The Fourth of July is here.
People are lighting up their barbecues, turning on the swimming pool (if it’s not raining of course — thanks Jersey weather), enjoying hot dogs, hamburgers, watermelon and beer (lots of beer), and of course fireworks.
Yes, there is no better way to celebrate America’s Declaration of Independence from the British Monarchy; and we do each year, and its great way to ring in the celebration of summer as well.
But have you ever stopped to think what are the most patriotic sports uniforms out there?
No? Well since it is the 4th of July, let’s dig in and find the most patriotic sports threads that scream “AMERICA!”
10: Brooklyn/New Jersey Nets Throwbacks
WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 12: Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets drives to the hoop as Jordan Goodwin #7 of the Washington Wizards defends during the first half at Capital One Arena on December 12, 2022 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Decades before they moved to Brooklyn and adopted the black and white uniforms they wear today, the New Jersey Nets wore uniforms of red, white and blue. In fact in the 70’s and 80’s they wore what I’d like to call their Captain America uniforms. White jersey, with the word “Nets” and numerals painted red, and the stars and stripes trim down the side of the jersey.
It was a clean look. The Nets kept that look until the 90s, and now fans get a chance to see it once in a while as a throwback item. But, it was the Nets at their most patriotic.
9: Philadelphia Eagles
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – JANUARY 29: Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
You can’t have the Fourth of July without the City of Philadelphia, and certainly not without the nation’s top bird, the Eagles.
So Philadelphia Eagles fans, drop your cheese stakes and celebrate. Yes, the Eagles colors are green and white, but there is something truly patriotic about a football team with a menacing/stoic eagle logo on the sleeves of the jersey. And of course, the Eagles winged helmet (no matter which variation of green) is iconic.
8: Philadelphia 76ers
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 17: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers controls the ball against Spencer Dinwiddie #26 of the Brooklyn Nets during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 17, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
As much as I appreciated the black and gold unis of the Allen Iverson era, the 76ers current look is clean, and honors both America, and the franchises history. The Sixers feature three jersey’s right now: home white, road blue, and alternate red uniform
. Each uniform has the signature stars and stripes trim on the sides of the uniform, and either ‘Phila’ or “Sixers” stitched across the chest.
The Sixers logos is also complimented by the Liberty Bell, and sometimes an illustration of Ben Franklin dribbling a basketball. You can’t get more patriotic than that.
7: New York Rangers
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – FEBRUARY 06: Alexis Lafreniere #13 of the New York Rangers celebrates his game-winning overtime goal against the Calgary Flames and is joined by Mika Zibanejad #93 (R) at Madison Square Garden on February 06, 2023 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Of all the teams in the NHL, no team has a more classic look that speaks to patriotism than that of the Broadway Blue Shirts themselves. Whether it is their classic home whites with the Rangers word mark stitched across the chest in blue and red, or the above blue “road” jersey, the Rangers have always had that classic feel when they hit the ice.
Not to mention there was a time in the late 90’s when the Rangers implemented the Statue of Liberty as an alternate logo on their jersey’s.
6: St. Louis Cardinals
ST LOUIS, MISSOURI – JULY 2: Jordan Montgomery #47 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Busch Stadium on July 2, 2023 in St Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
There is something about the St. Louis Cardinals uniforms that screams America. The Cards uniform is one of the most iconic looks in Major League baseball. The two cardinals sitting at each end of a baseball bat, with the word Cardinals written in script across the chest is a sight to behold.
In fact it has been the Cardinals primary look since the Second World War.
Yes, the club has made variations over the years, like the powder blue alternate jersey’s of the 1980s, but for the most part the look of the Cardinals has stayed the same, making them one of the most American and patriotic uniforms in sports.
It helps that the Cardinals have the second most World Series titles in MLB history. Like the old saying: look good, play good.
5: New England Patriots
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – FEBRUARY 03: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots makes a pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 03, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
This one is very subjective, because the New England Patriots have various uniforms that people either love or hate.
