jerseys, more popular with fans over the current design adopted in 2002, is rumored to becoming the regular uniforms down the road, as early as the 2008 season. For the 2006 season, they were on 9/24 vs NY Jets and 12/3 vs San Diego. A red alternate, never used in a game, has been sold since at least 2001.
  • Carolina Panthers - Introduced a "Carolina blue" alternate in 2002 that has been occasionally worn multiple times in the season. In 2005 this jersey was worn more frequently than the team's black jerseys. For the 2006 seaon, they were worn on 9/24 vs Tampa Bay and 11/19 vs St Louis.
  • Chicago Bears - Wore 1940s-era orange throwbacks in 2004 Thanksgiving Day game with Dallas. Popularity with the fans led to the team introducing an orange alternate of the current design in 2005. For the 2006 season, they were worn on 10/29 vs San Francisco.
  • Cincinnati Bengals - Introduced an orange alternate along with the redesigned uniforms in 2004. Worn during "special occasions". For the 2006 season, they were worn 10/22 vs Carolina and were later worn again on 12/10 vs Oakland.
  • Cleveland Browns - Wore orange alternates during 2002-2004 seasons. Did not wear them during the 2005 season, and have officially been dropped as of 2006. A throwback based on the 1950s team was worn on November 28th against the Cincinnati Bengals.
  • Dallas Cowboys - Used white "Double Star" jerseys in 1994 and navy "Double Star" jerseys in 1995. Revived the navy "Double Star" jerseys on Thanksgiving Day during the NFL's "Throwback Weekend" in 2001-2003. Since 2004, the team has worn the original 1962 navy "home" uniform designs as a third jersey, usually on Thanksgiving Day and Monday Night Football. Although the Cowboys primarily wear white at home, an alternate 1962 white jersey was made, but has yet to be worn by the team.
  • Denver Broncos - Wore the Orange Crush-era "throwbacks" in 2001 Thanksgiving game, just five years after they were retired. Wore an orange alternate of the current design in 2002 and 2004. The jersey is still active as of 2006.
  • Detroit Lions - Wore 1950s-era throwbacks on Thanksgiving in 2001-2004. Introduced a black alternate in 2005. For the 2006 season, they were worn on 9/10 vs Seattle and 12/24 vs Chicago. A silver alternate also exists, but has yet to be worn by the team.
  • Green Bay Packers - Wore 1940s-era throwbacks in 2001 Thanksgiving game with Detroit, and wore 1960s-era throwbacks in 2003 Thanksgiving game, also with the Lions. Team has otherwise not worn a third jersey.
  • Houston Texans - Introduced a red alternate in 2003. For the 2006 season, they were worn on 10/22 vs Jacksonville.
  • Indianapolis Colts - Wore mid-1950s throwbacks in 2004 Thanksgiving game with Detroit used very early in team's history. Team has otherwise not worn a third jersey.
  • Jacksonville Jaguars - Wore a black alternate in 2002-2004. Not used in 2005 but remained active. For the first time since 2004, they were worn on 11/20 vs NY Giants and on 12/10 vs the Colts.
  • Miami Dolphins - Introduced an orange alternate in 2003. Also wore "undefeated '72 Dolphins" throwbacks in 2003 Thanksgiving game with Dallas.
  • Minnesota Vikings - wore throwbacks in their week 4 loss to Green Bay in the 2007 season. The Vikings in 2007 inroduced the all purple uniforms agianst the Bears in Week 15.
  • New England Patriots - Wore the "classic" Patriots throwbacks in 2002 Thanksgiving game with Detroit. Introduced a silver alternate in 2003. For the 2006 season, they were worn on 12/17 vs Houston. Also the silver jerseys were worn in 2007 against the Buffalo Bills on 9/23 at home.
  • New Orleans Saints - Wore a gold alternate in 2002, vs Minnesota and also wore an Archie Manning-era throwback vs Tampa Bay in the same season. Currently does not have a third jersey, though the gold jersey is still sold as a "fashion jersey" in retail stores. In the 2006 season, wearing black pants was widespread, either at home or away.
  • New York Giants - Introduced a red alternate in 2004. They were worn on 12/3 and 11/11/2007 vs Dallas.
  • New York Jets - Wore 1960-62 New York Titans throwbacks for the 2007 NFL season. They were worn on 10/14 vs Philadelphia and 12/2 vs Miami. [2]
  • Philadelphia Eagles - Wore 1980 throwbacks in a 2002 game. Introduced a black alternate of the current design in 2003. In 2007, the team wore 1934 Frankford Yellow Jackets jerseys, featuring bright yellow and aqua colors, against Detroit to honor the team's 75th Anniversary (ironically, when the Eagles started the 2007 season with a record of 1-3, the one win came when they wore the Yellow Jackets uniforms, causing many to say that the Eagles should keep those uniforms on).
  • Pittsburgh Steelers - Wore 1947-1962 throwbacks during the 2007 season (09/16 vs. Buffalo and 11/05 vs. Baltimore) as part of the team's 75th Anniversary. [3]
  • San Diego Chargers - Reintroduced the popular "powder blue" Chargers uniforms from the 1960s as an alternate in 2002. Elements from the throwback uniform were used when the Chargers re-designed their logo and uniforms after the 2006 season. Now sporting a white helmet (minus jersey number) full-time, the powder blue uniform was modernized and served as the new alternate jersey beginning in 2007.
  • San Francisco 49ers - Wore "1989 throwbacks" in 2002, 2005 and 11/5/2006 vs Minnesota and 12/24/2006 vs Arizona (even though they were still used regularly as recent as 1995). The team wore them in their 2007 season opener vs. Arizona (with special league permission) after the death of NFL Hall of Famer Bill Walsh. [4]
  • Tennessee Titans - Introduced a powder blue alternate of the current design in 2003. For the 2006 season, they were worn on 10/29 vs Houston and 12/3 vs Indianapolis.
  • Washington Redskins - Wore 1960s-era uniforms in 2002 as a tribute to the team's 70th Anniversary that season. Despite popularity with fans and even rumors that the uniforms would stick around as an alternate (which was worn once during the 2003 season), team currently does not have a third jersey. During the 2007 season, the Redskins wore the Vince Lombardi-inspired 1970-71 throwback uniforms for selected games.

The Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have never worn a third jersey other than the 1994 anniversary season. However, third jerseys for all of the above have been marketed as "fashion jerseys," not worn on the field but available to fans.

[edit] National Basketball Association

In the NBA, the only team that has a third jersey as a 'home jersey' is the Los Angeles Lakers. They now have a white jersey, in addition to their usual purple (away) and yellow (home), and are used exclusively on Sunday and holiday home games.

Other examples of third jerseys in the NBA include the Chicago Bulls who, aside from their standard white (home) and red (away) jerseys, have a black alternate road jersey. The Miami Heat also have red & black away jerseys in addition to the white jerseys they wear at home. The Detroit Pistons have a red alternate jersey in addition to the traditional blue road jersey. The Orlando Magic introduced a blue road alternate jersey in the mid 1990s, to accompany their white home and tradtional black road jersey.

The Phoenix Suns have used an orange alternate jersey since the 2003-04 season, both at home and on the road. They also had a black alternate jersey during the late 1990's. The New Orleans Hornets introudced a gold alternate jersey the same season, trimmed in teal and purple, keeping with New Orleans' Mardi Gras tradition. The Hornets usually wear the gold jersey for road games, but also wear the jersey at home for two or three games per season. The Seattle Supersonics also have a gold alternate which is worn both at home and on the road. The Minnesota Timberwolves wear blue Jerseys on the road and at home.

The Cleveland Cavaliers have red and navy blue away jerseys. It should be noted that during the 2006 & 2007 NBA Playoffs, including the 2007 NBA Finals, the Cavs have solely worn their navy blue jerseys at away playoff games.

During the '06-'07 season the Washington Wizards began using a gold jersey in addition to their white (home) and blue (road). The previous season, the Sacramento Kings introduced a gold alternate to go with their traditional white and purple jerseys. In this same year, the Boston Celtics added an alternate road jersey with black trim and black text with a different style text.

The Portland Trail Blazers recently announced they will wear their red jerseys, previously their alternate road jerseys, as their full-time road uniforms.

In the 2007-2008 season, the Indiana Pacers introduced a gold third jersey. The team previously wore a gold third jersey until the 2004-2005 season, when new uniforms were introduced.

In the 2005-2006 season, the Boston Celtics introduced a green and black third jersey.

Here are NBA teams wearing the "third jersey" through the years:

[edit] External links