Here They
Are in All Their Glory!
The
Uniforms of the San Francisco 49ers
Bask in the Tradition. Bask
in the Memories.
Titled “Nobody Does
Football Better” 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 49ers’ Uniforms …
#1.
1946 & 1948 Football takes flight in the ‘Bay Area’ – the 49ers join the
‘All-America Football Conference’ in 1946. The AAFC was a rival league to the
NFL, competing for fans and players. In its inaugural season the had 8 teams:
Brooklyn Dodgers; Buffalo Bills; Chicago Rockets; Cleveland Browns; Los Angeles
Dons; Miami Seahawks; New York Yankees; San Francisco 49ers. It gets a bit
confusing because one might assume that at least 3 of these teams (Buffalo
Bills, Cleveland Browns and the 49ers) went on to join the NFL in 1950 when the
AAFC and the NFL agreed to a truce, but in fact the deal was that the NFL would
take in the AAFC’s two best teams, the Browns and the 49ers, plus the lowly
Baltimore Colts (who folded after one season in the NFL). The rest of the AAFC
teams simply ceased operations.
The 49ers played their home games in Kezar
Stadium. Anthony J. Morabito, the team’s owner, named the team as such to
reflect the city’s ties to the 1849 California Gold Rush in the Sierra Nevada
mountains east of San Francisco. Under the leadership & tutelage of coach
Lawrence T. Shaw, the 49ers’ AAFC 4-year record would be a very impressive
39-15-2 – a sign of success to come to this franchise in the next 50 years.
These first few years were synonymous with Strzykalski rushes, Beals receptions
and Albert passes.
For the record, the 1946 49ers went 9-5 but
missed the playoffs (only 2 teams qualified – the winner of the 4 team Eastern
Division would play the winner of the 4 team West), 8-4-2 in 1947 and again no
playoffs; 12-2 in 1948 but once again they finished behind the remarkable
Cleveland Borwns and thus out of the playoffs. In 1949 the AAFC was down to 7
teams in a single division, with the 1st place team meeting the 4th
place finishers, and second played third. Predictably, the 49ers finished
second behind the Browns, and after both won their preliminary playoff game,
the Browns beat the 49ers 21-7 in the last AAFC Championship game. (Allow us a
quick tribute to the Browns, who lost a total of only 4 games during their 4
year AAFC reign. From a 49er perspective, there’s some consolation in that two
of four defeats were at the hands of the 49ers.)
With respect to the helmets, almost all helmets in this era lacked facial protection
and would continue that way well into the 50’s. The only significant difference
in the 1946 and 1948 49ers uniforms was the switch from white to tan for the
pants and helmets.
#2.
1952 The
49ers are now part of the 12 team NFL, playing in the National Conference. They
finished a respectable 7-5, ahead of the Packers and the Bears.
This is the style of jersey that was worn by
49er rookie, and soon-to-be legend Hugh McElhenny – drafted from the University
of Washington. The first time halfback McElhenny touched the ball, he scampered
42 yards for a touchdown! ‘The King’ (as he was nicknamed by QB Frankie Albert)
quickly became known for his shiftiness & elusiveness – together with Joe
Perry, these two would form the 49ers ‘million-dollar backfield’.
Note that by 1952 the 49ers had added three
white stripes to the jersey, a staple for years to come. Note also the helmet
and the lack of a face mask – it was the player’s choice whether or not to wear
a face protector, and most opted not to wear one until the mid to late 50’s.
#3.
1959 It’s
amazing, but the 1959 San Francisco uniform has undergone very minor or subtle
changes since 1952 – in fact, this could be said for the home red uniform right
up to the early 90’s! The tan/gold pants, the red shirt with three stripes &
white numbers evidenced in this painting were the staples of 49ers’ home
uniforms for another 30+ seasons.
Note that the 1959 uniform features pants
with a zippered front, and numbers on the sleeves, and by this time most
helmets had face guards. The ’59 helmet, however, still had no logo on it.
In 1959 the NFL is still a 12 team league,
divided into 6 team Eastern and Western Conferences. The 49ers play in the
west, and they finished with a 7-5 record. The 1950’s are a relatively
successful decade for the 49ers, who enjoy 7 seasons of .500 ball or better.
That being said, they advanced to post season play only once, in 1957, losing a
heartbreaker to the Lions 31-27 in the Western Conference Championship game.
Allow us to honor some 49er greats who played
for the team in the 50’s by mentioning their names - Frankie Albert, Y. A.
