Here They
Are in All Their Glory!
The
Uniforms of the Minnesota Vikings
Bask in the Tradition. Bask
in the Memories.
Titled “Eat, Sleep,
Vikings,” and Licensed by the National Football
League, the Artwork is available in two framed presentations:
An eye-catching framed-and-matted print
measuring 12” x 21” that sells for only $52 each—which is an exceptional
value for a fully assembled Artpiece of this size. And a dramatic 19” x 39” triple-matted high-quality print (a
Letter of Authenticity is included) that is limited to an edition size of only
299 and sells for the discounted cost of $399.
Please note your Artwork will arrive at your
door in 7 to 10 days when you place your order. And needless to say, there is a 30-day full moneyback
guarantee. In addition, The
Greatest-Scapes pays all shipping costs and any required sales tax!
The Greatest-Scapes also offers the option of
an interest-free Extended Payment Plan for credit card orders. For the $52 framed print, you can pay $26.00
upfront and the balance of $26.00 thirty days later. While the $399 framed Limited Edition can be purchased with an
initial $133, and payments of $133 billed thirty and sixty days later.
To phone in your credit
card order, please call us at 1-800-786-3022 anytime between 10am and 6pm
(Eastern) Monday through Friday. You
can also mail in your order, payable to The Greatest-Scapes, to: The Greatest-Scapes/P.O. Box
5548/Pittsburgh, PA 15206. Please
include your shipping address and specify which Artwork(s) you’re ordering and
how many. And please don’t hesitate to
call us toll-free if you ever have any questions or would like any additional
information.
For your convenience, you can print out our
Order Form.
Click Here for
Order Form
And this Artwork evokes an unmistakably
Classic quality. Indeed, it will look
at home next to a diploma or a work of fine art. Whether you hang it on a wall or lean it on a shelf or mantle,
the Artwork will make a striking impression.
Please keep in mind, though, the visuals
depicted here on the website simply can not do justice to the detail and
quality of the actual Artwork.
Please note the uniform images shown are
produced from hand-painted watercolor paintings. The publisher chose this route, rather than photographs, because
in many cases original jerseys no longer exist, even at the various halls of
fame. In addition, a more consistent
look and feel for the uniforms is achieved by painting them, and allows for a
higher level of detail than a photograph in some cases.
Here, then, is a detailed description of the
12” x 21” Artpiece that sells for only $52 each. It consists of a 5” x 15” paper print that is housed in a black
frame with a textured black mat. The
black mat has a white groove cut into it, thus adding depth and beauty to the
piece. Weighing approximately four
pounds, the Artwork is protected by unbreakable Plexiglas and includes a
“hanger” on the back to allow for easy hanging. The black frame—and especially the textured black mat with
white groove—makes this a truly stunning Artpiece.
The above is an example of the
12” x 21” Artpiece, which depicts the Washington Redskins.
**************************************
As for the 19” x 39” Limited Edition Artwork,
please note each Artwork is printed on 115-lb Garda Gloss stock and then mounted
to avoid any rippling effects. As for
its matting and framing, the Limited Edition is triple-matted in an acid-free
framing style. The outer mat is a rich,
black textured mat with white core. The
middle and inner mat colors have been selected to complement the team’s colors
and the overall framed piece. The
matting is framed to create a shadow box effect, giving the entire framed piece
a unique three-dimensional look. The
frame is an exquisite solid wood frame finished with a rich black matte texture,
chosen to complement all three mats and the print itself. Finally, the Artpiece is protected by
high-quality framing glass; the total weight of the Artpiece being
approximately 10 pounds.
|
|
The above is
an example of the 19” x 39” Limited Edition Artpiece,
which depicts
the New York Yankees.
Here then is the history of the Vikings’ Uniforms …
#1.
1961 The
beginning of Minnesota’s NFL history is quite intriguing, but to understand it
you need to know a bit about the “American Football League”.
The American Football League (AFL) began in
1960 as an 8 team rival league to the NFL. Both leagues competed head to head
for players, fans and broadcast revenue. This was the way it was from 1960 to
1965 - two separate leagues, two separate champions, although few people would
have honestly believed that the AFL champion could have beaten the NFL champs.
Then in 1965 the two leagues agreed to merge. It was decided that beginning in
1970 there would be only one league, the NFL. In the interim, between 1966 and
1969, the AFL Champion would play the NFL Champion for the “World Championship”.
It was only after the first World Championship had been played in 1966 that the
name “Super Bowl” came into being.
That being said, let’s get back to Minnesota
in 1959, where the upstart AFL league, in preparation of its inaugural season
in 1960, awards Max Winter and Bill Boyer a franchise for a team in
Minneapolis. Then early in 1960, prior to the start of the AFL season, the NFL
offers the same group an NFL franchise – which they accept. Thus, the Minnesota
Vikings become the NFL’s 14th squad for the 1961 NFL season instead
of an AFL team for the 1960 season.
