Rangers jersey: classic or dated?
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 28, 2009 7:00 AM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintYesterday on Puck Daddy, The Two-Line Pass had a story about what makes for an ugly hockey jersey, and I was surprised to see him include the Rangers on this list. I've always felt that the Rangers, along with all the Original Six teams, had one of the best jerseys in the league, a true classic look that never seems dated.
The Rangers haven't changed jerseys much in their existence. In 1946, they changed the style to say "Rangers" arched over the players' numbers on the front of the jersey (pictured above courtesy of nhljerseys.com). The change lasted one year , and the basic style we know and love returned for the 1947 season. The only change made was in 1951, when the NHL mandated that every team have a home and road jersey, and the whites were introduced.
In 1970, the Rangers became one of the first teams to add names to the backs of the jerseys.
In 1976, the Rangers made a complete overhaul to their jerseys, switching to what players and fans often refer to as the "pajama jerseys". The jerseys lasted two years, and when GM John Ferguson was fired, the jerseys went with him, all the way to Winnipeg.
I have a confession to make: I always liked the "pajama" jerseys, and I will tell you why: these were the first jerseys I remember seeing the Rangers wear when I was a kid, so they will always have a special place in my heart. Although seeing Mike Dunham wear one when they brought them back a few years ago was very painful.
The Rangers brought back their original style for 1978 with one change, the road jerseys now said "New York" instead of "Rangers". In 1987, the road jerseys go back to the original "Rangers" on the front.
In the mid 90's, the NHL began introducing alternate jerseys, or "third jerseys". Some were absolutely hideous, and some were pretty cool. The Rangers blue Liberty jersey was pretty well liked by fans, and in 1998 the Rangers introduced a white Liberty jersey to be worn at home. This is still my favorite all-time Rangers jersey, I just love the look of it. I bought one before the 1998 season, and wore it to the Garden opening night that year. The Rangers hadn't worn it yet, and it drew a lot of attention, I must have had at least 10 people ask me that night where I got it.
The Liberty jerseys have been mothballed, at least for now, and the Rangers continue to wear their blue at home, and white on the road, although our own Rob thinks they should go back to wearing white at home.
Last week the Daily News put Ranger jerseys on their list of the Coolest Uniforms in Sports, so what do you guys think? Do you think Ranger jerseys have withstood the test of time? Or is it time for an upgrade?
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Classic
The Rangers jersey is absolutely classic, and I don’t want to see it go, although a third jersey would be nice. If anyone is looking for a price check on one of those oh so stylish Burger King LA jerseys, I saw someone selling a Rob Blake for $300 on ebay. Needless to say, I decided to save my money for a new Rangers jersey
by AllHailTheKing30 on Jul 28, 2009 7:43 AM EDT reply actions
There have been some truly hideous “third jerseys”, probably none worse than this one…..
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 28, 2009 8:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Props to whoever voted for the pajama jerseys
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 28, 2009 9:54 AM EDT reply actions
Best third jersey!
The Minnisota Wild’s blood red jersey, those are sick. or the Thrashers 3rd thoes are awesome too.
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I think you mean Home Whites
I dont know when this new trend of wearing your dark jersey at home started but I dont like it. This isnt football, it’s hockey. Bring back the home whites!
While we’re on the subject, whatever happened to the liberty whites? Those were kickass. I absolutely despise the liberty blues. Navy isnt a Rangers color, why make a jersey out of it?
D'oh
Maybe I should read the whole post before commenting! Disregard my comment outside of “Bring back the home whites!”
definitely classic
I love the rangers jersey. Total classic. I wouldnt mind a new alternate, but u don’t mess with that classic iconic diagonal lettering.
by Nine Inch Nails on Jul 28, 2009 10:17 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
i wouldn't mind a new third jersey...
trust me i love the classic jerseys but…i think it would be pretty cool to have a new third jersey…the liberty jerseys were awesome…i have the both the classic blue and white and liberty blue and white…it would be cool to get a new looking jersey…however my classic white jersey is of zherdev and the way things are looking now i’ll be needing a new white one…
I hated the Liberties
Just my opinion but they always pissed me off
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by Joe Fortunato on Jul 28, 2009 11:12 AM EDT up reply actions
I loved the Liberty jerseys, the only bad thing about them is that they became synonymous with the long run of terrible hockey
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 28, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I just dont get them
The white ones I liked, but where are they getting navy blue from? It’s not one of their colors. I think a sick 3rd jersey would be a jazzed up version of the red liberty jerseys they wear in practice.
