The story has it that, for the Broncos’ inaugural season, general manager Dean Griffing purchased what were considered “compromise” uniforms, light colored jerseys and drab brown pants that could be worn at both home and away games. Reputed to be extremely frugal, Griffing reportedly bought these used uniforms from a defunct organization in Tucson, Arizona.
Research indicates differing accounts as to the exact origin of the uniforms. Some sources have indicated that the uniforms were purchased from a defunct college bowl organization (see sidebar below), while coach Jack Faulkner has suggested that the uniforms came from an Arizona semi-pro organization—the Rattlers—with whom Griffing had been previously employed.
Steve Brainerd, a minor league football historian from Tucson offers additional speculation. According to Brainerd’s research, the Tucson Rattlers were organized in 1958 out of the remnants of the Tucson Cowboys who went defunct following the 1957 season. Dean Griffing, who served as the GM of the ’58 Rattlers (a member team of the Pacific Football Conference), apparently, took the teams’ gear as partial payment of moneys due after the team ceased operations. Brainerd further speculates that the uniforms worn by the Rattlers’ might have been second-hand by the time they got them. Brainerd states, “There was also a college football allstar game in Tucson at the end of the 1957 season and it’s possible that that is where Griffing got the uniforms to begin with as it (the all-star game) was a one shot deal and the committee got stuck with all (the uniforms).”
In a 1974 interview, owner Gerald Phipps commented on the early uniforms saying, “We were the only team in the league that had the same uniforms on the road and at home. He (Griffing) figured out a color halfway between a white and dark jersey and only had to buy one set (Laughter.) We played with brown pants and a yellow jersey with brown numbers on it, and, of course, those vertical striped socks. That was it at home and on the road” (Connor, 1974, p. 6).
Research suggests, however, that different uniforms were indeed worn for home and road games. It is accepted that the home jerseys were a pale yellow in color—a hue that has been referred to as “burnt gold.” In spite of popular assertions that this was the only jersey color, both interviews (Tripucka, 1998; Hauser, 1999) as well as photographic evidence (Hession & Spence, 1987, p. 26; Marvez, 1999, pp. 2, 4, & 6)seem to support the fact that white/brown “road” jerseys and socks were also worn.
The jerseys were likely constructed of a cotton-nylon Durene fabric and featured a crew neck and ¾-length sleeves (Tripucka, 1997). They were solid in color with no sleeve striping. Numbering and lettering were brown tackle twill.
Pants were brown in color with one source indicating the color to be “seal” brown. Some had a satin sheen; some didn’t. Trim included dual yellow stripes on the outseam, which appeared to be approximately ½” in width with about ½” spacing between. Helmets were also solid brown in color and had a single 1″ white center stripe and white uniform numbers on the sides in a sans serif font. The most infamous feature of this uniform, however, was the vertically striped socks (See photo below).
While a promotional bonfire staged at a 1962 intrasquad game claimed a number of the socks, the jerseys and pants remained in use for a number of years. A photo taken at training camp in 1964 shows players wearing the brown pants as well as both white and gold jerseys (Clarkson, 1998. p. 31). While their demise in the autumn bonfire has a more dramatic connotation, truth be told, like most uniforms of the day, these most likely continued to be worn for practice until no longer serviceable (probably until replaced with the next generation’s discards after the 1964 season) and then, unceremoniously found their way into a dumpster at the team’s headquarters.
"The Most Ridiculous Things I Ever Saw"
One summer night at Bears Stadium in 1962, the Denver Broncos paraded one by one past a mock-up of the Olympic flame and dropped the team’s vertically striped socks in the fire. It was a major victory for good taste, cheered on by a crowd of 8,377.
The ceremony was new coach Jack Faulkner’s idea. He wanted everything associated with the Broncos’ dismal first two seasons gone, especially those socks. There were two sets: alternating brown and mustard yellow stripes for home games, brown and white for the road.
“They were the most ridiculous things I ever saw in my life,” says defensive tackle Bud McFadin.
The man responsible for them was Dean Griffing, the club’s first general manager. He was a legendary tightwad—”the kind of guy who took off his glasses when he wasn’t looking at anything,” says broadcaster Bob Martin—and outfitted the Broncos with used uniforms purchased from the Copper Bowl College All-Star Game in Tucson, Arizona. The bizarre socks, he insisted, made the players appear taller.
“They made you look like a peg is what they did,” says safety Goose Gonsoulin. “You had these real broad shoulders because of the pads, and then you had these up-and-down striped socks…. It was unique, put it that way.”
Owner Bob Housman sold the club to Cal Kunz in 1961. Kunz got rid of Griffing and Filchock (head coach) after the season and hired Faulkner, who launched a campaign that promised: “There’s Lots New in ’62.” He started with the uniforms. The hated socks were torched before an intrasquad game.
A handful did escape the flames. Our research has uncovered at total of five: One is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame (road version), one is on display at the Broncos headquarters (road version), one is on display at the Arrowhead Stadium in the Chiefs Hall of Honor (home version) and two are part of the ESC collection (both home versions). If you know of others, we’d love to hear about them!
Daly, Dan & O’Donnell, Bob. The Pro Football Chronicle, 1990. pp. 179-180.