Is there anything more beautiful than a Dodgers Jersey? No, there is not, and as the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
The Dodgers are one of just a handful of MLB teams whose jersey and uniform have stayed almost entirely true to their original designs. That’s why the following moments in Dodgers’ uniform history stand out so much. Here are five times the Dodgers took the field (or almost took the field) wearing oddball uniforms.
1999 Think Blue Week
Although the white-on-blue version of the Dodgers’ jersey is usually reserved for spring training and batting practice, in 1999, the team celebrated Think Blue Week by wearing blue jerseys with a white logo and white piping. With these jerseys, the Dodgers also wore a mostly blue cap, with an “LA” logo and a bill that were both silver.
2005 White “Brooklyn” Throwbacks
On August 31st of 2005, to commemorate Jackie Robinson, the Dodgers wore white jerseys with the classic “Brooklyn” script logo in blue. Although the Dodgers of the ’40s only wore the “Brooklyn” logo on the road (i.e., never on white jerseys), the August 31st game of 2005 against the Padres was played at Dodger Stadium, and the throwback jersey was therefore altered accordingly.
1999 Unused Alternate Road Jersey
The Dodgers’ unused alternate road jersey of 1999 is perhaps the coolest jersey that never was. In 1999, the organization explored the idea of a grey with blue sleeve alternate road jersey and even went as far as to manufacture some for sale. The new design was ultimately abandoned, but not before a handful were sold to a few lucky fans.
2011 Powder Blue Brooklyn Jersey
In 1941, the Brooklyn Dodgers experimented with powder blue uniforms for evening road games. These uniforms were a highly reflective satin making them easier to see in stadium lighting at night. Unfortunately, the fabric was uncomfortable to wear and difficult to clean, so these uniforms were abandoned after a single season. This uniform concept was, however, revisited by the Dodgers in 2011 as a throwback.
July 20, 1999
Perhaps the oddest moment in Dodger uniform history took place on Tuesday, July 20, 1999. The Dodgers were at Three Rivers Stadium, the then home of the Pittsburgh Pirates, when they unexpectedly took the field wearing blue jerseys with white piping and a grey “LA” chest logo. These were the Dodger’s road batting jerseys that were apparently worn at the request of right-handed pitcher Kevin Brown. For more information on Kevin Brown and the Dodger’s uniform choice that day, check out ‘The Day the Dodgers Went Rogue’ article on UniWatch.com.
* * * * * *
Fun stuff, Max. THANKS!