DALLAS/EWORLDWIRE/Sep. 22, 2005 --- Hideous. Terrible. Downright ugly. These are just some of the descriptions of the Baltimore Orioles' 1971 all-orange uniform, which ranks atop the list of worst uniforms in sports history."There were other descriptions that aren't suitable for print," said Chris Anderson, whose website, Section 219, developed the list based on a six-month poll of sports fans, sportswriters, designers, and marketing executives. More than 4800 votes were cast between February and August.
In his book, Baseball Uniforms of the 20th Century, author and noted historian Marc Okkonen described the 1971 Orioles uniforms as "unusual."
"He was being kind," said Anderson, who has studied logos and uniforms since the fourth grade. "I appreciate that the team was taking a chance - pushing the envelope, if you will, in the early 1970s. But orange or orange doesn't work, unless, of course, you're the University of Tennessee."
Runner-up for the worst uniform of all time is the magenta and orange of the Southern California Sun, an Anaheim-based franchise, which played in the short-lived World Football League in 1974-75. The Sun wore orange pants with magenta jerseys, a look clearly influenced by styles of the mid-1970s.
The NBA's Washington Bullets uniform from 1977-78, which featured horizontal red and white stripes on the shoulders and chest, finished third in the balloting for worst uniform.
The rainbow-clad uniform of the Denver Nuggets, circa 1984, took the fourth spot on the worst-uniform list, with the all-red uniform of the 1975 Cleveland Indians rounding out the top five.
"There are some real stinkers," said Anderson, "but at least these uniforms had some personality. They were memorable. Love 'em or hate 'em, fans were talking about them and still are."
For the entire list, visit the Section 219 website at www.Section219.com.
(Top)