As the team’ first coach, ex-player Norman
Van Brocklin, who had just led the Philadelphia Eagles to the 1960 league
championship and then retired – faced an uphill battle of creating a viable, competitive
football entity in the ‘Land of 10,000 Lakes’. Convinced that ‘gifted’, New
York Giants’ passer George Shaw could be their quarterback of the future, the
Vikings traded for the quarterback – in turn giving up a 1st round
draft pick. Unfortunately, or fortunately – depending how you look at things,
Shaw was injured in the first quarter of the Vikings’ opening game. Young
understudy Fran Tarkenton took over the helm and helped the Vikings beat the
Chicago Bears 37-13 for one of the most impressive debuts in NFL history.
Unfortunately, the rest of the season would not be as rosy as the Vikings would
eventually finish 3-11. Tarkenton would, however, go on to lead the Minnesota
offence between the years 61-66 & 72-78 and in the process become one of the
NFL’s greatest passers.
The ’61 HOME uniform showcased here, as worn
by Tarkenton and Rip Hawkins, consists of a simple, yet elegant color schematic
and logo design that will go relatively unchanged over the course of the next
40 years!
Of note: Bert Rose, the Vikings’ first
general manager, selected the Vikings name because so many Minnesotans can
trace their heritage to Scandinavia.
#2.
1962 Another
troubled year for Minnesota as they go 2-11-1. The opposition, although usually
victorious after a clash with the Vikings, rarely got excited when faced with
the task of playing them. Minnesota’s belligerent playing style often left
opponents injured, or very tender weeks
later. At least this was a small consolation for fans, who had to endure some
of the coldest weather imaginable while watching games from frigid Metropolitan
Stadium.
The ’62 ROAD jersey shown here, almost an
exact inverse of the 1961 home jersey showcases purple numbers with yellow
trim. What seems to be missing from the dark, home version is the thin, yellow
trim around the sleeve striping – in this white jersey the sleeve stripes are
simply purple on white.
#3.
1969 In
1967, General Manager Jim Finks brought Harry P. Grant (aka Bud Grant) to
Minnesota Grant brought with him a slew of Grey Cup championships from his days
of coaching the Canadian Football League Winnipeg Blue Bombers, and a stoic
sideline personality. Originally, the Vikings wanted Grant to be their
inaugural skipper back in ’61, but were turned down at the time. Now they finally
had their man.
With Grant’s help, the mediocre Vikings of
the early to mid-60’s quickly turned into a team to be reckoned with. In 1968,
the Vikings had their first winning season as they went 8-6, and made it to the
Western Conference Championship. This 1968 title would be the first of 10
divisional crowns the Vikings would see over the next 11 years!
In 1969, Grant’s Vikings won all but two
games during the regular season, going a league best 12-2. They went on to beat
the Rams in come from behind fashion 23-20 in the NFL Western Conference
Championship, then shut down the Browns 27-7 in the NFL Championship game.
As mentioned in the 1961 jersey history
section, in 1965 the AFL and the NFL agreed to merge. It was decided that
beginning in 1970 there would be only one league, the NFL. In the interim,
between 1966 and 1969, the AFL Champion would play the NFL Champion for the
“World Championship”. It was only after the first World Championship had been
played in 1966 that the name “Super Bowl” came into being.
Thus it was that in 1969 the Vikings won the
NFL Championship, but still had to play the AFL Champs in Super Bowl IV. In
their first Super Bowl appearance, things didn’t go the Vike’s way as the
Kansas City Chiefs beat the Vikings 23-7 at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans.
This 1969 white ROAD jersey strays a bit from
the 1962 jersey design. First, the traditional sleeve striping has been moved
much higher onto the shoulders – giving it a more vertical look. Second, the
yellow trim typically surrounding the chest & sleeve numbers has been
removed. Third, the team is now wearing white pants, rather than purple. Note
the patch on the left shoulder – commemorating the NFL’ 50th
anniversary. All NFL teams wore this patch for the ’69 season.
Of note: In our research we discovered that
the Vikings actually wore two different style road white jerseys in 1969. We
have chosen to show this one because they wore it in the Super Bowl. The other
white jersey had the NFL 50 patch on the sleeve, below the uniform number.
Speaking of Bud Grant, from his first year in
1967 to 1978, the Vikings won 11 division titles in 14 seasons. They won the
NFL championship in 1969 and NFC titles in 1973, 1974 and 1976. Grant retired
in 1983 but came back for one year in 1985. He finished with an all-time
168-108-5 record, making him the eighth-winningest NFL coach ever.
