If you Google ‘Dodgers throwback uniform,’ one of the first things you’ll find is an image of a powder blue jersey with the Dodgers’ classic ‘Brooklyn’ script logo across the chest. This one floats to the top because in 2011, the Dodgers wore a non-satin variation of these jerseys as part of a throwback uniform for six midweek day games.

Although the 2011 jerseys were mesh, they were an homage to the satin powder blue jerseys worn by the Brooklyn Dodgers for night away-games in 1944. The idea was that the reflective quality of satin would make them easier to see in stadium lighting. This from Tom Shieber, Senior Curator at the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in an article for The Gothamist:

“Remember, lighting systems in the 1930s and ’40s were nothing like today, so the satin uniforms were about making night baseball more attractive to fans, but also about making the game more functional for the players, so they could see each other better.”

Ultimately, however, satin uniforms were dropped by the Dodgers and the handful of other teams who had begun wearing them, as players complained that they were uncomfortable.

The powder blue Brooklyn jersey gets referenced a lot, as it is one of only a handful of historic variations that Dodger fans get to look back on. Fans who are looking to add another jersey to their collections can still buy the mesh version online or in most stores that sell Dodgers apparel.

What the Dodgers world seems to have forgotten is that around this time there were two other satin jerseys worn by the team. For home night games from 1944 through 1948, there was a white with blue stripes version that used the classic ‘Dodgers’ script logo.

Additionally, it is believed that in 1945, the powder blue uniform was replaced by a darker blue version worn for night games on the road. It has also been said that around this time, the Dodgers made a habit of wearing satin uniforms during spring training at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, FL.

It is the opinion of this author that of the three satin uniforms of the 1940s, the powder blue road version is the least Dodger-like, simply because it is completely without Dodger Blue; or what is more affectionately known as Pantone 294. I must assume this opinion is shared by others, as I rarely see Dodger fans sporting powder blue at Dodgers games … except on Players’ Weekend, of course.

I would love to see the Dodgers wear the white or dark blue versions for a turn-back-the-clock game, perhaps for spring training or possibly as a Players Weekend jersey.

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