Super Rare 1984 Browns Jersey!

[both-teams-played-hard]

I just picked up this beyond rare Cleveland Browns jersey. This style was only used by the Browns for one game. Worn by back-up QB Tom Fleck in the first pre-season game against the Steelers in 1984. The numbers on these jerseys were hard to see on TV and from the stands, and were never used again. The sleeves were custom-shortened and the exclusive tag is included.
This style has been a topic throughout this month on the uniwatchblog. Does anyone have memories of this game or have access to any photos?

http://img831.imageshack.us/img831/7784/brown1a.jpghttp://img713.imageshack.us/img713/4243/brown2.jpghttp://img52.imageshack.us/img52/4333/brown4k.jpg

http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/3301/browns84.png
http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/4128/browns84b.jpg
*The news-clipping is from The Youngstown Vindicator and the game photo is from uniwatchblog.com

[halzeus]

Great find Warren!

[genius]

How about the price there! They ordered them for $30 a pop!

[dcgreg25]

Great find...those are really rare jerseys. Let me know if you ever decide to part with it as it would be a cool addition to my Browns collection. Congrats!

[both-teams-played-hard]

How about the price there! They ordered them for $30 a pop!

http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/287/snapshot20101120175052.png
No. I'm not a desperate Flick. My jersey is hanging on a hanger in my office. When folded at the right angle, it has a nasty swear on the NOB. (see MAD fold-in).

[owen21]

Thanks for sharing...love looking at rare jerseys

[G1X]

The Browns also had a white set from 1984 that was never used. The jerseys had orange numbers trimmed in brown (brown trim connected to the orange numbers - no gap). When they ditched the orange-numbered brown jerseys, they also decided not to use the orange-numbered white jerseys.

The Browns ended up wearing a one-year style in 1984 that looked very similar to the style that was ditched. The brown jerseys retained the sleeve-stripe pattern shown in Warren's photo, but the numbers were white (instead of orange) with an orange trim that connected directly to the numbers (no gap).

The white jerseys had the same sleeve pattern except that the orange trim stripes connected to the middle brown stripe (no gap).

Never mind my poor attempt to describe these jerseys. Getty Images contains some nice images of both styles. http://www.gettyimages.com/Search/Search.aspx?contractUrl=2&language=en-US&family=editorial&p=1984+cleveland+browns&assetType=image&ep=2#1 Unfortunately, no Getty photos from the pre-season game where they wore the orange-numbered brown jerseys.

Years ago, there was an excellent article in Sports Collectors Digest about the 1984 Cleveland Browns jerseys including details about the orange-numbered jerseys. I kept the article for years, but can't seem to find it now that I could actually use it to provide everyone with additional details. For anyone with access to old copies of SCD, I think that the article appeared in the mid-to-late 1980s and was written by John Vargo who was a well-versed Browns collector.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for World Football League uniforms, Atlanta Falcons jerseys, and Willie McGee and Darren Lewis gear.

[both-teams-played-hard]

The Browns also had a white set from 1984 that was never used. The jerseys had orange numbers trimmed in brown (brown trim connected to the orange numbers - no gap). When they ditched the orange-numbered brown jerseys, they also decided not to use the orange-numbered white jerseys.


As usual Mark, thanks for your insight.
A fellow forum member has this jersey photo on his webshots. Obviously a team-issue. Maybe he could chime-in and share his thoughts.

http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/1381/brownswhite.jpg

[G1X]

Warren,

That is a great photo example of the white jerseys I was trying to describe in my previous post (issued but never worn). When deciding to discontinue wearing the brown jerseys with orange numbers after the one pre-season game, they decided to can the white jerseys with orange numbers as well. They were never worn, but many have made their way into the hobby. Most of the ones I've seen over the years have the player's name-on-back.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for World Football League uniforms, Atlanta Falcons jerseys, and Willie McGee and Darren Lewis gear.

[thestable]

Great readings on this. I've been searching for info on these jerseys but its very hard to find.

[both-teams-played-hard]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/both-teams-played-hard/brownsflicksplash.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/both-teams-played-hard/media/brownsflicksplash.jpg.html)

This is an update to this thread. Jersey was sold. Rent's a bitch.