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It’ll be here before you know it. So if you’re in need of a few ideas on what to give (or in some cases, what to put on your own list) this year, this is the place to be for the next couple weeks. Our annual 12 days of Dappered covers one item each week-day between now and December 11th. That’ll leave some time for shipping if you’re the last minute type. All will be reasonably affordable. See the growing archive here.
Sure nostalgia is a evil temptress, but at some point us American sports fans became tolerant of logos that look like the bastard son of a No Fear t-shirt and the clip-art gallery from an Apple II (yeah! Print Shop!). That means you Tennessee Titans. Throwback jerseys, caps, and logos sell well for a reason: They just look better. These gifts follow that same vein, of appealing to a guy’s love of sports, without sacrificing his allegiance to aesthetics.
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Mitchell & Ness Wool Pennants – $19.99 – $24.99
Of all the sports, Baseball is steeped with the most history. MLB will be more than happy to sell you a visual reminder of its golden years, and one of the most affordable is their all wool pennants.
Everlast Weighted Leather Jump Rope – $17.49
For the occasional, post run, I’d-like-to-sweat-a-bit-more cool-down. Does come with a one-year warranty. If you use any sort of boxing equipment to workout with, having a jump rope on hand is a perfect match.
Huntington Baseball Bat – $111.96 w/ $30 off $135 deal
A splurge for sure. Hell of a good looking home defense weapon, something to hang on the wall, or “gasp” maybe even use to hit some flys worth, uh, shagging. Made in the USA from northern ash and hand painted.
Lemon Ball – $38.00 (ships free via Huckberry)
Part of the Huckberry / Art of Manliness holiday shop collaboration. You can find these Horween leather baseballs in a few locations on the web, but Huckberry chips in free shipping. The trade off, and it’s clear that some of you don’t like to do this, is that you have to hand over your email address. But many are already Huckberry members. Careful, use this with the Huntington Baseball bat and you might spontaneously sprout a handlebar mustache
Orvis Bison Leather Football – $83.00 w/ 117200 ($98)
An alternative to the seen everywhere Handsome Dan. And this one comes in Bison leather. Should be thrown around in every parking lot aisle during Bills tailgates. Made in the USA. Code 117200 is good for $15 off orders of $50 or more. Shipping is $9.95 though.
Ebbets Field Flannels Ballcaps – $40.00 | Cooperstown Collection Ballcaps – $26.99
Pictured is the oft-mentioned New York Knights ballcap from The Natural. Was just on sale via J. Crew but has since sold out. Still available through Ebbets Field Flannels. Made in the USA, and unlike the cheaper, adjustable Cooperstown Collection, the Ebbets hats are all wool and sit a little lower in the crown. Not quite slouchy, but not as stiff as most regular ballcaps. A warning on the Knights cap: It may be a little more true-blue in person (see top). UPDATE: Don’t forget the American Needle 900 series. Honest to goodness hat-tip to Electrogent and John_L in the comments for the perfect suggestion. Lots to pick from over there, including the unofficial ball cap of degenerate gamblers everywhere.
Everlast 1910 Heavy Bag Kit – $99.99
Does it do anything different than a standard heavy bag? Nah. But it sure does look better. Be sure to take a good, long hard look at some basic boxing techniques/training advice and don’t overdo it. It’s all too easy to separate a shoulder, or mess up your wrist going full bore on a heavy bag without getting some experience first. (Note: Looks like it might be available for $80, with free shipping over here? Never ordered from there before. So be careful.)
Wheelmen & Co. French Terry Crew – $58.00
Here’s one of the best feelings in the world: Going for a hard, Saturday mid-morning run, taking a hot shower, then collapsing on the couch with breakfast and a cup of coffee with a game on or a favorite DVD in. This would be what you put on AFTER the shower. Has a lil’ mac jogging feel to it, made in the USA, and the plain/lower left patch front with simple graphic back is an authentic style. Grey, navy, and faced black available at the bottom of the Wheelmen & Co. store.
All of this stuff is fantastic. I’d also suggest American Needle for those into vintage-style caps: http://shop.americanneedle.com/
That Knights cap is the best there is now and the best there ever will be
that wheelmen & co terry crew looks awesome.
I think throwback cardigans are a good mix of classy and sport.
But* it sure does look better. (Everlast typo)
great minds…haha
came here to recommend American Needle myself!
Great suggestions. Nice looking caps!
It’s a natural?
Kudos on the Bills reference!
I have been looking all over the internet for a new york highlanders jersey. I don’t even know what they look like. Maybe they didn’t even have jerseys but I would love to get my hands on one if it exists. If anyone has a suggestion I’d really appreciate it.
Academy stores are prolific in North Texas, and I’ve never had any trouble with anything I’ve gotten at any of them (and it’s been quite a bit between myself and the boys). That being said, I haven’t ordered from their website, but I would be surprised if it were drastically different from the experience of their brick-and-mortar stores.
+1, though I’m not sure I would bring anything that nice to the parking lot of Ralph Wilson…
haha
I love my Lemonball.
Nice… a Bills reference and a Mike Tyson’s Punch-out one in the same post, I knew I liked this site
Your “simple graphic back” is someone else’s “huge-ass logo”.
How does the Terry Crew fit? It looks pretty trim…
That is one expensive bat, when a honest-to-goodness Louisville is less than $50.
Not sure why the idea of someone hanging that on a wall bothers me, certainly not as bad as those rebranded best-made axes. I must be some kind of baseball purist. It is like hanging up a bicycle for decoration. If you don’t ride it, it should not be on your wall.
I’d recommend an old style cardigan. You will look classic and sharp at the next ball game.
http://www.mitchellandness.com/Products/Chicago-White-Sox-Shortstop-Cardigan__8601-405-ACWSGF.aspx
They have more than just the Sox by the way!
Okay, well… don’t get it then.
– JWeezy
(Yes, many of you are allergic to logos. Totally understood, but this was a sporting goods post. The crew is meant to be an alternative to wearing a team sweatshirt, jersey, etc… which, also have huge-ass logos on them.)
Just want to point out that jumping rope is actually more intensive than running, so the run would be the cool down…
Another vote for Academy, their brick and mortar is the go to place for Texas sporting goods.
Go Tigers!
Big fan of American Needle 900 series. I have the 1918 STL Browns (I’m from STL and don’t necessarily care what the Cards are doing, even if they won the series in ’11) to show my STL pride, as well as the White Sox 1917 WS cap, because it has no logo, looks cool (IMHO) and comes from a Midwest team in a time when baseball was a sport played by real working men, not free agent millionaires pumped on ‘roids, from who knows where.