There is the old “Pat the Patriot” uniform from the 1960s, 70’s and 80’s that a lot of fans want to see make a permanent return. These unis featured a minuteman in a three-point stance on the side of the helmet, and bright red uniforms with blue and white trim.
Ironically the Patriots are bringing this look back for a couple of games this season.
It was a nice look, but to be fair, the Patriots look from 2000 through 2019 was their ultimate look because it was worn during its most successful era: The Tom Brady years. Navy blue jersey, silver pants, dark red trim, and of course the “Flying Elvis” on the helmet. In fact, Flying Elvis has now been featured on three different uniform looks for the Patriots since the mid 1990s.
No matter how one may feel about the Patriots dynasty, you can’t deny the Pats have always had very Patriotic uniforms.
4: Dallas Cowboys
ARLINGTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 11: Micah Parsons #11 of the Dallas Cowboys rushes the passer against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at AT&T Stadium on September 11, 2022 in Arlington, TX. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
How ‘Bout ‘Dem Cowboys! I know, I know! Giants fans are rolling their eyes right now. But the Cowboys are “America’s Team” and they have had one of the most iconic and clean uniforms that have remained unchanged since 1965.
Silver helmets, a navy star on the helmet. Pearl white uniforms (at home even) and silver pants with blue trim. Every once in a while we’d get the dark navy uniforms on the road when the Boys visit Washington or Philadelphia. But like the St. Louis Cardinals, there is something truly American about the Dallas Cowboys uniforms.
Perhaps its the success? The prestige? Jerry World and its gigantic jumbotron? Dak Prescott getting sacked? (Just kidding).
The Cowboys have been the definition of success at the highest level of sports for decades. Nothing more American than that.
3: Los Angeles Dodgers
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JUNE 30: Mookie Betts #50 of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 30, 2023 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
Like a lot of baseball teams the LA Dodgers have one of the greatest looks in all of sports. A look that speaks to America’s past time and extends itself through the generations.
Whether it be during their early years in Brooklyn, New York, or the last 60-plus years in the glitz of Los Angeles, the Dodgers have always stood out.
Winners of 24 National League Pennants and seven World Series, including one most recently in 2020 during the COVID shortened season, the Dodgers like the Yankees, Cardinals and Cubs are a franchise that screams America due in part to its success on the field, and in the uniforms the players wear on a daily basis.
Pure white uniforms with either Dodgers or Los Angeles written across the chest in blue, and the numerals decorated in red. Yep, the Dodgers are Americana.
2: New York Giants (Throwbacks)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – OCTOBER 02: Daniel Jones #8 of the New York Giants rushes forward during the first quarter of the game against the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium on October 02, 2022 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
I don’t know about you, but to me the uniform the New York football Giants wore in the 1980s and 1990s was as American as it gets. Bright blue jersey’s with red and white trim. A shiny navy helmet with the “GIANTS” spralled out across each side of the helmet.
It is a bad ass, iconic look. Nothing against the Giants traditional ‘NY’ logo, but there was something really special about this old look.
The G-Men won its first two Super Bowls in this uniform. They had the best player in football in these unis with Lawrence Taylor. Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick became house hold names in these uniforms. And Michael Strahan got his career started wearing this uniform.
Regardless, the Giants combo of red,white and blue is as American as it gets. And what better franchise to wear it than one of the NFL’s legacy teams.
1: New York Yankees
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 28: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees celebrates with his teammates in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Yankee Stadium on May 28, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Nothing says America like the look and history of the New York Yankees.
The interlocking NY. The pinstripes. The power. The legends of the game: Jeter, Rivera, Ruth, DiMaggio, Berra, Mantle, Reggie Jackson. We could go on.
The Yankees uniforms are the most iconic look in baseball and is recognized across the world. Like the McDonalds arches, the Apple Logo, Nike, Ford, and BMW, the Yankees “NY” logo is immediately recognizable.
No uniform, no team is more emblematic of American power and prestige than that of the New York Yankees.
And on top of that, the Yankees Double-A affiliate is the Somerset Patriots. How could you not be Patriotic.
