Cubs Alternate Vest Jersey

In addition to their home and away jerseys, most teams now have a third alternate jersey. A couple clubs wear a vest as their alternate. But did you know that the Cubs were in the forefront of both the alternate jersey and the vests? In fact, according to Topps, the Cubs have been doing this since the late 1950s. Want proof?

This card of Ray Jablonski shows the 1956 version of the Cubs alternate jersey vest.

Move ahead to this 1960 card of Harry Bright and we see again the Cubs vest. The action pose on the left gives you a great look.

And the Cubs kept with the alternate jersey into the 1970s. Look at Rick Monday's 1972 card to see the vest and blue sleeves again.

So while you may have thought that alternate jerseys were something from just the last 10-15 years, now you know that it was the Cubs that pioneered the idea back in the 50s.

Because if we see it on a Topps card, it has to be true!

Now, truthfully, the Cubs were actually the first team to wear a vest, and they did it all the way back in the early 1940s. Here is what they wore:

1940

1941

1942

I wouldn't mind seeing those some day when the Cubs do a throwback jersey game.