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Good Sunday morning, Uni Watchers. I hope everyone is enjoying a pleasant weekend.
Longtime readers will recognize the name of today’s featured designer, Casey Vitelli, who has displayed many of his concepts over the past several years — mostly for the NBA — and today he returns with some new baseball jersey creations. Casey is one of several designers for ProLine Mockups, but today’s set is all his own.
Casey has concepted a jersey for each MLB team, mostly inspired by Negro League teams located in or near the cities with MLB clubs today. We’ll take a look at the first 15 designs today (in alphabetical order). Enjoy!
• • • • •
Negro League Inspired Jerseys for Every MLB Team (Part I) by Casey Vitelli
We at ProLine Mockups just finished a new baseball template and, while I was scrolling through the history of the Negro leagues an idea came to mind.
In this project, I decided to give each team a classic feel, while showing homage to baseball history. Each design is based off a team that played in, or near, where each team plays today. I hope you enjoy, and stay tuned for more!
Make sure you are following ProLine Mockups on Twitter/X (@prolinemockups) for more easy to use templates.
__________
Arizona Diamondbacks
Based on the Tuscon Toros from the 1990’s
__________
Atlanta
Based on the Atlanta Black Crackers from the 1940’s
__________
Baltimore Orioles
Based on the Baltimore Elite Giants from the 1940’s
__________
Boston Red Sox
Based on the Boston Tigers from the 1920’s
__________
Chicago Cubs
Based on the Chicago White Stocking from the 1880’s
__________
Chicago White Sox
Based on the Chicago American Giants from the 1920’s
__________
Cincinnati Reds
Based on the Cincinnati Red Stockings from the 1860’s
__________
Cleveland Guardians
Based on the Cleveland Spiders from the 1890’s
__________
Colorado Rockies
Based on the Denver Grizzlies from the 1910’s
__________
Detroit Tigers
Based on the Detroit Stars from the 1920’s
__________
Houston Astros
Based on the Houston Buffaloes from the 1930’s
__________
Kansas City Royals
Based on the Kansas City Monarchs from the 1940’s
__________
Los Angeles Angels
Based on the Los Angeles Angels from the 1930’s
__________
Los Angeles Dodgers
Based on the Boyle Height Stars from the 1920’s
__________
Miami Marlins
Based on the Miami Marlins from the 1950’s
• • • • •
Thanks Casey! Baseball fans will note that a couple of these designs are quite close to those MLB clubs have worn as Negro League Baseball throwbacks, but I love the idea of creating an alternate uniform jersey for each team using Negro League teams as inspiration. Certainly a number of these are way better than the current crop of City Connect or softball tops the big clubs currently trot out.
Readers? What say you?
Guess the Game from the Uniform
Based on the suggestion of long-time reader/contributor Jimmy Corcoran, we’ve introduced a new “game” on Uni Watch, which is similar to the popular “Guess the Game from the Scoreboard” (GTGFTS), only this one asked readers to identify the game based on the uniforms worn by teams.
Like GTGFTS, readers will be asked to guess the date, location and final score of the game from the clues provided in the photo. Sometimes the game should be somewhat easy to ascertain, while in other instances, it might be quite difficult. There will usually be a visual clue (something odd or unique to one or both of the uniforms) that will make a positive identification of one and only one game possible. Other times, there may be something significant about the game in question, like the last time a particular uniform was ever worn (one of Jimmy’s original suggestions). It’s up to YOU to figure out the game and date.
Today’s GTGFTU comes from Charles Frommage.
Good luck and please post your guess/answer in the comments below.
Guess the Game from the Scoreboard
Guess The Game…
…From The Scoreboard
Today’s scoreboard comes from Francis Deacon.
The premise of the game (GTGFTS) is simple: I’ll post a scoreboard and you guys simply identify the game depicted. In the past, I don’t know if I’ve ever completely stumped you (some are easier than others).
Here’s the Scoreboard. In the comments below, try to identify the game (date and location, as well as final score). If anything noteworthy occurred during the game, please add that in (and if you were AT the game, well bonus points for you!):
Please continue sending these in! You’re welcome to send me any scoreboard photos (with answers please), and I’ll keep running them.
And finally...
…that’s gonna do it for the early article. Big thanks, once again, to Casey Vitelli for sharing his NLB-inspired designs (and looking forward to the second half, which is coming soon).
Everyone have a good Sunday, and to all those observing tomorrow evening, Chag Pesach Sameach. Also Happy (Early) Birthday to Comrade Robert Marshall, who will be celebrating his special day this Friday.
