The 17 Sports Teams That Have Had the Greatest Impact on Men's Style

Image via Complex Original

League: MLB

Notable Athletes: Babe Ruth, Lou Gherig, Yogi Berra, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Reggie Jackson, Derek Jeter

You don't have to be a fan of the Yankees to be seen wearing a Yankees cap, they're just that timeless. While the Yankees may be one of the most “love-em-or-hate-em” teams in the history of the sport, they are also one of the strongest franchises to ever come out of the U.S., let alone professional baseball. The interlocking “NY” is as American as apple pie at this point, and has been worn on everyone from Japanese Americana fiends to your great grandpa.

As the uniform has aged, it has only become more timeless, and if you don't like wearing the on-field iteration, check out the countless logo flips and homages that hundreds of brands have created over the years. A lineup of legendary hall of famers, combined with a virtually ageless navy and white, you basically have to hail from Boston to have not worn at least some Yankees gear in your lifetime.

League: NFL

Notable Athletes: Gene Upshaw, Howie Long, Bo Jackson, Jerry Rice

The black and silver is a colorway that truly defined the L.A. of the early '90s. When N.W.A. was rising out of the streets of Compton, the just as tough Raiders were demolishing the competition on the gridiron. Viewed as villains on the field, the team dominated from the late '70s to the mid '80s, and their rough style of play was mirrored on the unforgiving streets of L.A. and Oakland.

While “Raider Nation” is a term for the fans who are obsessed with the team and attend the games, N.W.A. could constantly be seen sporting the black and silver in album covers, press photos, and public appearances. This connection lead to a global popularization of the franchise, and the style of the team, where black and silver (or black and white) became not only a sign of the rugged raiders, but also the bad ass look of hip-hop. Other teams, including the NHL's L.A. Kings and the MLB's Chicago White Sox would also help support this trend of black and white, but it was the attitude of the Raiders (and the rise of L.A.-focused ganster rap) that would make the Raiders the coolest team to wear in the late 20th century—whether you gave a shit about football or not.

League: English Premier League

Notable Athletes: Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Roy Keane, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo

Founded in 1878 and renamed in 1902, Manchester United is one of the most globally recognized franchises in not only Premier League football, but also the world. While several teams in the Premier League are influential, and arguments could be made for each individiuals' favorite club, it's hard to deny the global reach the Red Devils have have. They are the third most valuable soccer club (and sports team period) in the world (behind Real Madrid and Barcelona) and rank second in the average home match attendance. Their worldwide fan base is believed to be conservatively 75 million strong, but other estimates have put the club near 333 million fans.

The club was one of Nike's major inroads to the English soccer market, making the club's kit from 2002 to 2014 (only to be beaten out by German soccer titan Adidas). With not only years, but solid decades of championship wins both at home and in the international Champions League, Man U is unabashedly one of the most recognized names in the “world's game.” In the states, more than any other club, you're likely to meet someone wearing a Manchester United jersey—and they've no idea what being “offsides” on a soccer pitch actually means.

League: NBA

Notable Athletes: Michael Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen, Derek Rose

Michael Jordan. He's not just the GOAT in terms of the NBA, but is a cultural phenomenon that drove not only the Bulls into the limelight with his six NBA Championship wins, but with his incredible line of sneakers that didn't only define current sneaker culture, but revolutionized the technology and the style that went into sneakers. Jordan's attachment to the Bulls means that regardless of the team's performance, sneakers (especially those in the Jordan Brand family) will always be produced in Chicago red and black.

Even if you never lived in Chicago, you always rooted for Jordan. You probably had a Bulls starter jacket. You almost certainly had a pair of kicks with a "bred" colorway. Jordan's sneakers constantly re-releasing is not only a testament to the popularity of Jordan himself, but the legacy and nostalgia that the Bulls franchise incited during its time at the top of professional basketball—and American sports.

League: MLB

Notable Athletes: Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell, Barry Bonds

Before the Pirates were known as one of the worst franchises in MLB history since their last World Series win in 1979, their style was a pinnacle on and off field. While not the first team to have third uniforms, they were the first to mix-and-match uniform pieces until they would ultimately settle on final uniform pairing. Their pillbox hats of 1976 would become a major style choice of one of the team's winningest eras, and while they weren't the only squad to rock the caps, they were the team that wore them the longest. Off the field, in the '80s, '90s, and '00s the Pirates gained somewhat of an ironic style status—the club's terrible record made wearing their merch less about rooting for a team and more about wearing athletic-style gear.

League: NBA

Notable Athletes: Kobe Bryant, Shaquille O'Neal, Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Another franchise driven by players, the L.A. Lakers have been an NBA mainstay since Magic Johnson in '80s and was reinvigorated with Kobe and Shaq's championships in the '00s. Starting with the rivalry with Larry Bird's Celtics, Magic's dominance on the court epitomized part of the west coast cool in the era—popularizing the Lakers by association with his charm and positive personality. Kobe's dominance with the Lakers kept the franchise's image at an all-time high, effectively operating as a new generation's Michael Jordan. His jersey is the most popular among players in the NBA. Championships bring publicity and fans—even if those who cop the merch don't watch basketball. Factoring in L.A.'s Hollywood history, the Lakers have a courtside “celebrity row” that could only be rivaled by that of the New York Knicks.

