Stadium Ushers

[Dave Grob]

Was all set to get this VIA FEDEX today, but 14 inches of snow had something to say about that. Just picked this up in the most recent Grey Flannel auction (yes, I know I just missed one on E-Bay in December for a fraction of the price). Be that as it may, I have been looking for one of these for some time. This is the fourth one I have any record of. When they have been offered they have been described as being from the 1950s; not an inaccurate statement but if you watch and study World Series footage and other references you will find that this style of Yankee usher’s jacket can be found as early as 1947 and was not worn in the 1957 or 1958 World Series. The “Top Hat & Bat” logo that appears on the chest made its debut in 1946, so 1946 would have to be earliest, but images I have seen from 1946 suggests the ushers jackets were a double breasted version with a much smaller patch on the left breast.

I have also been fascinated with this style jacket, partially because they are so gorgeous as well as the design being so closely connected to General Eisenhower and his famous “Ike Jacket”. I love the fact that the dating of c1947-1956 just happens to coincide with one of the greatest runs of any professional sports team (truth in lending; I am not a Yankee fan) and all the things that transpired in Yankee Stadium during this period. Still on the Hunt for similar items from Crosely Field and if you have anything, would love to hear from you.

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[YankeeFan]

That's a beauty Dave! What great style.
Congratulations on finding and getting something you've been after for a while.

[39special]

I have never seen one of those before.Great pick up Dave!

[ksfarmboy]

Very cool Dave. Great pickup!

[YankeeFan]

I have one from the 1970's (at least that's what I was told). Although the "Yankees" script is nice looking, the jacket itself has no real style. Your's puts it to shame, so I hope you don't mind me sharing it here.

<a href="http://s997.photobucket.com/user/jtorsiello/media/Yankee_Usher_Jacket_1_sm_zpsf138541b.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i997.photobucket.com/albums/af98/jtorsiello/Yankee_Usher_Jacket_1_sm_zpsf138541b.jpg" border="0" alt="Yankees_Usher_sm photo Yankee_Usher_Jacket_1_sm_zpsf138541b.jpg"/></a>

It's not the best picture, but the only one I have on my computer now.

Searching Google images, I found one just like this from a Legendary auction in 2002. But their write-up says it's from the 1940's. I don't know.

[Dave Grob]

Jack,

Lovely artifact and thanks so much for sharing.

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[Dave Grob]

Just arrived today. Yes, a cell phone quality photo, but a shirt tie do wonders for this one. Funny that I thought about the WW II era Ike Jacket with respect to this one, and low and behold, one of the cuff buttons on this has been replaced with of all things... a period small button from an Army jacket (size makes it cuff or epaulet button).

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[Scott Garner]

Dave,
That jacket looks terrific!!! Congrats on your pickup.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Very nice piece.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Dave Grob]

Thanks...

Funny how when you're a kid, the usher is the enemy. Now I look at this jacket as if it were an old friend. I can remember one year, must have been 1974 or 1975, but a buddy and I had hatched what we thought was the fool proof plan to sneak down from the red seats (uppermost level) to the blue seats (field boxes) at Riverfront. We would bring one of our dad's larger jackets with us. Once inside the stadium we would begin our way down the ramp. If it looked like we were going to get questioned, we would pick up the pace and yell "hey dad, wait up."

Once we got to our ill gotten seats, we would put the jacket in the seat between us, as if dad had gone to the john or to get a bear...you know, dad things. If questioned we would say that "dad" had the tickets. The plan was going better than the first 24 hours of the ground war in Desert Storm, when the usher came by to where we where sitting. He asked for our tickets...and with out a pause both my friend and I blurted out, pointing to each other... "his dad has them". The usher then came back with "whose dad" (he wasn't falling for the jacket on the empty seat). Without skipping a beat we both blurted out "my dad." We watched the rest of the game from the red seats.

Needless to say I am enjoying this usher more than I did the one that fate full day.

Dave Grob
DaveGrob1@aol.com

[Bumpus Jones]

Great story Dave!