Skip to content
 

Apparent Leak Shows New Rams White Jersey

Click to enlarge

Three weeks ago, Rams COO Kevin Demoff said the team would unveil its new alternate jersey sometime in July. Two weeks after that, Rams offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth said the new design would be “a throwback to the old Rams unis with the yellow and everything.”

Now it appears that the new jersey will actually be white. That’s based on an Instagram video posted yesterday by Rams wide receiver Tutu Atwell, which showed him autographing a bunch of white jerseys.

Let’s shift into FAQ mode:

Do we know this is the alternate design? Couldn’t it just be a fashion jersey or something like that?

SportsLogos.net is reporting that the white design is in fact the new alternate jersey. I have not yet been able to independently confirm that, but SL.N is reliable for this type of thing.

Why did Whitworth say the jersey would be yellow if it’s actually white?

Looking back at his quote, he didn’t actually say the jersey would be yellow. Here’s his full quote:

This year, another jersey and uniform is coming out that’s really sharp. It kind of has a throwback to the old Rams unis with the yellow and everything.

Most people, myself included, interpreted that as a reference to a yellow jersey. But if you look at the quote, that’s not what he said. And if the Rams were to pair this new white jersey with their existing yellow pants, that would create a look very similar to what they wore in the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s — so that could be the yellow-inclusive throwback look that Whitworth was referring to. Or maybe he was just giving us all a head-fake. Or maybe he just didn’t know what he was talking about.

When will they formally unveil the new design?

They’ve said they’ll do it before the start of training camp, which is July 25, but no specific date has been announced. It’s not clear whether this leak will have any effect on the unveiling date.

What do you think of the white jersey?

Wow, an NFL team with a white jersey — groundbreaking!

Seriously, it’ll take more than a white jersey to fix the Rams’ uniform problems, but this design sure beats the dishwater version. And it appears to have TV numbers, so that’s a plus.

• • • • •

• • • • •

Revisiting “Turn Ahead the Clock”: It was 22 years ago this month that MLB rolled out its “Turn Ahead the Clock” promotion, featuring uniforms that supposedly represented the year 2021 — the future is now! With that in mind, my latest piece for InsideHook is a look back at TATC, including new interviews with four key people who made the program happen. It’s long, informative, and entertaining, and I think you’ll really like it. You can check it out here.

• • • • •

• • • • •

From the mouths of babes: Yesterday’s assessment of the Giants’ new City alternates prompted a very interesting comment from reader Michael Galante. I know that many of you don’t read the comments (which is fine), but this one is worth sharing. Here it is:

I dropped off my 11-year-old son and his two buddies this morning at baseball camp in New Jersey. For the 12-minute car ride, three 11-year-old boys from New Jersey talked about nothing else but the uniforms of an MLB team from San Francisco, and how they compared to baseball uniforms from teams in Boston, Phoenix, two from Chicago, and Miami. Again, these are New Jersey kids who are all Yankees or Mets fans talking about uniforms of teams they do not root for from far-away places.

These uniforms are tangible connections to the game for these kids. It makes them bigger fans. Sure they often go too far. But, for the most part, they work. If things like this get little kids into playing and watching baseball more and spending less time on YouTube, then I’m in.

Obviously, three kids is a very small sample size, and even a much larger groundswell of support from kids wouldn’t necessarily justify bad design. Still, I wouldn’t have guessed that the Youth were embracing these uniforms. If that’s truly the case, I guess you’d have to call them successful, at least in terms of enhancing the sport’s appeal for the next generation, which is clearly one of the City program’s goals.

• • • • •

• • • • •

Click to enlarge

Collector’s Corner
Brinke Guthrie
    

Welcome to another edition of Collector’s Corner. We start off this week with this San Francisco Giants-Pacific Bell Park phone. (That was the park’s original name; 21 years later, it’s on its fourth.) This phone is big, and shows a batter bashing a home run into the scoreboard. And as long as we’re talking Pac-Bell, here’s a nice-looking PBP gear bag.