#4.
1969 The
’69 purple HOME uniform showcased here, though almost identical to the
inaugural version of 1961, was not the only HOME sweater worn for this season.
The Vikings wore another HOME jersey in ’69 – a simpler, more basic jersey.
Just imagine the traditional Vikings’ purple sweater MINUS the sleeve striping,
and yellow trim around the numbers. We chose to show this jersey because they
seemed to wear it in their home playoff games.
Note the NFL patch on the left shoulder of
the jersey. This patch, worn to commemorate the NFL’s 50th
anniversary, was worn by all teams in ’69. Of special note, the NFL patch was
also on the ‘alternate’ jersey mentioned above – but its location was not on
the left shoulder, it was one the lower left sleeve directly below the uniform
numbers.
#5.
1973 Fran
Tarkenton returned to the Vikings in ’72 after having spent 5 seasons with the
NY Giants, and joined an already lethal team whose defensive line was known as
the ‘Purple People Eaters’ because of its toughness and ability to devour
opposing quarterbacks.
Though the ’72 team featured Carl Eller, Alan
Page, Jim Marshall and Gary Larsen – the Purple People Eaters - the Vikings still
only fared 7-7 in the regular season. The 1973 season, however, was a different
story! The Vikings lost only 2 games in the regular season as they went 12-2.
Then in the playoffs they beat the Redskins 27-20 and the Cowboys right in
Dallas 27-10, thus advancing to the Super Bowl for the 2nd time in 4
years.
But once again, they came up short in the
Super Bowl and the powerful Dolphins won Super Bowl VIII 24-7.
This purple HOME jersey (the ‘alternate’
purple home jersey discussed in the 1969 purple painting) is a different take
from the traditional Vikings’ home uniforms. Gone are the sleeve stripes and
yellow trim around the numbers – leaving basic, white numbers on a plain,
purple jersey. The belt color has been switched over to purple from white.
The white ROAD uniform is almost identical to
the ’69 version – with the exception that this belt is now purple too.
#6.
1974 Another
tale of ‘always a brides’ maid…never a bride’! The Vikings win the NFC Central
yet again, this time with a 10-4 record, then take the Divisional Playoff and
NFC Championship games 30-14 over the St. Louis Cardinals and 14-10 over the
Rams, only to lose Super Bowl IX at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans to the
Pittsburgh Steelers 16-6. This is the Vikings 3rd Super Bowl
appearance, and third loss, in 6 years.
This ’74 HOME jersey sees the return of the
arm striping – this time it’s purple and white stripes bordered by yellow trim.
The uniform numbers, however, are still simple and white with no trim.
#7.
1976 It’s
déjà vu all over again…
The Vikings dominate in the regular season –
going 11-2-1. They then capture the NFC Championship by beating the Redskins
35-20 and the LA Rams 24-13. And they then advance to Super Bowl XI, only to
lose for the 4th time in 8 seasons – this time to the Oakland
Raiders 32-14, in front of over 100,000 people at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Look closely at the ’76 HOME jersey, and
you’ll see the ‘mesh’ design used by so many teams in this era. As mentioned
earlier, the tale of the Vikings jerseys is that they have been remarkable
consistent over the franchise’s 40+ years.
Of note: Let’s pay tribute to the Vikings
from the late 60’s to the late 70’s – during the 11 year period 1968 – 1976,
the Vikings went a remarkable 90-35-1 in regular season play. This is a mark
perhaps unequalled by any other team over a 9 year period.
#8.
1989 The
Vikings have put their hopes on running back Herschel Walker, and pull a
monstrous trade with the Dallas Cowboys to acquire this skilled back. Joining
Walker on the offense are such notables as wide receiver Anthony Carter,
eventual pro-bowler Randall McDaniel and quarterback Wade Wilson. The ‘Vikes’
go 10-6 and make the playoffs, but are ousted 41-13 in their first playoff game
by the San Francisco 49ers.
Look very carefully at the ’89 HOME jersey
shown here. The jersey is actually made from two different fabrics, each a
different shade of purple! The sleeves and shoulders are a solid material and
lighter shade of purple, while the body of the jersey is a ‘mesh’ design and is
slightly darker in color!
Notice also that by this time the team has
reverted back to a white belt. Also note the special patch on the left
shoulder. The Viking Norseman is sandwiched by the following: above him – the
words ‘20th anniversary 1969 NFL Champions’ and below him – the
phrase ’40 for 60’. The patch commemorates the Vikings’ winning their first NFL
Championship in 1969…but wait a minute…the Vikings have never won the Super
Bowl!?! The answer to the riddle –
before the AFL & NFL leagues merged in 1970, the champions from both
leagues faced off in the ‘Super Bowl’ for the years 1966-69 inclusive. Thus, in
’69, the Vikings were indeed the NFL Champions, and they played the AFL
Champion Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, losing 23-7 at Tulane Stadium in
New Orleans.
