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Shutdown Corner

Fri May 15, 2009 1:54 pm EDT

A look at the AFL legacy uniforms: The 1960 Houston Oilers

By MJD

Eight former AFL teams will wear 1960s throwback uniforms during "legacy games" in the 2009 season. Shutdown Corner takes a look back (or ahead, if you will) at those throwback jerseys in advance of the season. Today, we look at the 1960 Houston Oilers.

They're not exactly the same as the splendid Houston Oilers jerseys I grew up watching in the '80s, but for two weeks during the '09 season, they will do. It's the AFL's history that the NFL is celebrating with the legacy games, after all, and not, you know, the uniforms MJD liked as a child.

But I did like those pastel blue and red Oilers jerseys, man. There have been a number of times when I've considered purchasing a Warren Moon throwback, and the only thing that's stopped me is that I'm not sure if that would violate the "one favorite team, and one favorite team only" rule. I'm still not sure about it, and I don't want to risk it.

These things are foxy, though, especially for 1960. They're ahead of their time, too. In 1960, just about everyone was using your standard block lettering font for their jersey numbers. Not the Oilers, though. They were upscale. They were classy. They had pointy numbers, and those numbers looked good.

My one complaint here is that one of the two appearances of these bits of eye-candy is wasted during the preseason. The Titans will be wearing them for the Hall of Fame game Aug. 9 against the Bills. It seems a shame to waste such beauty on a game, that is, by definition, uninteresting.

Related: Back in the Day

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72 Comments

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  1. Tut
    1. Posted by Tut Fri May 15, 2009 2:20 pm EDT

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    Aww, that sucks! Why don't they wear the unis with the SILVER helmet. And these don't even have the blue pants to match the helmet for the road games. This is weak, Titans!
  2. Chad
    2. Posted by Chad Fri May 15, 2009 3:06 pm EDT

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    I own an Eddie George Oilers throwback, even though I'm a Cleveland fan.
    I also happen to be an Ohio State fan, so I guess I have a bit of leeway on the "one favorite team, and one favorite team only" rule.
    Who cares MJD. Go buy one. Warren Moon was/is a stud, so celebrate his greatness.
  3. brian b
    3. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    YOu grew up in the 80's MJD? I'm calling Shenanigans. I'm thinking you grew up watching Burt Reynolds in Smokie and the Bandit.
  4. brian b
    4. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:07 pm EDT

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    I saw Harold Warren Moon play the raiders in a preseason game at the oakland coliseum in 1988. He tore it up.
  5. brian b
    5. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:10 pm EDT

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    I was twelve.
  6. A-Bear
    6. Posted by A-Bear Fri May 15, 2009 4:12 pm EDT

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    The titans didnt pick these, the NFL did! and i think MJD is about 103 years old.
  7. brian b
    7. Posted by brian b Fri May 15, 2009 4:17 pm EDT

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    A-Bear. ARe you stating that he looks like Hans Moleman on the Simpsons?
    Hans Moleman: Uh, excuse me, I'd like to request seventeen dollars for a push broom rebristling.
    Mr. Burns: Why it's that delightful TV leprechaun! I'm going to get your lucky charms!
    (Cuts to outside his office; power drill sounds.)
    Hans Moleman: Oh no, my brains!
  8. mrremar
    8. Posted by mrremar Fri May 15, 2009 6:37 pm EDT

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    While I will be proud as hell to my blue Oilers uniforms again (Luv Ya Blue!), it pains me that the worst owner EVER, yes you BUD, will profit from them. It sickens me! Hell, let the Texans wear 'em! Sales in Houston alone could probably support a WNBA team!
    I hate you Bud!
    Sidenote: Ok, not the worst EVER. I forgot about Al Davis.
    Sidenote 2: To keep Hans Moleman going: I was saying B00-URNS!
  9. YGM
    9. Posted by YGM Fri May 15, 2009 6:39 pm EDT

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    Go pats
  10. P
    10. Posted by P Fri May 15, 2009 6:53 pm EDT

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    I still miss the Oilers and I think some team should have these beautiful uniforms. I know ol' Bud retired the colors and the derrick. Nonethless, the Houston Oilers colors/uniforms of the 80's and 90's were the sweetest looking in the entire league especially, those road which in the latter years became their home whites. There was nothing like the Oilers through the good and the bad they were always uniquely captivating. Luv ya Blue Luv ya Now, Parrish
  11. Anrkist
    11. Posted by Anrkist Fri May 15, 2009 7:37 pm EDT

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    @brian b - I agree... but I think it was FDR Fireside chats.
  12. jimmy
    12. Posted by jimmy Fri May 15, 2009 8:19 pm EDT

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    Earl campbell, greatest 5 years i ever seen, all around,power,speed,guts,alls remember when tatum nailed him right in the head ,stopped him in his tracks, dazed he went sideways into the endzone
    i got a throw back, and i'm an eagle fan
  13. BDUB
    13. Posted by BDUB Fri May 15, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    i am proud to say I will be at the H.O.F. game to see these. They are ugly but where better to wear them than Canton, Ohio.
  14. Cee
    14. Posted by Cee Fri May 15, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    i thought the titans were going to go with the warren moon jerseys but these are good. and yeah, why no blue pants with the white jerseys??? as a titans fan, and no offense to the good people in nashville, tn, but i really wish they would a) go back to being the oilers even though there is no oil in tennesse (since another franchise did have the name first) or b) start using the secondary sword logo as the main logo. that flaming 'T' drives me nuts!! its the worst logo in the league!
  15. Concerned citizen
    15. Posted by Concerned citizen Fri May 15, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    It will be nice to see the Retro uniforms again, It doesn't mean they are Huston Oilers they will still be our Tennessee Titans.
  16. jlarugger
    16. Posted by jlarugger Fri May 15, 2009 11:02 pm EDT

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    well at least you spelled tennessee right...
  17. Cee
    17. Posted by Cee Sat May 16, 2009 2:20 am EDT

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    d'oh!! damn it....my bad.....where is spell check when you need it.
  18. Andre P
    18. Posted by Andre P Sat May 16, 2009 7:35 am EDT

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    Born and raised in Delaware but I've loved the Oilers/Titans all 38 years of my life. Why you ask, I love Blue. It's my favorite color and like someone else said their jerseys were the best colors in the league at the time.
    And I quote "The reason why they invented blue."
    Also how could you not like the HOUSE OF PAIN. Their defense and hitting in the Astrodome was amazing. I miss seeing players flying around to the ball in the dome. I have a Warren Moon, Billy "Whiteshoes" Johnson and Earl Campbell throwback. I don't care if they have the Titans logo or the Oilers logo, I like em both. GO TITANS!!!!! Next two years we should be in Superbowl.
  19. Speedy
    19. Posted by Speedy Sat May 16, 2009 9:43 am EDT

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    still one of the best helments ever
  20. c2batman
    20. Posted by c2batman Sat May 16, 2009 10:55 am EDT

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    Hey the Texans should be wearing these Jerseys. It is a bad idea for the Tennessee Traitors to wear them. They will never appreciate what it means to wear those colors.
  21. ruralkswriter
    21. Posted by ruralkswriter Sat May 16, 2009 1:41 pm EDT

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    T-bone you are a moron. These are EXACT replicas of the 1960 uniforms. That's what these are intended to be. The Oilers did not wear silver helmets until 1966, and they did not wear blue pants until 1972. Get your facts straight. And the blue pants with white jerseys are butt ugly. In fact, all dark pants with white jerseys are butt ugly.
  22. LC
    22. Posted by LC Sat May 16, 2009 1:53 pm EDT

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    No more throwback uniforms. I call them throwups!
  23. LC
    23. Posted by LC Sat May 16, 2009 1:55 pm EDT

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    All white jerseys and pants are butt ugly! Teams need to co-ordinate! Gray facemasks are butt ugly too? What does butt ugly mean anyways?
  24. J B
    24. Posted by J B Sat May 16, 2009 4:24 pm EDT

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    Look out football here we come Houston Oilers Number One
    Houston has the Oilers, the greatest football team
    We march the ball from goal to goal like no one's ever seen
    In the air and on the ground, always in control
    And when you say the Oilers, you're talking Superbowl
    Cause we're the Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers, Houston Oilers number one
    The Houston Oilers havn't lost a game since 1996!
  25. P
    25. Posted by P Sat May 16, 2009 4:37 pm EDT

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    Coach Jeff Fisher retired the blue pants before the '95 season, their next to last campaign in Houston. I liked the blue pants as well as the white pants. The beautiful combination of columbia blue and scarlett red looked sweet together irrespective of the color of the pants they wore. In my opinion, flat out those '90s uniforms, pants, jerseys and helmets were the best looking gear the NFL ever had. The throwbacks and replicas look nice however, to fully appreciate how tremendous the colors of their jerseys were, you need to see the authentic ones...I'm proud to own several of them and they are indeed something to behold. Oilers Forever, P.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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