Now for the rest of this week’s picks:

• Speaking of the Giants, you know how their new alternate uniform is fog-themed? A few years ago they did a “Karl the Fog” snow globe giveaway. (And why is the San Francisco fog named Karl? The answer is here, although it seems Karla is now in charge of things, fog-wise.)

• Will ya look at this! A 1975 New York Giants helmet buggy with the famous disco “NY” logo! Wish Big Blue would bring that back as an alternate helmet design.

• This is one nice, clean-looking 1980s Baltimore Colts varsity jacket, made by Pro Elite.

• Packer backers, add this set of 1960s hand-painted Packers nesting dolls to your collection. Featured players are Herb Adderley (26), Jim Taylor (31), Paul Hornung (5), Bart Starr (15), and Ray Nitschke (66).

• Staying in the NFC North, how about this 1960s Vikings Acrometal plaque? SKOL!

• NBA Warriors/Rockets Hall of Famer Rick Barry supposedly wore these Super Star basketball shoes way back in the day. “Made to Fit, Built to Last!” They don’t seem very sturdy to me, though. Barry would later go upscale with Adidas.

• One more sneaker entry here: Look at the size of this 1972 Bata brand/Boston Celtics ceramic sneaker bank. The seller says it’s 24-1/2″ long by 12″ high and 8″ wide — you can keep lots of spare change in this one!

• If you went into a hardware store in the 1960s and bought a Yale lock, you’d get this record, called Personal Pointers from All-Pro Linebacker Dick Butkus: How to Play Line-backer Like a Pro! Recorded in “Auravision,” whatever that means.

• Look at the style of this St. Louis Cardinals NFL kids’ helmet. The seller says, “This helmet is a Ford NFL PP&K winner, used to be given out to the regional winner in the competition.”

• This 1960s/1970s Montreal Expos milk mug is in perfect condition.

• • • • •

• • • • •

Uni Watch’s highest rating: Summer of Soul, the Questlove-directed documentary featuring loads of previously unseen footage from a 1969 Harlem music festival colloquially known as the “Black Woodstock,” isn’t just the best concert movie I’ve seen in a long time — it’s the best movie I’ve seen in a long time, period.

The music (including a pre-cokehead Sly Stone, a 19-year-old Stevie Wonder, gospel tracks by Sister Mahalia Jackson and Mavis Staples that made me cry, the best B.B. King footage I’ve ever seen, riveting stuff from Nina Simone, and a lot more) is superb. But the editing is amazing as well, and there are just enough talking-head breaks to be informative without being disruptive.

The movie is streamable on Hulu, but see it in a theater — it’s something worth experiencing in the company of other people. Trust me.

• • • • •

• • • • •

The Ticker
By Lloyd Alaban

Baseball News: Mets 1B Pete Alonso will use eight custom-painted bats at next week’s Home Run Derby (from Nicklaus Wallmeyer). … Houston-based Karbach Brewing Company has released an Astros-themed mini-keg (from Ignacio Salazar). … Mets SS Francisco Lindor swapped jerseys with New York Rangers D Adam Fox (from Alan Kreit). … During last night’s Astros/A’s game, Houston P Bryan Abreu, who wears No. 66, appeared in the sixth inning while the score was 6-6 (from @SteveinLC). … The Rangers gave away Dallas Stars-themed Rangers caps last night. … The Australian national team is adding an Indigenous recognition symbol to the front of its jerseys (from Tyler Maun).

Hockey News: The Flyers almost changed their unis in 1995, and the proposed design looked terrible (from Jack Connell). … Cross-listed from the baseball section: New York Mets SS Francisco Lindor jersey swapped with Rangers D Adam Fox (from Alan Wrench). … Another one from the baseball section: MLB’s Texas Rangers gave away Stars-themed Rangers caps last night.

Basketball News: Here’s the uni schedule for the NBA Finals. … Fort Collins Audubon changed its social media logo to white-tailed ptarmigan wearing league MVP Nikola Jokic jerseys (from @so_it_gohs). … University of Minnesota F Eric Curry, who has been with the team since 2016, will return for one final season and change his number from 24 to 1 (from Timmy Donahue).