League: NHL

Notable Athletes: Paul Kariya

Founded in 1993 as a companion franchise to the film of the same name, Disney's Mighty Ducks were already a pop culture sensation before even hitting the ice in the NHL. By the time the second movie, D2 hit theaters, the Mighty Ducks were an established NHL team, leading the movie to incorporate the official uniforms for the final game when Gordon Bombay and company faced off against Iceland at the end of the film.

The eggplant purple and jade green color combo was as unique as the team's backstory, and was a palette that would mirror other less conventional and vivid color pairings found across professional sports in the '90s. Considering that the “duck mask” was as much a Disney creation as it was a team necessity, the jerseys, logos, and other properties already had major pop culture cache off-ice, and were lusted after by fans of the game and the phenomenon alike. They even created a cartoon show based of the team's mascot, "Wildwing."

League: NFL

Notable Athletes: Roger Staubach, Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman

Dubbed “America's Team,” the Cowboys are football through and through. A city filled with big hair and big oil money, the Cowboys embody the glitz and glamor of Dallas itself. Considering its storied lineage, particularly as a Thanksgiving Day staple starting in 1966, they were one of the most easily recognized football franchises—especially for being an expansion team.

In the 1970s, the team grew notorious for their turkey day games, and their success on the gridiron led to extravagance off of it. They were so wild, that one player's memoir, North Dallas Forty describes the wild parties and loud behavior that team indulged in. The team is known almost as much for their cheerleaders as the 11 guys they start on Sundays, and are as much a part of America as they are the NFL.

As one 1977 Sports Illustrated poll uncovered, when asked “Best Uniform to Wear If You Can't Be a Guard at Buckingham Palace,” the number one spot went to the silver and blue of the Cowboys. If nothing else, the unique merchandising relationship that Dallas as the only NFL team that distributes its own merchandise, says more about the strength and popularity of the Cowboys. You don't become the most valuable franchise in American sports (at $3.2 billion) without some style influence.

League: NHL

Notable Athletes: Bobby Hull

One of the “Original Six” of the NHL, the Chicago Blackhawks have nearly 90 years of professional hockey history. The logo features the head of “Tommy Hawk” with four Blackhawk feathers in his hair. While teams with as much lineage as Blackhawks have often kept their logos because of their simple designs (traditionally interlocking letters), the Blackhawks have kept the original Native American head logo since the team's inception. Popularity with team's merchandise likely stems from the fact that the logo incorporates so many colors at once, making it easy to wear in combination with other gear. Interestingly, while the team's logo involves the use of Native Americans, the Blackhawks (compared to that of the Washington Redskins) have seemingly avoided much of the controversy surrounding Native American insensitivity in professional sports. This is likely due to the less overt usage of skin color in the name.

League: MLB

Notable Athletes: Pete Rose, Barry Larkin, Ken Griffey Jr.

The Cincinnati Reds are one team that has unofficial affiliations that the guys in the owners box may disagree with. With a long term association to the Bloods of L.A., the red is not only the gang's color, but the giant “C” insignia is used as jab against the rival Crips. In a Queens courtroom in November 2010, more than a dozen Bloods arrived at trial wearing the Reds hat, reportedly to express solidarity and to intimidate the jury. Even rappers like Lil Wayne and The Game are both consistent wearers of the Reds logo, and also helped popularize the hat outside of its relation to the Bloods.

Gang relation aside, the fact that Reds are named after a color and feature a solid red cap makes it an easy sell (and easy to match) as compared to two-tone or wildly colored team hats. Lil Wayne's association isn't all gang related either, his second child was born in Cincinnati, and he is known to wear the hat in honor of his son's birthplace.

League: NCAA

Notable Athletes: Steve Prefontaine, Joey Harrington

Thanks to Nike's location in Beaverton, Oregon, the Oregon Ducks are always going to have significant representation. While Oregon gear may not always been a street style staple, several shoes have been created or re-released with an Oregon green-and-yellow colorway.

Nike's relationship with Oregon runs deep, with the brand's co-founder Phil Knight running in the University of Oregon Track & Field program under fellow Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. University of Oregon distance runner Steve Prefontaine was one of the first athletes to wear Nike shoes, and many of Nike's innovations were hashed out at the university's Eugene, Oregon track. Phil Knight has continuously donated significantly to the Oregon's athletic programs, and Nike currently designs its athletic gear around the needs of players—with large amounts of input and research being done with the Ducks.

If that's not enough, Nike regularly hires UO graduates, including one Tinker Hatfield (a.k.a. the man behind some of the greatest Air Jordans of all time). That is a revolutionary style contribution in itself.

