World Series: What Indians, Cubs Wore Last Time They Won

Haven’t you heard? It’s been a while since either of this years pennant winners has tasted the sweet champagne that awaits following a victorious World Series. The Cleveland Indians, who last lost a World Series in 1997 to the Florida Marlins, have gone without a championship since 1948 (45 years before the Marlins even played their first ball game); their opponents this fall, the Chicago Cubs, have gone even longer having not won a title, it’s been 108(!) years since they downed the Detroit Tigers in 1908.

So we’re talking a combined 176 World Series free years between these two franchises… suddenly the Leafs’ Stanley Cup drought doesn’t seem so bad anymore!

Let’s take a look back to how these two teams dressed when taking the field during these World Series victories, starting with the Cleveland Indians (shown at the top of this post wearing their 1948 home uniforms).

Cleveland wore a navy blue cap with a red bill and button and a red wishbone C (yes, that’s the same logo the Cincinnati Reds use today) on the front. This cap was worn for all games during the 1948 season home and on the road.

While on the road Cleveland wore grey with blue piping down the front and red stripes on either sleeve, “CLEVELAND” was sewn across the front in an extreme arch in red with blue trim. The sleeve patch is, well, considerably worse than what they wear today:

Cleveland Indians road uniform during the 1948 World Series

While at home the Indians wore a version fairly similar to what they wear today (perhaps superior? again, sleeve patch aside). The script across the front has been modernized over the years. Take a look:

Cleveland Indians home uniform during the 1948 World Series

Now, the Chicago Cubs, we gotta go waaaay back, to the days of collared uniforms and buttons that don’t quite make it all the way down the entirety of the front.

On the road it was an all grey, all pinstriped outfit, that includes cap and jersey, saved only by the black bill on the cap. The jersey featured a black “C” with a brown bear inside. This same logo was worn both at home and on the road:

Chicago Cubs road uniform during the 1908 World Series

For home games in the World Series the Cubs switched to a plain all-black cap, temporarily replacing their usual white cap with a black “C”.

Chicago Cubs home uniform during the 1908 World Series

Here’s the Cubs wearing their usual home cap earlier in the season just prior to the Giant Rodent Attack of ’08:

Now they’d never wear throwback uniforms in a World Series game (nor, should they, really…) but if they did, here’s what a 1948 Indians vs 1908 Cubs matchup would look like tonight: