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Sports History

Steve Finley
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Pigskin Dispatch
Your Portal to Positive Football History. We have an extensive library of posts and podcasts on the history of North American Football. From the innovators, teams, and coaches to legendary players, we cover them all with new items daily!
2025-02-20

February 20, 1959 Womens Basketball

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(image) Marymount basketball tour by Creator: Adolph B. Rice Studio taken around 1959 Feb. 20. This image sit as part of the Rice Collection in the Repository of the Library of Virginia, Prints and Photographs, 800 E. Broad St., Richmond, VA, 23219, USA. Image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. We...

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2025-02-20

February 20 Jersey Numbers

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Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 1 - 24 - 7 - 9  February 20, 1919 - One of the founding clubs of the NHL, the Toronto Arenas have the need araise t...

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2025-02-19

February 19 Jersey Numbers

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Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 33 - 25 - 7 - 15 - 34 - 48 - 13 February 19, 1946 - New York Giants outfielder Danny Gardella is 1st major leaguer to announce he ...

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2025-02-19

A team photo of the Georgia Bulldogs on February 19, 1926

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(image) A group photograph of the 1926 Men's Georgia Bulldogs basketball team from an unknown photographer, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

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2025-02-18

February 18 Jersey Numbers

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Sports history is made every day of the year. We will preserve at least a small sampling from some great athletes every day based on the uniform number they wore. 43 - 22 - 99 February 18, 1909 - The Boston Red Sox traded away their legendary pitcher, Cy Young who was 41 at the time mind...

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2025-02-18

Some 1943 Ice Hockey

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(image) The image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons as we see players on a hockey team "Westmount Intermediate School" and their coaches on the field of the institution. The photo was taken on February 3, 1943 and contributed by Conrad Poirier. There is no mistaken identity with these bol...

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Football

American football’s humble beginnings were derived directly from the games of rugby and association football, so it is no small wonder that the original upper torso gear of the stocking cap era gridders was also the apparel of choice for rugby players as well.   The first collegiate game is recorded as taking place on November 6, 1869. In that contest, the College of New Jersey, ( now Princeton) and Rutgers played each other in a football match. The game was played using a round-shaped ball, and they used Football Association (soccer) rules but the style of play also had some hints of rugby. However, it was in fact much closer to soccer than what we know as American football as you were not allowed to carry the ball and could barely touch the ball with your hands.  An unknown artists rendition of the 1874 Harvard Crimson v McGill Redmen, game, courtesy Wikimedia Commons. Not quite 5 years later on May 14 and 15, 1874 Harvard hosted a couple of pivotal matches versus McGill University from Canada. When the captains of the two teams met, however, their rules turned out to differ in several respects. The Canadian game allowed more carrying, and it used an oblong ball that was easier to throw and catch. So as a compromise they decided to play by Harvard’s more soccer-style one day and by McGill’s more rugby fashion the next. The Harvard players loved the Canadian game thus the two sports started a fusion of sorts. The first jerseys of the gridiron were rugby-style tops with wool or cotton sweaters and no padding. Wool was chosen because the game was played outside in the frigid air of the Canadian provinces as well as the American North East.  Players at that time needed to provide their own uniforms and equipment to play, which caused teams to have a wide variety of colors and uniform styles on the field. At the tail end of the 1800s, organizers and captains started coordinating their teams with dark-colored clothes made with thick, wool materials to protect themselves from impact and the harsh northern weather. But, these weren’t even similar to the protective and functional uniforms that players wear today. The website OnwardState.com shares this about the early 1887 Penn State football team: According to author Mark Harrington, Penn State players would give the balls to opposing players thinking they were on the same team. The Nittany Lions decided to pick matching colors for everyone to wear during games, and the team then chose to wear pink and black — Penn State’s original school colors. As the rules of the game developed, players started donning padding. The material of choice was Leather because of its durability, pliability, and widespread availability. Leather patches represented the first uniform padding as they were sewn directly onto the wool sweaters for at least a bit of player protection. As for numbers, Author Timothy P. Brown on his Fields of Friendly Strife website claims that American Football may have performed the numeral adornment as first in North America. Brown’s September 2021 article claims that Amos Alonzo Stagg thought about putting numbers on his University of Chicago players around 1900 but rescinded the idea when he worried that it would make the scouting of his players by opponents much easier. A Thanksgiving Day collegiate game in 1905 though between Iowa State and Drake did have unique numbers on the participants. The article says that the numbers were painted on pieces of canvas that had been sewn on the jersey back of each player in the game. 50 numbered shirts were provided with Drake using the first 25 and then Iowa State using the remaining number of 26 through 50. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons, Photo during the 1914 Tulane University vs. LSU football game by an uncredited photographer. ref. Football

Basketball

The connection of the game of basketball and its players uniform numbers are extremely connected through history and in the rules of the game. The use of player identification for scoring and fouls is paramount to the display of the uniform number. We are happy that you have chose us to get the history of the uniforms of the hoops game as well as the jersey numbers of some of the most talented athletes in the world. Find the most famous players who played for a particular NBA franchise or the best who wore a specific number of jerseys. We have your favorites from history in this section. ref. Basketball