Soccer NewsA few Scottish clubs have new first kits — Ayr United, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, and Queen of the South (from our own Jamie Rathjen). … Also from Jamie: The Orlando Pride had American flag corner flags and red, white, and blue nets on Sunday. … MLS has revealed its All-Star jersey. … New warm-ups for Norwich City (from @weirdsportmerch). … New kit for Bundesliga club Augsburg (from Ed Zelaski). … Here’s a quiz featuring all of Euro 1996’s jerseys (from K.C. Kless). … The J-League released some kits to celebrate Tanabata, a festival that falls on July 7 (from Jeremy Brahm). … New away shirt for 1860 Munich and new home kit for Belgian side Genk (both from Ed Zelaski).

Grab Bag: New rugby union kits for Racing 92 (from Gregory Neal). … New unis for the Wake Forest marching band (from multiple readers). … Last night’s Final Jeopardy round of Jeopardy! featured a clue about Ohio State’s effort to trademark the word “the” for use on clothing and hats. Ohio State eventually had to split trademark rights with fashion brand Marc Jacobs (from James Gilbert). … There’s been some controversy over the Ukrainian army’s decision to make female soldiers march in high heels (from Timmy Donahue). … The Sydney Swans of the Australian Football League sometimes wear throwbacks to their original identity of South Melbourne, and are doing so this weekend (from our own Jamie Rathjen). … UFC fighters will now wear ads on their uniforms.

• • • • •

I have a complicated day today, including a doctor’s appointment in the afternoon and then I’m meeting up with Phil for tonight’s Mets/Brewers game (first time we’ve seen each other since 2019!). Play nice while I’m away and I’ll see you back here tomorrow. — Paul

 
  
 
Comments (43)

    “Or maybe he was just giving us all a head-fake. Or maybe he just didn’t know what he was talking about.”

    It’s also possible he was talking about 2022? There’s still one rams jersey missing so maybe the quote was meant for next years?

    GO HORNED BANANA SLUGS!

    A truly bigly huge game in the kickball Universe today.

    Englands national team – The Chicago Cubs of Soccer – play a semi final game against Denmark. In London. From a Uni perspective the lads from Inglaterra will look smashing on the field. Whether a good looking kit and talented players will be enough to exorcise all the ghosts and heartbreak since their last title of any sort is why I will be watching.

    My UK friends are literally holding their collective breath today (I was told no one will be drinking till match time – an urban myth I tells ya). A mix of excitement and sheer terror. You’d think they all were playing in this match, which I suppose they are, in spirit.

    So best of luck to all my Limey friends in the UK who have told me that winning today would be bigger than anything sporting wise since the mid 20th century before most of the citizens of the UniVerse were born (except Mr Lucas, Mr.J.Royce and myself of course.

    I’m starting to get nervous, and I don’t normally get excited about the national team. I’m fully expecting either a heartbreaking extra-time loss or going out on penalties, as that’s about the most England thing that can happen. Most people I’ve spoken to today think the same – we’ve been conditioned to expect disappointment.

    Might be worth putting a cheeky bet on the Danes, as some kind of reverse jinx.

    I have a friend in England who, out of having a different sport of choice, doesn’t really watch soccer — except for England at major men’s tournaments.

    I really want to know what that house is like today…

    I used to have a friend who’s a dual US/UK citizen live near me, so we’d go to the local pub for England games. My most favorite t-shirt was one that said “Angleterre” on the front in blue with the Adidas three stripes on the shoulders. I laughed for days.

    One thing I haven’t seen mentioned about the TATC uniforms was that the Home Run Derby/workout jerseys had the same back template, with the NOB vertical. It almost seemed like they were trying to create some connection there or seem half-futuristic.

    I think that was the second time they had special jerseys for the workout day, but it wasn’t totally clear at that point that the intention was to follow the template of the home team. The previous year, the jerseys in Colorado were green and purple.

    RE: Summer of Soul. I also think it might be the best documentary I’ve ever seen.
    I thought for sure you would mention the outfits worn on stage (and by the spectators) which were all spectacular. The vintage instruments are gorgeous as well – I was drooling over all the classic guitars and drums. The footage is remarkably clear for it’s age so everything looks great.