If these are “Negro League Inspired” why base the Cleveland design on the whites only Spiders and not on the Cleveland Buckeyes, an actual Negro League team? The Indians/Guardians have worn Buckeyes uniforms multiple times. I would love to see MLB utilize historic baseball uniforms instead of the ridiculous merch drop that is the City Connect program but this is the same league that has refused Cleveland’s request for the team to wear number 14 to commemorate the day Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the AL.
Agreed, plus that Buckeyes uni was quite nice. There was briefly talk of reviving the name when the franchise dropped its old name, I recall.
GTGFTS: 8 July 2014, Los Angeles Dodgers @ Detroit Tigers
Photograph taken a few moments before the Tigers would score 11 runs in the next 3 innings and win 14-5. Starters were Justin Verlander for DET and Hyun-Jin Ryu for LA.
“Based on the Tuscon Toros from the 1990’s”
1990s seems incorrect, but I may be wrong. Also, it’s “Tucson.” Also, grocers apostrophe’s galore!
While I understand and agree with the concept, the execution seems a little lacking. As noted above, some of the teams may not have had Negro Major League teams, but they did have minor league ones (e.g. Cincinnati Browns, Denver White Elephants). Of course, not every MLB city had a Negro League team of any caliber, but there were traveling teams that could be “adopted.”
GTGFTU: July 20, 2013 Miami Marlins vs Milwaukee Brewers. Negro Leagues tribute game.
I don’t know.
I get that there were no Negro Leagues in the 1990s but the D’backs uniform looks minor league, not Negro League. I don’t see a Negro League influence for the Reds. The Guardians looks like it is taken directly from their present package; I can’t see much Negro League influence here.
Some of them (Braves, Tigers, Royals) are well done though.
Miami wins again, as do their CC unis. 2nd place goes to Colorado. Thanks for using button downs. Some of the new stuff looks like softball.
Sort of a confusing concept since some of these unis are based on Negro League uniforms but others seem to have nothing to do with the Negro Leagues. So I’m not getting it. What am I missing here?
I think some people are perhaps misunderstanding what Casey was trying to accomplish here. It wasn’t strictly to create a Negro Leagues version of teams’ current branding/unis, it was to tie an old franchise located in or near the team to its current one, whether that was in the Negro Leagues or minor leagues.
But the headline read: “Negro League Inspired Jerseys for Every MLB Team (Part I).” So maybe that’s what’s confusing. In any event, it’s confusing.
The commenters are all so annoying I couldn’t get past maybe 2 of them. The whining knows it all, “genius behind my keyboard” attitude is so vile
They are nice. Many nicer than the hideous uniforms of some of these teams now.
They are nice.
They are nicer than most of the Nike filth that has infiltrated MLB.
But it is not whining to point out that ice cream was advertised and cake was served instead.
Tone matters. Many of the comments have, for lack of a better word, a rude tone to them. People were confused because the headline and opening did not reflect what they saw. However if you read the artist’s intro to his work, he makes it pretty clear he was inspired while working on a project involving the Negro Leagues to create historically inspired jerseys from the Negro Leagues OR the Minor Leagues. Regardless, he is a fellow uniform enthusiast who put significant time into researching and producing terrific looking jerseys that , in many cases, are better than today’s corporate and overly produced stuff. Based on the tone of some who have responded, I don’t know why he would bother with doing this again.
Nailed it with the Toronto jersey!
Sorry not impressed
Was excited by the headline, disappointed with the most of the jerseys.
Would have liked to see pictures or links to the original uniforms these were based on.
Good call, agreed.
As many have stated why base some of these on the white knot teams. Houston had an actual negro league franchise for a few seasons the “Houston Eagles”, and you guys go with the former minor league whites only team for inspiration?
The White Sox jersey is clearly the standout of this bunch.
The mostly Negro League inspired jerseys Pt. 1 are mostly very good and all seem to have a genuine city connection. Thanks!
Nike on your samples?
Braves and Royals look the best. I must love pinstripes and large letters.
A Negro League Red Sox jersey caused despicable old Tom Yawkey to burst into flames in the deep recesses of Hell in which he resides. Satans minions merely laughed and said “hey Yawkey thst rock ain’t getting up that hill be itself!” Somewhere, off in the distance, Cerberus barked approvingly
Mmm, I expected something more noteworthy from these. I like the Marlins and Colorado jerseys, Detroit should include this one in their rotation. The rest is slightly generic and underwhelming.
These are great! Thanks for sharing. Just FYI you don’t need an apostrophe when talking about years in the past. It’s just 1940s. Not 1940’s.