Tittle, Hugh McElhenny, Joe Perry, Bob St. Clair, Leo Nomellini. All were great
players who contributed to the 49ers legend and fan base.
#4.
1963 There’s
a general rule in the NFL that the home team wears a dark uniform and the
visitors a light colored one (unless altered at the request of the home team).
The ’63 uniform depicted here is the 49ers 1963 AWAY uniform. Notice the
striping, which is almost vertical and much higher-up on the shoulders than
earlier editions. Note also the inclusion of the legendary 49ers logo on the
helmet. This logo on an intersecting “S” and “F”, has only gone through minimal
changes right up to the present, much like their home jersey remained largely
the same for so many years.
The 1963 season wasn’t particularly kind to
the 49ers, as they finished with a 4-10 record, last in the 7 team Western
Conference. In fact, for most seasons in the 60’s the 49ers hover around .500,
and fail to make post season play between 1958 and 1969.
#5.
1972 The
’72 jersey has now been modified to a short sleeve, and other than the addition
of red and white pants stripes, it’s quite similar to the home uniforms of the
50’s and 60’s. By this time the helmet is now the familiar gold color, and the
helmet logo appears almost identical to the present day logo (although there
are minor differences).
By this time the NFL and AFL have merged, and
the NFL is now a 26 team league divided into two conferences, each with 3
divisions. The ’72 49ers finish with an 8-5-1 record and win the NFC West. In a
thriller of a game, they face the Cowboys at home at Candlestick Park, but
Dallas scores 17 unanswered points in the 4th quarter to knock off
the 49ers 30-28. This was the 49ers 3rd playoff appearance in a row,
but their last until 1981.
#6.
1981 What
a ride – after finishing 1978 and 1979 with identical 2-12 records, and 1980
with a 6-10 mark, the 49ers come alive in 1981 with a league best 13-3 record
and roar into the playoffs for the first time since 1972.
And it doesn’t stop there for the Joe
Montana-led 49ers (Montana joined the team in 1979 out of Notre Dame).
After beating the Giants 38-24, they knock
off Dallas 28-27 in one of the most memorable 49ers games (and perhaps NFL games)
ever played. This game was won with “The Catch”, a 6 yard pass from Joe Montana
to an over-extended Dwight Clark that changed the course of 49ers history.
Then the 49ers met the surprisingly strong
Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI. At the Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan,
in front of 81,270 fans, the 49ers come from behind to beat the Cincinnati
Bengals 26-21 to capture their first of 5 Super Bowls in the next 14 years
(1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994), and Joe Montana wins his first Super Bowl MVP award.
The 1981 visitors jersey shown here should
seem quite familiar to 49ers fans of all ages – the present version is not much
changed from this one.
#7.
1984 The
Joe Montana – Coach Bill Walsh dynasty continues.
After an off year in the strike shortened
1982 season, and a disappointing loss to the Redskins in 1983, the 49ers roar
back in 1984 with a 15-1 regular season record.
Then in the playoffs they handle the Giants
21-10 and shut out the Bears 21-0, and go on to meet Dan Marino and the
Dolphins in Super Bowl XIX. Once again, riding the arm of Joe Montana, who goes
24 for 35 with no intereceptions, the 49ers roll over the Dolphins 38-16 at
Stanford Stadium in Palo Alto, California. This is the second of the 49ers 5
Super Bowls over a 14 year period (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994), and Joe
Montana wins his second Super Bowl MVP award.
In winning 5 Super Bowl Championships, the
49ers join Dallas as the only teams to have won 5 Super Bowls.
#8.
1988 & 1989 The 49ers go 10-6 in 1985, 10-5-1 in 1986, and 13-2 in 1987, but get
knocked off in the first round of the playoffs each time. But the story doesn’t
end there. Enter Jerry Rice and Roger Craig.
Like a well oiled machine, the 49ers win
back-to-back Super Bowls in 1988 and 1989.
In 1988, a year of great parity in the NFL,
the 49ers finish with a 10-6 record along with the LA Rams and the New Orleans
Saints. In round 1 of the 49ers’ playoffs, they clobber the Vikings 34-9. Next
up were the Chicago Bears, who go down to defeat 28-3. Then it was on to Joe Robbie
Stadium in Miami to face Boomer Esiason and the Cincinnati Bengals in Super
Bowl XXIII. In a game reminiscent of the 1981 Super Bowl game between the same
two teams, the 49ers come from behind to down the Bengals 20-16. This time out
Jerry Rice takes home the hardware, and Joe Montana goes 23 for 36 with no
interceptions.