    I can only assume the white jersey will replace the dishwasher jersey as the away jersey going forward, as a course correct, until they can do a full undo of this mess and go back to something similar to their classic look.

    If the Rams are replacing the “dishwasher” jersey with white, that probably moves them into a top 3 uniform in my book (at least in the “modern” category). I’d say it’s already similar to their classic look, but the shades of blue and yellow are much better. And the helmet actually matches the jersey!

    I will admit that the color combo looks a lot better in the lighting conditions of their home stadium than on the road. I wonder if that was part of the consideration when the colors were choosen?

    I can imagine my pre-1986 childhood self also being super enthused by the CC uniforms, even the Giants’ fogtastrophe. The Twins redesign that year turned me into a uniform classicist, but before that I was definitely attracted to novelty and the shiny object.

    As an adult, as much as I find nothing but fault with the Giants fogtastrophe jersey, if I were a Giants fan, I would totally pick up the CC cap as my everyday Giants chapeau.

    With my formative years featuring Dodgers-Yankees World Series in the 1970s, the abomination of uniforms worn in the 1979 Fall Classic made me want nothing more than to see all teams in home whites and road grays. So little by little through the 1980s, as the grotesque colorful uniforms of the 1970s disappeared, I couldn’t have been happier. As a kid, Nikefied uniforms would have turned me off from the game.

    Mike makes an important observation about how much more open kids can be to change in things like sports uniforms. That’s in part, I think, because when you’re 10 years old, a uniform that’s been unchanged for, say, three years, seems like it’s been around FOREVER. By contrast, some of us barely even notice or recognize a uniform if it’s ONLY been around for three years.

    I can remember as a kid really getting excited when expansion hit pro football and we got to see brand new uniforms for the Falcons and the Saints (though I didn’t react much to what the Dolphins and Bengals came up with).

    The flip side of the coin is that at any given time throughout my childhood, teen years and adulthood, I might suddenly find the newer, less traditional uniforms could wear thin and I’d really be drawn back to the more classic designs that were around when I discovered a sport. That would especially occur during rougher times, times of uncertainty, say when we had to move away to another part of the country. At those times, I could really treasure and find comfort in the tradition and history of a sport.

    It left me feeling like there should always be something fresh and innovative out there to excite the younger fans (who will become the dedicated adult fans of tomorrow), but always keeping it within some boundaries, respecting the traditions that have made the sport special over the generations.

    i’ve come to terms with the fact that, at my age and stage in life, some things just weren’t intended for me.

    i absolutely agree that the youth will make connections with these jerseys better than i will. when i was young i thought the charlotte hornets, devil rays, raptors, and coyotes first unis, and the disney angels and pewter blue jays rebrands were amazing, and i just accepted the tequila sunrise and sox beach blanket unis and orioles cartoon logo as normal because they were at the time.

    now when i look back, while the world cast many of the jerseys i mentioned as mistakes since their introductions, i am a part of the generation that is really enjoying seeing those design elements make a comeback.

    that is also why, when the giants redesigned to the cream alternates to mimic unbleached wool, and the more old fashioned font i was blown away with how good it looked because at the time, in my personal scope of history, it was unprecedented for a team to move backward in design to move forward in favor.

    i am in the process of a redesign project for all of the MLB teams, and i noticed early on that i prefer things that mix older designs (be it traditional or non traditional) with modern design, but ultimately create something that looks like what we understand to be a baseball jersey.
    i get that’s what nike was trying to do for the giants here, but for a few reasons it is a total misfire (only a few reasons because, really there are very few elements to this jersey). i also noticed that there are some jerseys that give me designers block. even minor tweaks seem hard to justify for teams like the giants, dodgers, yankees, and red sox. i think it behooves nike to either throw caution to the wind in these cases (like boston’s CC), or show some restraint. they’ve not committed to either with the giants.

    i love the uni-watch segment about when people “got it”, and i think it would also be interesting to hear about what moment or what uniform or logo really set their taste in design going forward, because as i said, as a kid i “got it” early on but my mind (and disposable income) was still so hungry for all things new and different, and now, while i still chomp at the bit for uni reveals and rebrands and such, i actually analyze them critically before i declare them wonderful and consider sporting any of the merchandise.

