Ebbets Field Flannels makes replica jerseys of teams gone by

written by Beau Eastes | photography by Winston O’Neil

With $500 from the sale of his wife’s car and a zeal for uniforms from baseball’s colorful past, Jerry Cohen established Ebbets Field Flannels out of his Seattle apartment in 1988. Two of his first reproductions were ballcaps from the old San Francisco Seals and Seattle Rainiers of the Pacific Coast League. Ebbets Field Flannels now sports a flagship store in the heart of Seattle’s SoDo district, just a few blocks from Safeco Field.

Ebbets Field Flannels store in Pioneer Square. Outside shot of store

Meticulously researched, Ebbets Field Flannels reproductions highlight legendary squads like Satchel Paige’s Kansas City Monarchs and Josh Gibson’s Homestead Grays, as well as more pedestrian teams such as the semi-pro 1950 Walla Walla Bears or the 1940 Idaho Falls Russets.

Ebbets Field Flannels factory workplace Employee working on preparing hats for shipment.

In addition to Negro League and minor league gear, Ebbets Field Flannels has a lineup of vintage Japanese, Cuban, Latin American, military, collegiate and fictional—the New York Knights hat is gorgeous—baseball caps, jerseys, jackets, sweatshirts, T-shirts and even replica grounds crew windbreakers. And while best known for its baseball gear, Ebbets Field Flannels also produces historic football and hockey clothing.

Ebbets Field Flannels factory workplace Employees working side by side and diligently to work on customer orders.

Even if you’re just now discovering Ebbets Field Flannels, there’s a chance you’ve seen its work before

Even if you’re just now discovering Ebbets Field Flannels, there’s a chance you’ve seen its work before. The company re-created all the minor league and Negro League uniforms for the Jackie Robinson biopic 42, as well as the Tour of Japan baseball uniforms in the recent Paul Rudd film, The Catcher Was a Spy.

Ebbets Field Flannels factory workplace Employee works on Oakland jersey.

Celebrities such as Spike Lee, David Letterman and Ashton Kutcher have all sported Ebbets Field Flannels. Letterman is such a fan he had throwback Late Show gear designed and created by the company. But no one has embraced the nostalgia of Ebbets Field Flannels quite like ESPN’s Keith Olbermann, who is now a minority owner. A noted baseball historian—Olbermann drops Federal League references like they’re going out of style—Olbermann oftens gives shoutouts to his Ebbets Field Flannel gear on Twitter and in interviews.