Today's Tidbit... Glory Days and the 1955 Champion Catalog

There was a time in the not-too-distant past when cotton T-shirts were the standard attire football players wore under their pads and during their off-season workouts. Most took particular pleasure in sweating in gray cotton T-shirts made by Champion, the top-of-the-line. Gray Champion shirts put your sweat on display, beginning with a slight darkening in the middle of the chest before spreading outward as the workout continued. The sweat outline of shoulder pads following a walkthrough or practice on a cool day was even more pleasing.

So, for those who recall gray Champion shirts playing a significant part in their glory days, the 1955 Champion catalog should bring back memories, even if your glory days came well after 1955.

1955 Champion Catalog front cover (Personal collection)

According to the Champion website, Champion was the first to add hoods to sweatshirts in the 1930s. They pioneered the collegiate apparel market in 1934, working with Moe Sport Shop in Ann Arbor. (Moe also worked with Lloyd Olds to design the first black-and-white striped officials’ shirt.) Their patented Reverse Weave fabric reduced shrinkage from 1938 on, and they were the first to produce mesh jerseys and a sports bra. Champion was a big deal from a product performance standpoint and significantly influenced our adoption of the T-shirt and casual clothing culture we live in today.