    I think you have a great point about designs that push the envelope, that will attract the younger age groups. And while we might abhor some of these wildly different designs (Bucs, Jags), when they are really bad, they eventually return to the classic, or something similar to the classic design. Of course that always leads you to ask, why change anyway? I guess every so often a wild new concept has staying power, even if most don’t and go extinct.
    However, while there may be something to teams coming out with wild new designs, the MLB city connect, the NBA uniform sets, are very much novelty uniforms design with merchandise sales in mind. I think that is a very different animal than when say the Astros first shocked everyone with the rainbow guts. That may have been revolutionary at the time, but it was their uniform, that was its purpose. We all know these alternates aren’t really the teams uniforms, just costumes they wear brief so they can be sold. I think that is what makes so much of this unattractive.
    A non traditional uniform meant to be the teams new look is one thing, a non traditional uniform that will only be worn a few times while the team keeps their existing look, that is cheap.

    I agree with the comments above for the most part, and will add that they illustrate how the difference between a “good” and “bad” uniform design often has more to do with nostalgia than aesthetics.

    To me, the rehabilitation of the Tampa Bay creamsicle/Bucco Bruce uniform is the prime example. When these uniforms were worn by the Bucs, the colors and the logo were widely mocked and the change to red/pewter with the flag logo was seen as a huge improvement. Now, everybody seems to think that the original TB uniform was great and they want to see it on the field again. Go figure.

    Strongly agree, Jasper, nostalgia is a powerful force. And what has nostalgic appeal for any individual is largely an accident of timing — when they were born and when they first fell in love with a sport and its visuals. And yes, Creamsicle Orange / Bucco Bruce is a great example of how a thoroughly mocked uniform (that I personally always loved) has become a fan favorite after enough years have passed to give it that glow of nostalgia.

    I’ll add that good uniform design is just, well…good uniform design, whether it’s been around for a while (or has been been moth-balled then revived) or something fresh (or that’s innovative and is less traditional).

    I remember the Rams going from Blue and White to Blue and Yellow. I thought it was awesome. And that was well before I knew the Rams wore Yellow and Blue in the 50s. And to me, that look is now the “Traditional” look of the Rams, which I believe they should go back to and stick to. I’m now in Seattle and still don’t like the two uniform iterations they’ve done since going away from the Silver Helmet look.

    Change for the sake of change (e.g., “selling more merch”) usually isn’t good.

    I understand that the new Crawford Bock mini-keg is a new Astros design, but it is not at all surprising. Karbach Brewing made Crawford Bock in conjunction with the Astros several years ago. It is named it after a section of Minute Maid Park (the Crawford Boxes), and they donate a portion of the proceeds of every beer sold to the Astros Foundation (yes I know that is marketing lingo, but I know they do support the foundation and it isn’t just lip service). The standard can is actually much better looking than that mini-keg:

    link

    Which is why it drives me bonkers that there is a Karbach section in the new Rangers ballpark. Plenty of great local breweries here in Dallas-Fort Worth. Of course, Karbach was acquired by Anheuser-Busch so it’s not really a quirky local brew anymore.

    That Flyers article appears to lift a lot of info (and all its graphics) from this Icethetics series. Not even a single mention of Icethetics, though, sadly.
    link

    Surprised that article, at least, hasn’t been updated to Icethetics’ current site, though at least it’s still fully intact on the old “dot-co” page.

    The jersey being signed is not the same as the stack of white jerseys above it.

    It’s clearly the bone road jersey.

    You can tell because there is no yellow in the armpit from the shoulder stripes coming around the back like in the top photo.

    When I first read the Whitworth quote, “a throwback to the old Rams unis with the yellow and everything,” I thought of a white jersey with yellow on it. NOTE: “with the yellow.” But at the time, I forgot about the yellow pants and couldn’t fathom a white jersey with dishwasher pants. Pairing this jersey with the yellow pants makes sense.

    “If things like this get little kids into playing and watching baseball more and spending less time on YouTube, then I’m in.”

