When the Packers switched permanently to green and goldHere's how it appeared yesterday:
7:58 AM, Sep 18, 2012
It was 62 years ago today, Sept. 17, 1950, that the Green Bay Packers wore green and gold uniforms for the first time.
They debuted the new look in the season opener at old City Stadium. However, the Packers were routed by the Detroit Lions 45-7 that day.
Before that, the Packers had worn blue and gold, or gold and white uniforms.
Correction
An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that the Green Bay Packers started wearing green and gold uniforms in 1950. The story has been revised to reflect that they did so as early as 1935.
Coach Ronzani's green-and-gold overhaul lasted exactly as long as his tenure—through the 1953 season. Even he didn't ditch Lambeau's navy blue entirely, using the 1949 solid blue jersey as an alternate at least through 1950.
But when Lisle Blackbourn took over the head coaching duties in 1954, he brought back navy blue jerseys with gold numbers and gold Northwestern stripes on the sleeves. He did use a green alternate jersey during this period, but he also experimented with navy and white uniforms, which I believe to have been the first time the Packers took the field without any gold at all. I don't have a photo of that, but I do have a photo of the road version of that uniform, with a reversed white-with-navy-trim jersey:
I don't want to harp on them; the Press-Gazette usually does a fantastic job chronicling the Packers' history (better at times than the Packers have done, in fact). This incident should just tell us that there's a great deal more to learn, and there has to be a better way to share that information once gleaned.
3 comments:
I have a photo of the white-blue-white uniform, Chance.
http://tomfoolery815.blogspot.com/2012/09/1958-packers-no-gold-in-uniform.html
At least, the jerseys are blue to my eye. I tried to sell the GUD guys on it, but it didn't pass inspection.
That's great, Tom!
Wish we had a slightly better look at it. If only the eBay seller had included his name on the watermark, as so many do.
If only ... I found that 8 or 10 years ago. Didn't think to take down the name. As I recall, it was snapped up pretty quickly. (By me, I wish.)
The jerseys are so distant in the photo, I can see where the GUD guys remain unconvinced.
But you and I both know that's "new City Stadium" in its first incarnation.
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