Rank the Throwbacks!
Sports teams continue to capitalize on our obsession with uniforms from the past.
All the hype around the Broncos brown and mustard jerseys has got me thinking… what are the best throwbacks from Colorado sports history? So begins a series – we’re going to look at past logos from all the sports, and have an unofficial poll. We’ll look at the logos for each sport, pick the best, then pit them against each other in a final showdown of the retro logos. So take a look at the logos below, decide which one is best, and cast your vote! Then add a comment and let us know what you think! While some of these logos are classic, there are some truly hideous ones out there too. Quick note about the parameters I’ve set. I’ve left out what are considered ‘alternate’ logos, and stuck with the primary ones. I’m also ignoring a current logo, even if it seems to be the best. The idea here is to live in the past. Maybe someday we’ll do this again and include the current logos.
We’ll start with the Broncos – since they’re the ones that got me started on this whole thing. First we have the logo that we’re all familiar with – the original 1960 look, complete with the classy brown and mustard color scheme.
Denver Broncos Throwback Logo 1960-61
The problem most people find with this logo is not the logo itself, or even the colors, but the fashion statement of the striped socks. I shudder to think what that statement actually is. I will have to admit… I’m a fan of the brown and yellow, and I love the brown numbered helmets. But overall, while it’s a nice logo to look at, it makes me yearn for the blue and orange. Which brings us to the next logo, worn by the Broncos from 1962-67. This logo brings the introduction of the famous blue and orange color combo.
Denver Broncos Throwback Logo 1962-67
This one isn’t all that appreciable different from the previous logo. You still have the cartoonish horse with the cartoonish football player on its back. There was a nice alternate version of this logo with just a silhouette of the horse, but we aren’t dealing in the alternates. Say what you want though, this logo deserves recognition simply for introducing us to the orange.
Denver Broncos Throwback Logo 1968-96
Now we come to the single most recognizable logo in all of Denver sports – the classic orange “D” with the horse rising out of it. This is the logo that the Broncos wore to their first 4 Super Bowl appearances, this is what John Elway wore for the majority of his career. This is the logo that most of us reading this most identify with the Broncos. I’d love to see them wear this every now and then, just for fun.
We aren’t just worried about the Broncos though – there were a few other football team logos that have graced our fine city over the years. Now that the Arena League is defunct, we can include not only the original Denver AFL team and its horrific Microsoft Paint-looking logo, the Denver Dynamite, but the Elway-owned Colorado Crush. Then rounding out our football teams of the past is the extremely classy look of the USFL’s Denver Gold. Am I the only one that would love to see a USFL tribute/revival league start up again? I think it would be a huge hit. From 1983-1985, the black and gold roamed the field at Mile High.
Denver Dynamite Arena League Logo - 1987-1991
Colorado Crush Arena League Logo - 2003-2007
Denver Gold USFL Logo 1983-1985
So there you are – football logos from Colorado’s past. Fill out the poll, then we’ll be talking basketball next time.
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I already cast my vote, for the Orange D. I really wanted to vote for the Denver Gold, because I LOVE that look… but if not for the Orange and Blue of the 70s and 80s, I wouldn’t be the sports fan I am today. Viva l’Orange!
Have you heard that the USFL will be starting back up again? I don’t believe the Denver gold was mentioned as one of the returning teams but someone should petition for it. http://www.newusfl.com/
The Denver Gold were the only team that ever turned a profit in that fiasco, and initial attendance was impressive. It wasn’t until the league decided to move to the fall (duh!?) and compete with the NFL that the Gold merged with Jacksonville. For the record, I’d love to see Spring/Summer Football in the Rockies