Of note: Three years earlier, in 1986, Fran
Tarkenton became the first Viking to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of
Fame.
Note also: In 1982 the Vikings moved into the
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, leaving forever the frigid but friendly confines
of Metropolitan Stadium.
#9.
1995 We’re
now moving into Minnesota’s ‘high-octane’ offensive years! Under coach Dennis
Green’s guidance, and with weapons such as QB Brad Johnson, wide receiver Chris
Carter and running back Robert Smith, the Vikings’ road to respectability has
begun – they go 8-8 in 1995 in an extremely competitive NFC Central Division.
It will still be a couple of years before these components become a ‘well-oiled
machine’ – but the parts are there!
One note about the uniform: If you look
closely at almost all NFL uniforms worn from 1991 on, you’ll note a small NFL
shield patch on the jersey’s neckline. Most NFL uniforms added the NFL logo
patch to the neck, and to the upper left thigh of the pants, beginning in 1991.
The only major exception to this practice was in 1994 when the teams wore their
throwback uniforms – in these throwback cases, teams did not wear the NFL
shield patch.
The 1995 ROAD jersey showcased here features
some interesting changes from previous years. Firstly, there’s the NFL
shield/patch as mentioned above. Secondly, the sweater’s sleeves are
elasticized to prevent defenders from grabbing hold of baggy, excess material,
and using it to slow down their opponents. Next is the fact that the conventional
purple and yellow striping is now almost completely vertical. And finally, a
commemorative patch celebrating the Vikings’ 35th anniversary can be
found on the left shoulder. It features the ‘Viking’ head; the number ‘35’ for
the team’s 35th anniversary; and the dates ‘1961’ & ‘1995’
sandwiching a large purple ‘V’.
Of note: In 1991, the Vikings went 8-8 and
missed the playoffs. Of all the rotten luck, given that Super Bowl XXVI was
held at the Hubert H. Humprey Metrodome (which opened in 1982).
#10.
1998 Randall
Cunningham is throwing bombs,Randy Moss is making acrobatic receptions, .and
Chris Carter and Randy Moss keep making TD catch after TD catch. The Vikings’
firepower and offensive attack is unrelentless, translating into a 15-1 regular
season record (their best record ever) & post-season dates for the boys in
purple. Actually, the Vikings’ 1998 playoff appearance means they have made the
post season 6 times in the last 7 seasons.
In round 1 of the playoffs, the Vikings squared off against the Cardinals
and left them reeling - Vikings 41 - Cardinals 21.
In the NFC conference final, the Vikings were
favored over the surprising Falcons. But in a topsy turvy, wildly exciting game
that went deep into overtime, the Falcons emerged on top 30 - 27 to end the
Vikings Super Bowl XXXIII aspirations.
This purple HOME jersey features some
terrific nuances: the sleeve striping has been simplified & condensed –
with narrower white & yellow stripes; the familiar yellow trim from past
jerseys has returned, and now “borders” all the uniform numbers; finally, the
Viking head, just as identifiable as the ‘horns’ logo, is now a patch on the
sleeves!
#11.
2000 The
Vikings are preparing young Daunte Culpepper to lead this team into the new
millenium. A 6’5”, 260 pound quarterback that can throw, run, and act as his
own blocker!
This purple HOME jersey, as worn by
Culpepper, Randy Moss, Chris Carter & Robert Smith is almost identical to
the ’98 model – with a few exceptions. The NFL patch on the sweater’s neckline
is larger than in years past. You’ll also notice a large patch on the left
shoulder, close to the NFL shield, celebrating the Vikings’ 40th
anniversary. It reads: ‘Minnesota Vikings’ at the top, with the dates ‘1961’
& ‘2000’ sandwiching the legendary Viking head with the phrase ‘40th
anniversary’ at the bottom.
Happy anniversary, Vikings! May your next 40
years bring you the Super Bowl trophies you’ve been missing!
Of note: Over the past 25 years, the
Minnesota Vikings have consistently been at or near the top of their division
(the NFC Central). During that 25 year period, only the Dallas Cowboys have
made more playoff appearances than the Vikings. Furthermore, only four teams
(Dallas, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Denver) have played in more Super Bowls than
Minnesota, which has participated in four (Super Bowls IV, VIII, IX and XI).
***************************************
The Minnesota Vikings: “Eat, Sleep, Vikings,”
TRADITION…
MEMORIES… CLASSY…
Order Yours Today … and Revel in it!
800-786-3022
412-781-3022
E-mail:
greatestscapes@hotmail.com