Before they were officially known as the Dodgers in 1932, this iconic baseball team from Brooklyn went by a variety of nicknames, including the Trolley Dodgers, Grooms, Bridesgrooms, Superbas, and Robins. This rich history is also reflected in the fascinating evolution of the Brooklyn Dodgers Uniform, showcasing a variety of designs and logos throughout the early 20th century. Let’s explore the uniform changes that marked the team’s journey from 1900 to their official adoption of the Dodgers moniker.
1900-1908: Early Uniform Designs and Logo Evolution
The Brooklyn team’s uniform journey began in 1900 with a distinctive “B” logo in red Old English font on their home jerseys. For road games, “BROOKLYN” was emblazoned across the chest in navy. A slight change occurred in 1901 when the road jersey script transitioned to red. From 1902 to 1904, the home “B” logo also adopted navy blue. A minor adjustment in 1905 and 1906 saw a smaller “B” on the home jersey, as seen in the 1905 road jersey. The year 1907 brought back a larger “B” for home games, while introducing a unique checkered pattern to the road jerseys. By 1908, the road jersey shifted to a more conventional grey.
1909-1915: The Iconic “B” and Pinstripe Era
A significant design element emerged in 1909 when the now-familiar “B” logo made its debut on the home jersey, a symbol that would become closely associated with the Brooklyn Dodgers uniform. The 1909 road uniform complemented this with a simple, yet classic design. In 1910, the “B” logo was further emphasized by being placed within a diamond on the left sleeve of the home jersey. The road shirt of 1910 featured “BROOKLYN” running down the placket, adding a vertical element to the design. Pinstripes were introduced to the road shirt in 1911, adding a touch of classic baseball style. This pinstripe design was extended to the home shirt in 1912, with both home and road uniforms featuring the “B” in a diamond logo on the left sleeve, solidifying a cohesive team look.
1913-1924: Experimentation and Logo Variations
The 1913 season saw blue accents added to the home placket, while “BROOKLYN” continued to run down the road placket. The “B” logo took a hiatus in 1914, with a simpler design taking precedence. Red pinstripes were a striking feature of the 1915 road uniforms. In 1916, a checkered pattern made a return for both home and road uniforms, with variations including a large “B” and a smaller “B” on different road jersey styles. A patriotic touch was added in 1917 with the U.S. flag displayed on the home jersey. The “B” logo reappeared on the home jersey in 1918. Pinstripes were removed from the 1919 road jersey, creating a cleaner look. The early 1920s saw blank pinstripes on home jerseys (1920-21), while road jerseys featured pinstripes with the logo on the left sleeve. The “B” logo returned to both home and road jersey chests in 1922, before being dropped again from the home jersey from 1923-24. Interestingly, a second, plain grey road jersey was also worn in 1924, though it is not documented in the Hall of Fame database.
1925-1931: Golden Jubilee and Block “B” Designs
In 1925, the NL Golden Jubilee logo was proudly displayed on the left chest of the home shirt and the left sleeve of the road jersey. “BROOKLYN” lettering was featured on a plain grey road jersey during this year. From 1926 to 1927, home jerseys reverted to blank pinstripes, while road jerseys had pinstripes with the “B” in a diamond logo on the sleeve. A checkered road jersey made a comeback in 1928, this time with a “B” in a red circle on the sleeve. By 1929, the road jersey transitioned to grey with a “B” on the chest. “BROOKLYN” returned to the road jersey chest in 1930. The 1931 uniforms featured a plain white home jersey with a block “B” on the left sleeve, and a grey road jersey with a block “B” on the chest, marking a shift towards a more simplified and bolder logo style.
1932-1957: Officially “Dodgers” and the Iconic Script
The 1932 season marked a turning point when the team officially adopted the “Dodgers” nickname. Initially, home jerseys were blank pinstripes with a stylized “B” logo on the sleeve, while road jerseys had “Brooklyn” in a Tuscan font. However, during the 1932 season, “Dodgers” script and back numbers were added to home jerseys, and the road script was changed to “DODGERS,” solidifying the team’s new identity in their uniforms. From 1934 to 1936, “BROOKLYN” returned to both jersey chests, showcasing the city pride. A notable, albeit brief, change occurred in 1937 when the Dodgers sported green uniforms for a single season. In 1938, the familiar Dodgers jersey design began to emerge in its initial form. All jerseys were zippered, except for coach Babe Ruth, whose jerseys featured buttons. A white cap was used for home games in 1938.
From 1939 to 1943, the script on the road jersey was changed to “Brooklyn,” and zippers replaced buttons on the uniforms, except for the aforementioned Babe Ruth. The white cap was also retired during this period. In 1944, buttons returned to the uniforms, and the Dodgers introduced satin alternate jerseys in white and light blue for night games, adding a touch of novelty. 1945 saw home jerseys zippered again, while road jerseys remained buttoned. A dark blue satin alternate road jersey replaced the powder blue satin version. The satin road alternate was dropped in 1946. The script on home jerseys became thicker and shifted slightly to the left, while the road jersey script changed back to “Dodgers.” 1946 jerseys were primarily zippered, though players could opt for buttons. Satin home jerseys now had zippers. By 1947, all jerseys, including the satin home whites, were button-down. 1948 marked the last year for the satin home jersey, which returned to zippers.
From 1949 to 1951, the satin alternate jersey was discontinued. The road jersey script became thicker and mirrored the positioning of the script on home jerseys, creating visual consistency. Between 1952 and 1957, the script underline was extended, adding a distinctive flair to the design. Numbers were added to the front of the home jersey for better television visibility, a change that was initially intended for the 1951 World Series but debuted in 1952.
The 1957 season marked the end of an era for the Brooklyn Dodgers uniform in Brooklyn, as the team relocated to Los Angeles after this season, beginning a new chapter in baseball history on the West Coast. The Brooklyn Dodgers uniform, through its many iterations, remains a beloved symbol of baseball’s golden age and a testament to the enduring appeal of classic sports apparel.