If these are “Negro League Inspired” why base the Cleveland design on the whites only Spiders and not on the Cleveland Buckeyes, an actual Negro League team? The Indians/Guardians have worn Buckeyes uniforms multiple times. I would love to see MLB utilize historic baseball uniforms instead of the ridiculous merch drop that is the City Connect program but this is the same league that has refused Cleveland’s request for the team to wear number 14 to commemorate the day Larry Doby broke the color barrier in the AL.
Agreed, plus that Buckeyes uni was quite nice. There was briefly talk of reviving the name when the franchise dropped its old name, I recall.
GTGFTS: 8 July 2014, Los Angeles Dodgers @ Detroit Tigers
Photograph taken a few moments before the Tigers would score 11 runs in the next 3 innings and win 14-5. Starters were Justin Verlander for DET and Hyun-Jin Ryu for LA.
“Based on the Tuscon Toros from the 1990’s”
1990s seems incorrect, but I may be wrong. Also, it’s “Tucson.” Also, grocers apostrophe’s galore!
While I understand and agree with the concept, the execution seems a little lacking. As noted above, some of the teams may not have had Negro Major League teams, but they did have minor league ones (e.g. Cincinnati Browns, Denver White Elephants). Of course, not every MLB city had a Negro League team of any caliber, but there were traveling teams that could be “adopted.”
GTGFTU: July 20, 2013 Miami Marlins vs Milwaukee Brewers. Negro Leagues tribute game.
I don’t know.
I get that there were no Negro Leagues in the 1990s but the D’backs uniform looks minor league, not Negro League. I don’t see a Negro League influence for the Reds. The Guardians looks like it is taken directly from their present package; I can’t see much Negro League influence here.
Some of them (Braves, Tigers, Royals) are well done though.
Miami wins again, as do their CC unis. 2nd place goes to Colorado. Thanks for using button downs. Some of the new stuff looks like softball.
Sort of a confusing concept since some of these unis are based on Negro League uniforms but others seem to have nothing to do with the Negro Leagues. So I’m not getting it. What am I missing here?
I think some people are perhaps misunderstanding what Casey was trying to accomplish here. It wasn’t strictly to create a Negro Leagues version of teams’ current branding/unis, it was to tie an old franchise located in or near the team to its current one, whether that was in the Negro Leagues or minor leagues.
But the headline read: “Negro League Inspired Jerseys for Every MLB Team (Part I).” So maybe that’s what’s confusing. In any event, it’s confusing.
The commenters are all so annoying I couldn’t get past maybe 2 of them. The whining knows it all, “genius behind my keyboard” attitude is so vile
They are nice. Many nicer than the hideous uniforms of some of these teams now.
They are nice.
They are nicer than most of the Nike filth that has infiltrated MLB.
But it is not whining to point out that ice cream was advertised and cake was served instead.
Tone matters. Many of the comments have, for lack of a better word, a rude tone to them. People were confused because the headline and opening did not reflect what they saw. However if you read the artist’s intro to his work, he makes it pretty clear he was inspired while working on a project involving the Negro Leagues to create historically inspired jerseys from the Negro Leagues OR the Minor Leagues. Regardless, he is a fellow uniform enthusiast who put significant time into researching and producing terrific looking jerseys that , in many cases, are better than today’s corporate and overly produced stuff. Based on the tone of some who have responded, I don’t know why he would bother with doing this again.
Nailed it with the Toronto jersey!
Sorry not impressed
Was excited by the headline, disappointed with the most of the jerseys.
Would have liked to see pictures or links to the original uniforms these were based on.
Good call, agreed.
As many have stated why base some of these on the white knot teams. Houston had an actual negro league franchise for a few seasons the “Houston Eagles”, and you guys go with the former minor league whites only team for inspiration?
The White Sox jersey is clearly the standout of this bunch.
The mostly Negro League inspired jerseys Pt. 1 are mostly very good and all seem to have a genuine city connection. Thanks!
Nike on your samples?
Braves and Royals look the best. I must love pinstripes and large letters.
A Negro League Red Sox jersey caused despicable old Tom Yawkey to burst into flames in the deep recesses of Hell in which he resides. Satans minions merely laughed and said “hey Yawkey thst rock ain’t getting up that hill be itself!” Somewhere, off in the distance, Cerberus barked approvingly
Mmm, I expected something more noteworthy from these. I like the Marlins and Colorado jerseys, Detroit should include this one in their rotation. The rest is slightly generic and underwhelming.
These are great! Thanks for sharing. Just FYI you don’t need an apostrophe when talking about years in the past. It’s just 1940s. Not 1940’s.