Which original NFL teams wore Sand-Knit 1940-1980?

[terryzom]

All? Most? Every one except x and y? I pretty sure the Bears, Lions, Pack, Giants, Eagles and Redskins all did, but I'm looking for a definitive list if anyone knows. Swear I read somewhere that even stuff tagged Wilson was actually being made by Sand-Knit for a time, much as Ripon has continued doing in modern times. Help is appreciated!

[both-teams-played-hard]

I have no knowledge of the Bears ever wearing Sand-Knit.

[hockeytigers]

I have Eagles, Rams, Lions, Raiders, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, and Browns jerseys that are Sand Knits...

[cohibasmoker]

I have Eagles, Rams, Lions, Raiders, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, and Browns jerseys that are Sand Knits...

How about the Steelers and Jets?

[genius]

Falcons and Steelers for certain since I have a few. Colts definitely as well, they wore "Sand Aire" for Super Bowl V (prototype material for warm-weather games if I'm not mistaken).

[G1X]

With regards to durene jerseys, here are a few that are in my collection or that I've seen first-hand in other collections that are not Sand Knit. Note that MacGregor was not associated with Sand Knit until the 1980s:

1950s Philadelphia Eagles - MacGregor
Mid-1950s Washington Redskins - Powers
Late-1950s Detroit Lions - Rawlings
Late-1950s/early '60s Baltimore Colts - MacGregor
1960s Chicago Bears - King O'Shea
1960s Dallas Cowboys - Southland
1967 Atlanta Falcons black jersey (1-year style with white Falcon sleeve logos) - Rawlings
Late-1960s St. Louis Cardinals - Russell Southern
Early-1970s Chicago Bears - Wilson
Early-1970s San Francisco 49ers - Wilson
Early-1970s Detroit Lions - Wilson (Lions switched to Wilson only on their white durene jerseys circa 1971 as they continued to wear Sand Knit in their blue durenes)

Most teams started wearing mesh jerseys by the early 1970s although many teams would occasionally wear durenes in cold-weather games. Sand Knit remained the dominant supplier in the 1970s, but Russell became more active and became the supplier of teams such as Atlanta, Philadelphia, Kansas City, and Miami. Wilson was the supplier of a few teams such as San Francisco and Chicago during the decade.

Also of note is that in addition to the manufacturer's tag, some of the older jerseys carry the tag of the local sporting goods store that supplied the team.

Hope this information is helpful.

Mark Hayne
Gridiron Exchange
gixc@verizon.net

Always looking for NFL/AFL durene jerseys, World Football League jerseys, Atlanta Falcons jerseys, and Willie McGee and Darren Lewis game-used items.

[invintagewetrust]

Not that I would completely rule out this being a college and or pro shirt, BUT a rule of thumb among distinguising unknown game worn shirts of any era from my experience is the size. Your shirt is sized a 38, which would make me lean towards it being a high school shirt. I can talk just from my personal experience in researching vintage unknown game worn shirts.

G1X - I believe that the Eagles also wore Mitchell and Ness in the either the late 50's or early 60's. Would love to see photos of the Powers Redskins as well, sounds very interesting.

[terryzom]

I have no knowledge of the Bears ever wearing Sand-Knit.

I have heard there is an unknown period where the jerseys were made by Sand-knit and then tagged Wilson, much like Ripon does in the recent era. Factors like that make it very hard to pinpoint.

That's a helpful summation, Mark. So the Eagles never wore Sand-knit? I'm trying to determine the fate of this ca.1954(?) piece:

[HassanWM]

I have a St Louis Cardinals jersey with Sand Knit tagging. I am assuming that would be from the early-mid 70s?

[terryzom]

Correction: should have read "The Eagles didn't wear Sand-knit in the 1950's?" I missed Hockeytiger's mention somehow