10. Milwaukee Brewers: 1978-1993
One of the first professional baseball hats I ever bought from Lids was a throwback Brewers hat. That began my exuberant collection of professional sports hats. It had a blue brim, yellow front, and blue backing with the “M” and lowercase “b” glove logo. It’s so simple when you first look at it, but the detail where the “M” merges with the “b” to make a glove is truly genius. The Brewers still technically use the logo but, it is surrounded with a navy blue circle and “Milwaukee Brewers” writing. The ‘78-’93 logo is PERFECTION.
9. Utah Jazz: 1996-2004
This Jazz logo narrowly edged out another NBA mountain logo, but earned their spot in my top ten. The colors in this Jazz logo are eccentric and vibrant. I almost feel as if this logo is a trailblazer for the Utah Jazz logos’ that we will see in the future. It’s also very memorable considering this logo was rocked in the Stockton-Malone hay day.
8. San Diego Padres: 1969-1984
This is another logo that was on a piece of merchandise that I owned growing up. I had a bright yellow Tony Gwynn batting practice jersey that I wore every week in middle school. I usually despise the color brown in a logo or jersey but for some reason, the yellow and brown works. The Padre swinging the bat is just overall dope. It screams throwback and anytime the Padres break these jerseys out, I can’t help but get a little excited. A super underrated vintage logo that must make a more consistent return.
7. Milwaukee Bucks: 1963-1998
For some odd reason, I love the old school animated logos, but I am not a massive fan of the new age animated ones. This Milwaukee Bucks’ logo from the ‘60s is an absolute gem and I wish it could replace the Bucks’ current logo. Just look at that logo! It’s so detailed. You can see the ball spinning, the green sweater with a “B” is awesome, and the detail of the Buck in general is awesome. I should start a petition to make this the Bucks permanent logo.
6. Hartford Whalers: 1979-1997
This is probably a nostalgia pick but I could honestly care less. The Whalers had an all time great logo, much like the Brewers one on this list. It is very simple but intricate. The blue tail for the whale is very obvious, much like the green “W” but, look between the two. The white part of if makes an “H” to represent Hartford which is a beautiful touch. Please, please, please for the love of God, BRING THE WHALERS BACK TO HARTFORD!
5. Toronto Blue Jays: 2004
The fact that this logo was only used for one season is a God damn shame. This logo was unreal, it struck fear into the hearts of opponents to see a jacked blue jay holding a bat. It had the feel of a blue jay that’d beat you with the bat and laugh afterwards because of the smug look on his face. JUST LOOK AT HIM, IT’S AMAZING! The only flaw here is that awful “T” in the background. The blue line through it ruins it but because of that blue jay, this logo lands in the top five.
4. Detroit Pistons: 1996-2001
Once again probably a little bias here due to the fact I own a Pistons jersey with this logo on it. A turquoise Grant Hill one in fact. The colors in this logo are great and the logo actually uses a double entendre with the horse and the exhaust shooting out of the back. The color scheme of this logo shouldn’t work, but somehow it just does. The way the yellowish gold mixes with the red and teal is outstanding. I also love how the horse on the top of the logo looks like a chess piece with the “shined” detail.
3. New England Patriots: 1972-1988
Pat the Patriot is a great logo that the NFL is silencing. Because of the leagues “one helmet” rule where a team can only wear one style of helmet through the season, all throwbacks are essentially blocked. That sucks seeing that we can’t see the Houston Oilers, the old Cleveland brownie, and Pat the Patriot. An old militia man snapping a football is so creative and just overall so detailed. The coat he wears has a ton of small details that cannot be overlooked. I would do anything to see this logo back in action in the near future
2. Denver Nuggets: 1974-1981
You may think that this is going to be the digital rainbow mountains that you see all over the place, but it’s not. I went with the throwback logo that looks like Yukon Cornelius playing basketball. This logo is awesome. If this came back today I would be so thrilled. The mascot could come from working in the coal mines or saving reindeer to cheering on Nikola Jokic while he averages a triple double.
1. Arizona Coyotes: 1999-2003:
I’m not a massive hockey fan but I can respect a phenomenal logo. This should be the Coyotes permanent logo because the updated one blows. This is another logo that has colors that shouldn’t work together but it does. The purple really pops and with the darker maroon and green colors. I also love the half face of the coyote as he is stopping a puck. This lands at number one for me because of the creativity to make it and the colors that somehow work.