League: NBA

Notable Athletes: Walt “Clyde” Frazier, Patrick Ewing

New York considers itself to be the home of basketball, and with its storied playground history, that's not an unreasonable assumption. The style history of the Knicks is long, but became a major focus off court when Walt Frazier dazzled before and after the game in wild printed suits and massive fur coats (something Frazier still does as an announcer for MSG). Follow that up with Ewing's sneaker company which, until they restarted the brand and released some classic shoes, was a unique and iconic sneaker label that had fans in and out of NYC since the brand's inception. Even if you take the players out of the equation, consider the dozens of films over the decades which feature Knicks merchandise or shots of the team playing at the historic Madison Square Garden. The blue and orange of the Knicks (and the Mets and Islanders for that matter) embody a team that has power far beyond the five boroughs.

League: NBA

Notable Athletes: Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Allen Iverson

The relevance of the 76ers comes in waves. Starting with the style of Julius Erving, the good doctor revolutionized what it meant to fly, one of the pioneers of the present day dunk, something that wouldn't truly be replicated until the style of play in the NBA of the '90s. The unofficial face of the ABA, Dr. J became a titan in the NBA, and his popularity made fans not only root for their team, but whatever team Erving played on. The image of basketball in the '70s has a lot of ties back to Erving's style. With the high natural afro, the high socks and the short shorts, when you think of a “classic” basketball look, Dr. J springs to mind.

The Sixers would find an icon yet again in the scrappy Allen Iverson. While Erving was all about the grace and technicality, Iverson was all about the attitude and aggressiveness that he brought to the court. With his braids, the baggy jersey, and even bringing Reebok into the spotlight with his “Question” sneakers, Iverson brought a playground rebelliousness to the NBA. His style translated off the courts as well, with even non-Philly fans copping Iverson jerseys and wearing them big, or snapping up the hexalite-infused sneaker—especially after he crossed up Michael Jordan. There's a reason that Iverson's Question is one the biggest player-centered shoes of all time. You don't have to be a fan of Philly to see the influence.

League: NCAA

Notable Athletes: The Fab Five (Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard, Jimmy King, and Ray Jackson)

For a team that never won a NCAA basketball championship, the Fab Five had a huge impact on the modern baskeball styles of today—at least as far as the NCAA is concerned. The boys were known for wearing baggy shorts, black socks, and black shoes, revolutionizing not only their team's dress code, but the dress code of the entire league. They wore giant headphones before and after the game. They talked trash. They blasted hip-hop. They were “what was wrong with the game” in the early '90s. As Juwan Howard emphasized both then and now, they were the antithesis of the traditional (and morevoer whitewashed) Duke and the NCAA management. However, the guys were a marketing goldmine for the school, and those who loved the guys and their attitude copped not only Michigan Wolverine branded merch, but Fab Five specific T-shirts and gear flew off the shelves. Even though their legacy was mired in recruiting controversy, Like an NBA squad, kids wanted to dress like the boys both on and off the court, a style that resonated well into the next decade and beyond.

League: NBA

Notable Athletes: Muggsy Bogues, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning

Who knew that a combination of teal and purple would be such a staple of the '90s? The uniforms, designed by North Carolina native Alexander Julian, the home jerseys featured teal pinstripes on white, and the away kit featured white pinstripes on teal. Factor in the heavy dunks from Larry Johnson and the crafty play from the Muggsy Bogues (not to mention a Space Jam cameo), the Hornets weren't just flashy in their looks, they had a decent string of players too. A schoolyard favorite for those who wanted to stunt with the wild starter jacket, the Hornets made an impact by not only coming with the wildest colorway in their heyday, but the nostalgia factor of the once defunct (now recently returned) team is something that '90s kids will always have a soft spot for.

League: NBA

Notable Athletes: LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Alonzo Mourning

Oh the power of LeBron James. When LeBron made “The Decision” to move from the Cavs to the Heat, pandemonium struck far beyond the world of the NBA. Heat merchandise flew off the shelves, and because of his influence, Miami became a logo to rep even if you weren't a fan of the team itself (there's a reason that people make fun of LeBron bandwagon fans). Miami became a prime inspiration for hats, apparel and sneakers, with Nike not only providing its line of LeBron shoes with plenty of Miami Heat/South Beach-related colorways, but also spreading the Heat/Miami-inspired designs to other, unrelated shoes. Whether you love or hate King James, you can't be that surprised if you see people wearing Miami Heat snapbacks thousands of miles away from Florida...just don't be surprised if those Heat caps switch over to Cavs caps this season.

League: MLB

Notable Athletes: Jackie Robinson

It started in Brooklyn. Back when the Dodgers played at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers were a central part of the earlier eras of baseball. When Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier, it was with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The team was a symbol of the borough, and before the recent return of the Nets, one of the most notable “Brooklyn” names in popular culture—especially when factoring in the works of Spike Lee.

Now, wearing the Brooklyn version of Dodgers gear is out of the nostalgia for the team and that era of baseball. Following the team's move to L.A., the team became the first modern pro sports team to play in the City of Angels. Today, the royal blue and interlocking “LA” are embedded into the culture of the west coast, and represent everything from the L.A. Crips to the celebrities of the city.