Page from the 1981 MLB Style Guide (Courtesy of Uni Watch)
This ticker item over at Uni Watch caught our eye, as most little Reds items there do.
Major, major find by Daren Landers, who came up with the Reds’ page from the 1981 MLB style guide. Among the highlights: (1) The stirrups are specifically designated as “Low Cut.” (2) Sannies! In a style guide!! (3) Interesting to see that the home jersey has set-in sleeves while the road jersey is raglan. (4) Does anyone remember ever seeing that jacket? Cuz I sure don’t.
This time, we can help add to the story. These jackets do indeed exist, and there are two of them on display right now at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. We snapped a couple of photos for you to check out.
The first one is part of the Museum’s current 1980s exhibit. It’s one of many articles of gear in the exhibit that just screams ’80s. That particular jacket, worn by Reds manager Vern Rapp, fits the specs outlined in the 1981 Reds style guide. Rapp managed the Reds in 1984 (121 games), indicating that these jackets were used for several years, at least 1981 – 1984.
1981 Reds warm-up jacket
Jacket detail…
1981 Reds warm-up jacket detail
Information card for the jacket displayed…
1980s Reds warm-up jacket information card
The second jacket is displayed with the Johnny Bench exhibit. It’s obviously a windbreaker version of the early ’80s jacket design.
Early 80s Reds windbreaker
After a little hunting around, we found this auction for a jacket of the same style worn by Clint Hurdle in 1982.
We would totally rock this jacket at GABP. Anyone got an extra?