Welcome to this website’s off-season sports sartorial content. We are counting down the world’s top 50 most iconic sports uniforms. Only current uniforms apply, we are not including one-off or alternate uniforms. Let’s stick to the basics.
#21
Detroit Red Wings
Our 3rd hockey team to make our countdown is here and it’s from an organization that has truly embraced tradition and given us some of the fewest uniform changes in the history of North American and world sports.
Detroit were founded in 1926 as the Cougars with a red and white color scheme. From 1930-32, the team changed their name to the Falcons and incorporated a small amount of yellow in their script logo and player numbers. It’s the only time in franchise history the team wore anything but red or white with their standard uniforms.*
The team debuted an advertising patch in late February this year for the first time ever from local garbage company Priority and although their corporate colors are red and blue they only use red and white on the Detroit sweaters.
For the 1932-33 season, the team adopted the Red Wings nickname and unveiled their now famous winged wheel logo. The changes since then have been downright sparse, but do include:
1937: The player numbers change to solid white from white outline with red on the inside.
1940: The pants add a thick white stripe.
1956: Player numbers added to the arms.
1977: Names are added to the back of the jersey.
1982: The logo is enlarged, updated, and centered. The team switches to an unusual number font and arched player names.
1983: Block numbers return and the white stripe on the bottom of the jersey is moved up.
1987: The white stripe is returned to the jersey bottom.
That’s it!
It doesn’t take much. Simple colors, an ornate but instantly recognizable logo, and let us also add that 11 Stanley Cups help to make the Detroit Red Wings one of the most iconic sports uniforms in the world.
*The team has since worn cream, gray, and black on alternate uniforms but has stuck to only red and white for their standard sets.
The best of the best here. Some of these original 6 hockey uniforms are priceless from a tradition perspective. The winged wheel is certainly in that mix.
Nice uniforms
Growing up in Michigan, the 90s red wings bridged a very dark gap in Detroit professional sports. The tigers were abysmal, the pistons were sandwiched between the Nad boys 1 and 2, the lions wasted the greatest RB to ever grace the field. But the wings, sweet baby rays sauce they got some trophies and looked pretty snazzy doing it
Such a cool logo, equal parts zany and classy
+1 for “nad boys”
Nad Boy Pistons
But WTF is a red wing?
A mythical bird ready to launch bombs into orbit.
Whatever you do, don’t ask that question of the Urban Dictionary!
Wikipedia says:
Detroit players and fans are definitely a bunch of Turduses.