Baseball

One would think that of all of the equipment and gear that a baseball player wears, that the shirts that the players don might be the most traditional piece of garb on their person. We may get that retro vibe in many instances but even the traditional buttondown shirt had some predecessors it developed from. We also think the connection of the legendary players that wore the uniform numbers is an integral part of preserving the history of the sport. Up above are some categories we are building to provide the most thurough assessment of the history of the components of the baseball inofrm shirt. Find the most famous players who played for a particular MLB franchise or the best who wore a specific number of jersey. We have your favorites from history in this section. ref. Baseball

Hockey

Many Canadian traditionalists of ice hockey stand firm that the tops that their sports players wear is a sweater. After all that is what the shirt coverings were at the begining of the playing of hockey, pullover sweaters to keep warm. No Cardigans please! However as hockey spread south into the U.S. and overseas the loose use of the word jersey started creeping in.  In defense of those that call them jerseys, well they are now made of double-knit modern materials much the same as other sports like football have. Even the Hockey Hall of Fame and the NHL themselves market the colorful adornments as jerseys. It has now become both a matter of personal choice and somewhat a regional vernacular. America and West Canada refer to them as jerseys while the Mid and Eastern Provinces still use the word sweater to denote the apparel. Our thoughts? Well we think both are correct, they are synonomous. It is like saying pants and trousers or coach and sofa, our English speaking brains love to have options. Heck if we didn't the makers of the Thesarus would all be out of jobs! Well maybe with the internet they already are! ref. Hockey

Auto Racing

There is nothing like being at the track when drivers are taking their cars past oyu on the track at harrowing speeds! I my quest to learn more about sports history it is quite the ride to learn about folks going fast for a living! From the open wheel racers of Indycar, Sprintcars and Formula one to the Stock car racing of NASCAR there is some tremendous people in racing history with amazing stories I love to learn about. ref. Auto Racing

Soccer

The game of soccer, or Football as it is known by most places outside of North America is the world's most participated in sport hands down. The team aspect and world wide appeal is off the charts. Like other sports teams generally each have a color scheme and display these colors proudly on their uniforms. The patterns, stripes and colorschemes vary from team to team and even year to year and possibly game to game for some, but you see fans wearing the game shirts of their favorite players around the world. The numbering of the unifoorms is unique depending upon what level or style of soccer one is playing. For instance in international tournaments, like FIFA World Cup or many continental cup tourney, each team must list a squad of 23 players, wearing shirts numbered 1 through 23.  Premier League Traditionaly n the Premier League of European Football the numbers have signiificance from a players position and role on the team. Jersey numbers of 7, 9 and 10 are reserved for the special star players on the team: Playmakers  Prized forwards Attacking midfielder specialists The starting gaol keeper is normall Number 1. Other lower numerals are saved for reserve players in particular center backs. Players in the modern eras are bucking the trend to give the unoorthodox number their identity even trying to make them iconic to their own name. ref. Soccer

All Sports Jersey Dispatch Podcasts

Here is a list of all our podcasts as well as a player to listen to them on. We have podcasts going daily with accompanying articles.    ref. All Sports Jersey Dispatch Podcasts

Uniform Numbers

We have said it before and will probably overstate it again, but one of the deepest connections that an athlete in a team sport has to spectators is the number they wear on their person. These iconic digits generally worn on the shirts of the participants become a synonomous with their names to the average fan. Officials use the number to identify fouls, scoring and who is the captain on the field. We aim as always here on the Sports Jersey Dispatch to preserve history through these numbers of our past heroes, and in this section we do it one day at a time!  Enjoy! ref. Uniform Numbers

The Roar of the Crowd home page

Oh those moments when we stand up and cheer! One of a sports fan's favorite sounds is when a participant at an athletic event does something spectacular that impacts history, the game, or both, and makes an instant memory. We try and capture these on a daily basis to preserve the sports history. Saving those sports memories one day at a time.... ref. The Roar of the Crowd home page

Odds and Ends

Here is a section of miscellaneous items and tidbits that may help you in your football fandom. Some items from soup to nuts, ref. Odds and Ends

Thoroughbred Racing

It is one rider on one horse racing agianst others. The exciting sport of Thoroughbred Racing is one of the oldest and thrilling events in sports history. A Thoroughbred is a horse breed developed for horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are considered "hot-blooded" horses that are known for their agility, speed, and spirit. ref. Thoroughbred Racing

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Orville Mulligan: Sports Writer
We invite you to take a ride through 1920's sports history in the audio drama that takes the listener through the sounds and legendary events of the era through the eyes of a young newspaper journalist. You will feel like you were there! Brought to you by Number 80 Productions and Pigskin Dispatch
Please note, that we include affiliate links to support the maintenance and development of this site and to help promote our guests and fellow sports historians. Your support is appreciated! _________________________

Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry
Author Joe Ziemba the master historian of football in Chicago has released another beauty. It is titled Bears versus Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry. _________________________

Hut! Hut! Hike! Book
Historian Timothy P. Brown has released another excellent book to help fill our football minds with knowledge. His latest is called Hut! Hut! Hike!: A History of Football Terminology.

[/br]more information _________________________