And a quick word has to be said about coach
Bill Walsh who retired from NFL coaching after the 1988 season: in 10 years as
the Niners' coach, Walsh had a 102-62-1 record, won six NFC West titles and
three Super Bowls. Yikes!
1989? It’s déjà vu all over again. The 49ers
roll through the regular season with a 14-2 mark, then beat the Vikings 41-13
and the LA Rams 30-3. The next victims were the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl
XXIV at the Superdome in New Orleans. And victims is the right word as the
49ers crush John Elway and the Broncos 55-10 in one of the most lopsided Super
Bowl games ever played. Once again Montana goes 24 for 32 with no interceptions
and wins his third Super Bowl MVP. This is the fourth of the 49ers 5 Super
Bowls over a 14 year period (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994).
The ’88 & ’89 jerseys shown here
highlight the consistency of the 49ers uniform for the past 30 years. It’s a
simple design with colors you wouldn’t think would work (red, gold and white),
but do.
#9.
1994 Some
of the names have changed but the result doesn’t – gone are Bill Walsh and Joe
Montana and Roger Craig and Ronnie Lott and many others, but Steve Young picks
right up where Joe left off.
The 49ers finish the season 13-3, then beat
Chicago 44-15 and in a memorable clash of titans, the Cowboys 38-28. Thus in
Super Bowl XXIX the 49ers faced their in-state rivals, the surprising San Diego
Chargers. This time out Young fires to Rice for 3 TD’s, and the 49ers roll to a
49-26 win in front of 74,107 fans at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami. Chalk up an
MVP award for Mr. Young.
This is the fifth of the 49ers 5 Super Bowls
over a 14 year period (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989, 1994).
During this season, the NFL and its franchises
were showcasing ‘throwback’ jerseys, or replicas of older uniforms – to help
commemorate the NFL’s 75th anniversary. The 75th
anniversary was also commemorated by the diamond patch on the upper left part
of the torso.
The 49ers jersey showcased here is a
throwback jersey designed to honor the 1957 49ers uniform, and features a
unique drop shadow effect for the uniform number on the front of the jersey, as
well as white pants with red and black stripes.
One other 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 cases, as is the case here, the teams did not
wear the NFL shield patch.
#10.
1996 There
are some interesting variations to this 1996 home uniform: a thin, gold trim
has been added to the number/drop shadow. The 49ers added their logo to both
sleeves – marking the first time that we’ve seen their logo on their jersey.
The numbers are much higher on the shoulder than previously seen.
Furthermore, the face guard is now a
maroon/red instead of a silver-grey. Interestingly, the 49ers went back to the
‘white’ pants in 1996 – the pants were white in the ’94 throwback year, then
switched to gold in ’95. Finally, note the special commemorative patch on the
left shoulder – celebrating the 49ers’ 50th anniversary (see the
description of the 1946 jersey above for some history about the 49ers’ first
season in 1946).
In 1996 the 49ers again have a remarkable
regular season, going 12-4. Leaving aside the strike shortened 1982 season,
from 1981 to 1998 the 49ers will never lose more than 6 games in a season,
compiling a stratospheric 207-72-1 regular season record in this 18 year
period, and a gaudy 22-11 post season record.
Now a quick word about coach George Seifert:
Seifert's record with the 49ers is probably without equal - between 1989 and
1996, he led San Francisco to a regular-season record of 108-35 and he won
Super Bowls XXIV and XXIX. If winning percentages mean anything, Seifert
deserves immense praise.
#11.
2000 After
such a long period of dominance, the 49ers have come back to earth in 1999 and
2000 (records of 4-12 and 6-10). You almost had to expect this, and the
wonderful thing is that seems to be all sorts of cause for optimism for the
Jeff Garcia led 49ers.
A couple points about the 2000 uniform: If
you look very closely, you’ll also notice a mini ‘SF’ logo amidst the striping
on the pants – a little nuance that was added beginning in the ’98 season.
Also, 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 this case, the 49ers have the NFL
patch on their jersey, but not on their pants – one of the rare exceptions
since 1991.
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The San Francisco 49ers: “Nobody Does
Football Better”
TRADITION…
MEMORIES… CLASSY…
Order Yours Today … and Revel in it!
800-786-3022
412-781-3022
E-mail:
greatestscapes@hotmail.com