Auction Action: Catching Up on Old Stuff

Paul here again, filling in for Phil one more time. Today we’re going to take a little tour into the world of reader Bruce Menard, who has an interesting habit: He makes of a point of scrutinizing old, completed auctions run by the major sports auction houses, looking for noteworthy things he might have missed. He recently pored over a Legendary Auctions sale from 2007 (nice of Legendary to keep all the listings up on their server) and found lots of good stuff. And unlike many of our other “Auction Action” entries, everything here is truly uni-related — no bobbleheads, no spin-off merch. Everything here is wearable. Let’s take a look:

• We’ve talked quite a bit lately about some of the Dodgers’ unusual spring training protocols. Here’s another one: Around 1950 or so, they had their rookies and coaches wear blue two-button pullovers with a vented shirttail (here’s the full auction listing).

• This Satchel Paige All-Stars jacket is the bomb (full listing).

• Here’s an absolutely magnificent college football all-star uni. Man, I love everything about this one. Wish we could see someone modeling it.

• Speaking of all-star uniforms, here’s an old minor league baseball example — in satin! Interesting that the minors were using such a festive all-star design in 1938, when the big leagues had settled into the routine of having the players wear their regular team uniforms.

• In the annals of disturbing Native American imagery used by sports teams, I’d somehow missed this one (full listing).

• Extremely tasty chain-stitching on this Syracuse Nats warm-up top. And check out the button design! (Full listing.)

• How did Wilt score all those chicks? Apparently they were wowed by his personal blazer.

• Love love love the how the red/white/blue ball design fits into this ABA zebra jersey.

• Just when you thought you’d seen everything: a Cardinals kimono (full listing).

•  Oh baby, how sweet is this old Utah Stars shooting shirt (full listing).

•  Here’s something unique: Red Auerbach’s uniform from the old Miller Lite commercials (full listing).

• Okay, I lied, here’s one item that isn’t wearable, but it’s still pretty cool: Pete Rose’s Expos suitcase.

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Uni Watch News Ticker: The Reds and Brewers wore Negro Leagues throwbacks last night, and it looks like they were genuine flannels. I’m trying to find out who made them — stay tuned. ”¦ Here are the remarkably unattractive jerseys from last night’s Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game (with thanks to John Sheehan). ”¦ “I happened to catch a Colorado Rapids game and noticed they had ‘5280’ — which is Denver’s altitude — printed on their socks,” says Kayce Harris. “I tried unsuccessfully to get a screen shot of the socks and in the process found that ‘5280’ was also on the back neckline.” ”¦ FNOB alert! That’s Carl Taylor (duh) of the 1970 Cardinals. “Chuck Taylor was also on the team that year,” says Steve Kraljic. ”¦ Someone is selling bogus Flyers Winter Classic jerseys (with thanks to Mike Sambuco). ”¦ Rockies pitcher Jason Hammel, inspired by teammate Ubaldo Jimenez, went high-cuffed with stirrups on Friday night and credited it with helping him pitch better. Key quote, from this story: “”Really, the idea was it would keep me cooler. I don’t like all the heat and humidity. Plus, I needed to change something up.” Now we just need to get him to change those purple shoelaces (big thanks to Tom Nawrocki). ”¦ My friend Friederike Paetzold posted a photo of this spectacular 1955 Russian Zorki camera. “You couldn’t use just any old strap with this,” she says. “It’d have to Siberian mohair with Lenin’s profile woven in a jacquard pattern.” ”¦ Ryan Madson wore his jersey backwards the other day (with thanks to Meech One). ”¦ Matthew Jean notes that Logan Pause of the Chicago Fire had a nice-looking choice of headgear against the L.A. Galaxy. ”¦ Here’s an interesting sight: a 1941 Navy baseball team that wore light-colored jerseys and dark pants (good find by Gavin Robey). ”¦ Color-on-color note from Levi Buck, who writes: “On Saturday the Tennessee Smokies and Chattanooga Lookouts both wore shades of blue. Naturally, the umpires were wearing blue as well.” ”¦ The chest insignia on a lot of the 1944 Red Sox players appears to have been riding mighty low. Anyone know more about that? Also, why would they use their road uniforms for a team portraint? (Good find by Bruce Menard.) ”¦ Miami, Ohio State, and Kentucky are reportedly changing to Lebron-branded hoops uniforms this fall (with thanks to Matthew Robins). ”¦ Also from Matthew: a sneak peek at Boise State’s new Amateur Pacifist gear. ”¦ The campaign to get Mike Commodore to wear No. 64 is heating up (with thanks to Jonathan Deery).
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Okay, that’s it for me for the next four weeks. Phil will be handling the lead entries in my absence, and Johnny Ek will be handling the Ticker (as of right now, anything sent to the Uni Watch e-mail address is being auto-forwarded to him; additional info on how to contact each of us during my break is here). I’ll be back on Aug. 8, but I expect to have three ESPN columns running between now and then, the first of which will be this Thursday. Phil will provide a link once it’s up. Everyone have a great summer, and I’ll see you again soon.