    This is a boomer comment if I’ve ever read one. Lauding kids for liking something while knocking their hobbies in the same paragraph. Get over it and let kids kids enjoy watching a media platform the same way you enjoy watching TV every night.

    Any retort that calls something a boomer comment comes off as ad hominem and really hurts your point.
    For starters, I can’t be sure of the age of Michael, but given that he has an 11 year old son he is presumably a millennial or possibly Gen X.
    And the inference is not necessarily that one media platform or another is better, but rather noting both the content and what the content might spur the kids to do. Watching baseball may spur the kids to actually get outside and play baseball, or at the very least become fans of the sport. Given this is uni-watch, we certainly celebrate and encourage sports fandom here.
    The content that kids often watch on youtube is viral videos, which certainly can be a myriad of things. It might be a harmlessly funny video, or it might also be a prank or stunt that the kids might attempt to replicate with harmful results to themselves of others.
    I’d also point out that simply dismissing the likely responses of older generations shows an incredible lack of wisdom. Regardless of the failings of any past generation, their collective experience is at the very least worth taking into consideration rather than being dismissed because you feel you know better or because it might not hold a favorable opinion of something you like.

    You took a loosely made comment from an experienced father, and you responded with a level of rudeness a bazillion times what you believe he initiated.

    Awesome article from InsideHook on TATC, Paul. Great to hear from the original people involved so we could get a peek behind the curtain, thanks!

    “During last night’s Astros/A’s game, Houston P Bryan Abreu, who wears No. 66, appeared in the sixth inning while the score was 6-6.”

    Coincidentally, also last night my odometer turned over to 66,666! link

    Re: Summer of Soul
    A terrific movie, story, and great clothing (UNIs?)
    One additional recommendation- go to a “movie palace” to see it if you can. We went to the Tampa Theater (opened 1926), which sets an awesome ambiance. Much better than a mall or couch-at-home setting ( even if the 5th Dimension look like they just came from a shift at Burger King)

    Enjoyed the TATC article. Did you feel like a PI or some kind of detective, tracking people down? I appreciate the persistence and efforts needed to put it together.

    The white jersey looks like a Chargers jersey. I would think that the Rams, the dominant of the two teams in LA, would want to really differentiate their identity better.

    On the Giants uniforms, I hate them. They’re stupid. If I were a Giants fan, I’d seriously consider rooting for the Dodgers because of how stupid they are. But I’ve long since stopped being the target demographic for such things, so my hatred might be taken as a sign that they’re doing the right thing.

    The Philadelphia Flyers have a unique look, one that was briefly plagiarized by the L.A. Kings (1980-88). Every effort to “improve” it has been a mistake.
    It has held up very well. Like the Chicago Bulls, the Flyers have only needed one insignia.

    Me reading the ticker: “How bad could that Flyers redesign really have been?”

    Me reading the linked article: “Oh, I see. THAT bad.”

    Was the “pre-cokehead Sly Stone” comment really necessary? Couldn’t you just call him “Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer Sly Stone”?

    What did this snide remark add to this otherwise insightful co-sign of the movie?

    Because it’s worth noting that this was during a time in his career when he still had his shit together — mostly. They actually joke in the movie about how erratic he already was, even by this point (1969).

    By contrast, a movie showing concert footage of him from his cokehead period — 1976, say — would be of much less interest. Not everyone knows when his life and career descended into drug abuse, so it’s worth noting that this performance predates that and is therefore of great interest.

    There’s no value judgment here. Simply a delineation of the two major phases of his career — before and after drugs took over his life. I say that as a huge, huge fan of his pre-cokehead work. Is his descent into a drug abuse both a human and artistic tragedy? Yes. Is it also a simple, objective reality? Also yes.

    My opinion is that “cokehead” sounds like a demeaning term – almost name calling. I think if you said it the way you did in the comment (“before drugs took over his life”) or something similar, that probably would’ve given the same context without what can seem like a value judgment based on the term used.

    Agreed @Jem. I didn’t like the tone of how Paul worded that and his explanation didn’t help.

    It was totally unnecessary and an ugly call on your part. And after being called out on it you doubled down and defended yourself. How hard is it to admit you were wrong?

Comments are closed.