This Princeton model from '55 is one of the more unusual one-year wonders in our little project. With formation of formal Ivy League play in the mid-50s, the Ivy lords ruled that all teams must have white road jerseys in addition to the colored home shirts, which meant that tradition-rich teams like Harvard, Yale and Princeton now had to succumb to modern realities.
Princeton's first road shirt, which was worn for games at Cornell and Harvard, was a left turn from the traditional tiger-striped home shirt. The numbers were bright orange, and the tiger stripes were ditched in favor of shoulder stripes, which were becoming the rage around this time. Also note the matching socks; unusual, because the Tigers didn't wear socks with the home unis during this period. These guys look more like Oregon State than Princeton.
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| No, that's not Oregon State -- that's Princeton in action against Cornell in 1955. Daily Princetonian pic. |
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| In addition to resisting road jerseys, Princeton also resisted modern strategy: The Tigers employed the single-wing well into the 1960s. |
Thankfully, a more proper road shirt was introduced for '56, with the tiger stripes restored, and peace and harmony ruled throughout the land. OK, maybe not.
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| I ran this '55 pic already with a Columbia post, but it's too cool not to run again. |
On the prowl for more Princeton? Check these out: 2015, 2014, 2013, 1996, 1993-95, 1994, 1987-90, 1984-86, 1975-77, 1979-83, 1970-72, 1947-48, 1945-46. Rivalry week: Dartmouth-Princeton.
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