73-75 Wilson Cross Collar, 2 color numbers
74 PO tagged Chico Maki and Bill White game worn jerseys. Note the A removed from the white from minor league usage.
Brand: Wilson
Material: Dureen
Hem: Nothing
Set Tagging: 73, 74 PO, 75 year tagging inside the hems
Patches: None
Sets: Believed to be one per color in both reg season and PO's.
Material: Dureen
Hem: Nothing
Set Tagging: 73, 74 PO, 75 year tagging inside the hems
Patches: None
Sets: Believed to be one per color in both reg season and PO's.
- The jerseys worn from the 1973 playoffs until the end of the 1977 regular season are essentially the same, cross-collar 2-color number jerseys.
- Nameplates were introduced and worn periodically for TV games/NBC game of the week during the 72-73 season and taken off after the games. Examples are seen with the plates sewn very high on the back, basically to the neckline. Occasional use of nameplates continues through the 70's until the league mandates their usage in 77-78. The Hawks do use them extensively in the 75-76 season as well.
- Wilson neck tagging includes the size for the first time. Gunzo's River Forrest tags are also present.
- The set used in the 73-74 regular season is the 73 tagged set also used in the 1973 playoffs. A chain stitched patch reading '73' was sewn into the inner hem. A new set was used for the 1974 playoffs and tagged 74 PO. That set was then used for the 74-75 regular season. There have been jerseys tagged 74 that have been seen, although I do not have pics. Also, 75 tags appear on Dallas Blackhawks jerseys, evidence of use of Chicago jerseys has not been found. Note that there seems to be recycling of the 74 PO tagged jerseys for the 75-76.
- A set of red one-color number jerseys with nameplates were worn in 73-74, seemingly for TV games. Evidence is found of the jerseys being used against the Bruins in a playoff game (note the patch on the shoulder of Bobby Orr which the Bruins wore in 73-74), as well as additional photos of a regular season game vs Detroit on 3-30-74. Tony Esposito is using a large-font Northland stick in one photo and that font was introduced in 73-74. This set was likely the regular season 72-73 set reused for these TV games. Thanks to Sean Broderick for the tip.
- Photos from a game on 12-16-73 show Dale Tallon wearing both a single color number jersey with no nameplate, and at a different point in the game wearing a two color number. Other players are shown wearing two color numbers. The photos are from Getty and are sometimes miss-dated, however, Tallon's first year with the Hawks was 73-74, so he would not have been with the team when they primarily wore one color numbers. Perhaps his jersey was damaged or too sweaty and he switched? Who knows... The 70's were weird, man.
- The year patches were used for the Wilson-made jerseys, from the 1973 playoffs up to 78-79.
- The two-color numbers came in two different sizes. Three examples below show the team using both fonts on the rear of jerseys.
- Jerseys of this era were often recycled to minor league teams in Dallas and Portland. Some of these jerseys surface in the hobby with extreme wear from games and washing, to the point of heavy damage to the crests and discoloring of the numbers and shoulder tommies. Thus, it is possible wear is added to jerseys after the Hawks wore them.
- Additionally, sometimes the team replaced the chain stitched crests with embroidered crests, and changed numbers on the jerseys for training camps. Jerseys were also used as practice jerseys in years following their original usage.
Tagging examples
Various tagging found in the 73-74 and 74-75 seasons. 73 would have been used in the 1973 playoffs and 73-74 regular season. 74 PO was used in the 1974 playoffs and 74-75 regular season. 75 tags have been seen on Dallas Blackhawks jerseys. Looking to see if one has been found on a Chicago jersey.
Three examples of the Hawks using different font sizes on jerseys. The Esposito's are from consecutive seasons.
Esposito wearing a one color number jersey in the 73-74 season, dated by the large-font Northland stick, which was introduced that season.
2 color numbers with name on back
Images from 12-16-73. Pic on left is Tallon with one color, middle is Tallon with 2 color. Note they are about the same spot on the ice and you can see the helmeted Ranger in the background of both. The last pic is also from the game showing Mikita & Marks wearing 2 color numbers.
Images from 3-30-74 showing the Hawks wearing one-color numbers and nameplates.
Photo on the left is Game 1 vs Boston in the 1974 playoffs, Tallon wearing a 2-color number and no nameplate. On the right is Game 2, Orr wearing the shoulder patch the Bruin's wore in 73-74 and Espo and Pappin wearing 1-color numbers and you can see Pappin's nameplate.
This is a 74 PO tagged Pit Martin, which has had the original chain-stitched crest removed and replaced with an embroidered crest. The Hawks did this on some jerseys worn in practice and training camps.
Hawks trainer Lou Varga checking out some jerseys in the Hawks locker room. The #7 Pit Martin with the replaced crest featured above can be seen on the rack.
Training camp photo showing an embroidered crest on the left and high numbered probable recycled jerseys.
This USED to be a #8 Jim Pappin, recycled to #36 for practice/training camp usage.