A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

[sox83cubs84]

The odd-looking tag shown in the photo (1987 Cubs road Billy Williams coach's jersey) is a style which, in MLB, is pretty much exclusive to 1987. Apparently, with Rawlings going from being the #2 MLB uniform supplier to the authorized, contracted one in '87 required Rawlings to tag some jerseys with this design. The design is not common but does appear to a limited degree on commons and bigger names.

Dave Miedema

[sox83cubs84]

Odd 1987 Rawlings label

[dafivehole69]

"Does anyone have the original posters image of the tags? It seems to be unavailable now..."

The one that RC Walker posted is not legible... does anyone else have a clear version of these primers?

Thank you,
Roger

[sox83cubs84]

Another thing to be aware of on 2000-02 Rawlings jerseys: 3 players with the Texas Rangers, Alex Rodriguez, Pudge Rodriguez, and Rafael Palmiero, order sets of their own uniforms from Rawlings of these years to offer on the collecting market. Such jerseys are flag tagged SET 3, unique among all Rawlings knit gamers in MLB. Questions exist as to just how many of these were ordered and how many were actually worn.

Dave M.

[sox83cubs84]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

Just wanted to add to the 1990 style tagging used on some 1989 jerseys discussion above. Below is a photo of a 1989 Jay Aldrich Milwaukee Brewers jersey, which contains the 1990 style tag.

As an update by Rudy in a recent thread indicates, the tag style change appears to occured mid-year so late season callups may likely have the new tagging.

I have also seen the 1990-91 Rawlings tag on a couple of common Mets gamers from 1989. It's very rare, but can happen once in a blue moon. Just remember that ALL 1989 Score Board retail jerseys use the 1990-91 style tag, so any stars with them should be considered suspect and should be checked on to see if Score Board issued jerseys of that player.

Dave Miedema

[R. C. Walker]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

Does anyone have the original posters image of the tags? It seems to be unavailable now...

Here's both the Rawlings & Wilson

[andrewhkoehler]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

Does anyone have the original posters image of the tags? It seems to be unavailable now...

[sox83cubs84]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

This jersey looks to be an early 1970s salesman's sample, given the the tag design and the straight cut tail, a Rawlings staple for the first few years of the knit era. The #26 was worn by Boog Powell at the time, who was a size 50 on most of his knit jerseys. The ocagon-shaped tag also is exclusive to salesman's samples.

Dave Miedema

[vanv66]

Baltimore orioles jersey......Info wanted.

Hello, I wanted to know if anybody can give me some information on a number 26, Baltimore orioles jersey? Looking to Identify the year, and who wore the number for the year of this jersey, here is the tag on the jersey. There is NO name on the back, just the number 26. I also have the pants. Thanks. Leon

[Birdbats]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

Came across this interesting Rawlings label today and thought I'd share. Actually, I saw two Cardinals jerseys tagged the same way. The visible label is the version adopted in 2000, but it clearly was sewn over the 1999 label by Rawlings (given the provenance, I can guarantee these jerseys were not doctored after the fact). MLB logos also were added to the back collars for 2000.

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

I have seen several examples of 1972 Rawlings Jerseys that have no wash tag and actually are the 1973 era labels as depicted originally in this post. There may have been some of the older labels used on jerseys in 1972, however there are also a number of the newer labels used as well. I have a 1972 Rose in my own collection that has the new label. Also, I was able to find two other examples supporting the argument that the new label was in fact intoduced in 1972 vice 1973. Attached is a 1972 Lou Brock Jersey and 1972 Clemente Pants. The 1972 Rose does not have a year tag which is exactually as it should be and is the only Reds Home Jersey that did not have a year tag during the 1970s era.

[Birdbats]

1972 Rawlings jersey laundry tag

I'm looking for examples of laundry tags included in 1972 Rawlings jerseys to help me prove or disprove a theory. I recently acquired a group of older Cardinals jerseys and noticed the laundry tag in one was worded differently than any I'd seen before. This particular jersey didn't have a year flag (not unusual on '71-'72 Cardinals jerseys), but it was worn by Ed Crosby, who played for the Cards in '72 but not '71. I think it's possible that 1972 Rawlings jerseys have a unique laundry tag -- and if they do, it would make it possible to differentiate a '71 shirt from a '72 shirt even if they don't have year flags.

Note: The Cardinals wore flannel through the '70 season. 1971 was the first year for knits. Their jerseys had crew necks in 1971-72; by 1973, they switched to a "V" neck. In 1973, Rawlings eliminated the separate laundry tag and included washing instructions on its regular red tag.

Here's a shot of three tags from 1971-72 era Cardinals jerseys. The top one has a laundry tag with "traditional" wording (i.e., used during the late '60s through at least '71) and no year flag. The middle jersey has the "nontraditional" wording and no year flag. The bottom one has both the traditional wording and a '71 year flag.



The "traditional" wording is: "DO NOT DRY CLEAN. Wash in lukewarm water, 100 F, with mild soap. Do not use bleach. Do not use automatic dryer."

The "nontraditional" wording is: WASH IN COLD WATER. Use mild soap. Do not dry clean. Do not use bleach or automatic dryer."

It may be telling that the recommended water temperature was changed from "lukewarm (100 degrees)" to "cold." On 1973 tags, the instructions call for "cold" water. Maybe somebody realized that knits needed to be washed in colder water than flannels, so the laundry instructions that carried over from '70 (flannel) to '71 (knit) needed to be changed.

If you have a Rawlings jersey that can be pinpointed to 1972, I'd appreciate it if you could share photos of the laundry tag. Thanks!

[mattmueller]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

Just wanted to add to the 1990 style tagging used on some 1989 jerseys discussion above. Below is a photo of a 1989 Jay Aldrich Milwaukee Brewers jersey, which contains the 1990 style tag.

As an update by Rudy in a recent thread indicates, the tag style change appears to occured mid-year so late season callups may likely have the new tagging.

[DantleyHOF]

Re: Rawlings Tagging -

Hi,

This may be off this topic. I have a 2 Rawlings College baseball game used player jersey. I am trying to figure out the year it is from. No Year tags on both. No name on back of each jersey. I think the wash tags may help.

03K Adult WKBDS WPL 3957 CA 21081 MADE IN THE USA.
Rawlings The Mark of a Pro L (Large) tag. R logo circle left sleeve.

03B (2nd jersey) Rawlings logo script in blue left sleeve. One tag front size Adult 44 back wash tags.

I am thinking 03K & 03B is the codes for the year and month. Please help. Thanks B.F.

[b.heagy]

Re: A Primer on Rawlings Tagging - 60's-00's

Can anyone help me with the estimated time frame of the following Rawlings tags?