White jerseys at home BEFORE 1964

From what I understand, the NFL mandated from 1957 to 1963 that the home team wear their dark jerseys, primarily because it was difficult on black-and-white TVs to differentiate the two teams. Prior to 1957, I'm assuming that some NFL teams didn't have a white jersey at all, or there were no rules governing their use.

I know the Browns wore white at home exclusively before 1957, I think. Also found a picture in a book showing Otto Graham in a brown jersey eluding white-clad Eagles. At first glance, I assumed this was a Browns home game from 1954 or 1955, but thanks to newspaperarchive.com, found that the Browns wore white for both of those Eagles games. When I looked at the stadium details, it appears to be the Eagles stadium, whatever its name was at the time.

I have also found photos in books that show the Giants wearing white jerseys at home against the Rams in 1954 and in the 1956 NFL Championship Game.

By the way, I have a pretty large database of newspaperarchive.com files with pictures of uniforms worn, if anyone needs any help. I developed Excel spreadsheets for each NFL team to track scores and uniforms several years back, and provided to timmyb...although I have to update the color palettes.

Blue Falcon,

So nice to have you aboard!!

I'm sure you've seen them, but the "White at Home in the NFL" documents that are found here (under the "research" tab) and also on Uni Watch, were compiled based on your research, "HelenaKyle" and his research as well as my own. I am forever grateful to you for your spreadsheets that sparked the research. They have been vital to the cause and Bill and I have made good use of them.

Before 1957, you are right, there was no fast and set rule on what color jerseys were to be worn, as long as there was contrast in the jersey color. But even this was loosely adhered to, because of the numerous occasions the Bears and Packers played each other while both wore navy blue jerseys. The advent of television is what led to the white away/dark home edict in 1957.

The Otto Graham pic that you allude to is from a game played at Connie Mack Stadium in 1955. The Browns wore brown at home for a few games each season in their AAFC days, but reverted to wearing white for all regular season and Championship games at home through 1956 when they joined the NFL. The Giants wore white at home for several home games in 1953, 1955 and 1956 and for all home games in 1954.

It is the long term goal of the GUD to feature uniform matchups for ALL NFL and AFL games going back to 1950, and possibly beyond.

Thanks for everything, Blue Falcon and we look forward to hearing more from you!!

I have a copy of Murray Olderman's book "The Pro Quarterback," and there are a few color pictures of the Eagles wearing white jerseys and SILVER pants in a game against the Giants. The game has to be from 1961-64, since Y.A. Tittle is playing QB for the Giants, and the 'NY' logo is on their helmet. The Eagles' pants don't have any stripes at all. There is another pic in the book showing the same silver pants while the Eagles are playing the Rams in a night game, too. If you want, I can scan these and send them.

That'd be great. We'd love to see them.

Is it possible that the shots are of preseason games? The Eagles played "at" the NY Giants each preseason from 1962-64 at Princeton's Palmer Stadium.

http://football.ballparks.com/NCAA/Ivy/Princeton/index.htm

As far as we know, the Eagles went with only white pants from 1960-1973.

Bill Schaefer wrote:
Is it possible that the shots are of preseason games? The Eagles played "at" the NY Giants each preseason from 1962-64 at Princeton's Palmer Stadium.

FWIW, all three exhibition games were afternoon contests.

Once I get my scanner up and running I will send photos of the Eagles-Giants game and the Eagles-Rams game...although it looks like the Rams game is a 1959 preseason game that was played at night.

While perusing Olderman's other book "The Running Backs," I found a pic of the Colts' Buddy Young wearing a white helmet with the horseshoes on the back. Supposedly, 1956 was the first year this helmet was used, but Young retired after the 1955 season. The pic I will send appears to be from a game against the Redskins.

It's possible Buddy Young was in training camp with the Colts in '56. The recent documentary on the NFL Network about the early history of blacks in the NFL, "Third and Long," suggested that Young was cut because the Colts had drafted and signed Lenny Moore. If I recall correctly, it was Moore himself who said that his presence led to Young being let go. It's certainly possible they had Young in the '56 preseason, and thus he wore the helmet with the horseshoes on the rear of the helmet.

Tommy F wrote:It's possible Buddy Young was in training camp with the Colts in '56. The recent documentary on the NFL Network about the early history of blacks in the NFL, "Third and Long," suggested that Young was cut because the Colts had drafted and signed Lenny Moore. If I recall correctly, it was Moore himself who said that his presence led to Young being let go. It's certainly possible they had Young in the '56 preseason, and thus he wore the helmet with the horseshoes on the rear of the helmet.

From a 9/20/56 AP article:

"Buddy Young ... retired today."

Indicative of the era, the second (and final) paragraph begins this way: "The little Negro halfback..."

In the 8/25/56 exhibition against the Steelers, Moore had a 58-yard TD reception from Johnny U, so he definitely played during the '56 preseason.

There you go. Evidence found.

And yes, some of the sportswriting of the '50s is cause for cringing today.