On a similar note, why the crap do the Pens wear a powder blue alternate? God how I loathe those things.
Those were their jerseys in their inaugural season, before switching to the city colors
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 28, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions
Me too...
I think they just have to put the logo itself on the blue jerseys as a third and it would look stellar.
i actually love the powder blue jerseys the pens wear
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by Joe Fortunato on Jul 28, 2009 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t like or dislike them, but I think “baby blue” is an appropriate color for their captain
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Jul 28, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Agreed, a classic NHL sweater.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Jul 29, 2009 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Third Jerseys
I’m constantly disappointed that Carolina doesn’t bring back the Whalers jerseys as their third. That would be awesome.
Nothing wrong with the Rangers jerseys. I like the classic better as you can rip off two letters and have an ANGER jersey for situations like spending a billion dollars on two 50 pt centers.
lol….I think he’s more into womens clothing. What a wierdo.
by Nine Inch Nails on Jul 28, 2009 11:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
woah woah woah
dont let AveryGod see you saying stuff like that
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by Joe Fortunato on Jul 28, 2009 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Rangers should in all honesty wear the liberty jerseys in the near future. Wear them for 5 home and 5 away games or something, whatever the third jersey pattern is these days…
The Rangers are one of the only franchises in the game whose image and symbol have remained unchanged through history. Why change the jersey (or logo for that matter) now?
Plus there is no team (besides Dallas… now anyways) that doesn’t wear their logo on their jersey. Keep it that way.
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWERPLAY GOAL!"
And to comment on the Puck Daddy
what is “reebok piping” ?
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWERPLAY GOAL!"
That whole article is atrocious
What does that guy want, plain solid color jerseys with just a logo and a number? What a boring old fart. I hardly see how 3 red and white stripes is excessive, and I really dont get where he’s counting 9 stripes on the Flames jersey.
Use the logo...
I would like to see the logo used on the jerseys as an alternate or third.
come and go
third jerseys have come and gone like a cheap whore in the past 15 years or so.
The Rangers White jerseys are in my opinion the best of the bunch.
I like the simplicity of the ranger blues too.
Keep it simple stupid.
Teams are going bonkers making these clusterf___k jerseys. the rangers liberty jerseys werent bad, but the color scheme pissed me off.
Whoever said where did they get the navy blue from was correct in saying WTF!
The whole darker colors scheme in pro sports was a fad that i couldnt wait to disappear.
Watching teams wear bright crisp colors looks awesome in person on that white ice, and on HDTV is sweet too.
i hate watching a penguins flyers game. its liek watching a black and white tv set.
The rangers could do a Panama 3rd jersey. or they could do a royal blue liberty jersey.
I use to see red rangers jerseys in stores. It was like the blue home jersey but flip the blue and red basically. It looked ok but then it would almost look like a canadiens uniform.
Bottomline is the rangers shouldnt mess around with 3rd jerseys until they can solidify their roster and please the crowd on the ice.
Rangers have red in their color scheme but making the primary red is just not ever going to happen… hopefully.
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWERPLAY GOAL!"
ill agree
unless the red is from the blood of our enemies!
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by Joe Fortunato on Jul 28, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Malik
one of the best quotes about marek malik was when i was at the garden and someone stood up and screams “HEY MAREK… WHY DON YOU MALIK MY BALLS?”
a great variation of a hansel quote from zoolander.
Bravo. Love it.
I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!
by Scotty Hockey on Jul 29, 2009 1:29 AM EDT up reply actions
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