20 fictional sports uniforms we wished existed in real life

From the 1983 sports classic starring Tom Cruise as prep dreamer and football star Stefen Djordjevic and Craig T. Nelson (not the first time we'll hear from him on this list) as the overbearing Coach Nickerson. Set in a suburban Pittsburgh steel town, Ampipe is gritty and tough, like its football team. The old-school yellow mesh jerseys, with black numbers and black pants, are an homage to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but work well here. Not to mention the yellow helmets, which have no logo but are filled with plenty of achievement stickers.

One of the most underrated shows in television history, which ran on CBS from 1978 to 1981, featured Ken Reeves (Ken Howard) coaching basketball at Carver High in South Central Los Angeles. Coolidge, "Salami," Thorpe, Reese. Those were just a few of the stars sporting the skintight orange Carver basketball uniform, featuring blue trim and numbers, along with the classic 1970s/early '80s short shorts. 

One of the most iconic sweaters in hockey history does not even belong to a real team. However, attend a professional hockey game at any level, and there is a good chance you'll see somebody wear either the road blue, with gold and white trim, or the home white with the blue and gold trim, and the block CHIEFS across the chest (complete with the Federal League patch, too), representing the famed franchise from this 1977 Paul Newman comedy classic. Many fans will go spend more for the name "Hanson" with either No. 16, 17 or 18 on the back.

The popular TV series (2006-'11) is based on the acclaimed movie of the same name, based on the book, about a real-life Texas high school powerhouse -- also of the same title. So, yes, the P on the side of the Dillon helmets is similar to that of the actual Permian Panthers. However, we're a sucker for Dillon's blue and gold, modern-look uniforms. And, wouldn't mind wearing a No. 33 Tim Riggins jersey of our own around town. 

The black and red of the Rancho Carne High School  Toroes isn't bad, but when it comes to true style and pizzazz from this 2000 cheerleading comedy classic starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union, the East Compton Clovers are the undisputed winners. Perhaps a nod to diversity, the green, red, and yellow of the Clovers cheer uniforms might seem too much until we actually see how well the ensemble works. A colorful statement that exudes confidence. 

Following two rough seasons under famed coach Sam Winters (James Caan), it seemed the Timberwolves, who boast a unique color pattern of gold with a mix of burnt orange and red, were in for big things in 1993. Quarterback Joe Kane (Craig Sheffer) is an apparent Heisman Trophy candidate, and running back Darnell Jefferson (Omar Epps) is a budding star. However, the win-at-all-costs nature of the program is daunting, but the wolf on their helmets is pretty cool. 

Led by owner, coach and power forward Jackie Moon (Will Ferrell) the Flint Tropics are a floundering fictional franchise in the once-real American Basketball Association. Without knowing the official backstory of the fake team from this 2008 comedy, the idea of the Tropics nickname for a franchise from a northern climate in Michigan made no sense. However, the ABA was known for teams relocating frequently, and sometimes retaining the same nickname, even if it no longer related to the current city. That's what made the Flint Tropics part of the funny, and the palm tree logo adds the perfect touch.

Another special hockey sweater courtesy of this Rob Lowe-Patrick Swayze classic from 1986. The uniform of this gritty junior hockey franchise is simple, yet effective. On the white-based sweater, the block M with a mustang horse overlapped is classy, but tough. Not to mention the horse on the shoulder is also a solid touch. 

Simply a classic 1950s look sported by the Hickory Huskers high school boys basketball team for the iconic 1986 movie starring Gene Hackman. Complete with skin-tight tops and old-school short shorts, the Hickory home uniforms feature maroon jerseys with a gold HICKORY across the front and the same color numbers to go with gold shorts. However, we really dig the road whites with maroon lettering and numbers. Fans of the movie can get their own No. 15 Jimmy Chitwood jersey from numerous retailers.

This 1999 football drama starring Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid and Jamie Foxx is entirely over the top. Then again it's an Oliver Stone production. However, the featured Sharks, led by embattled veteran coach Tony D'Amato (Pacino) and hotshot QB Willie Beamen (Foxx), have a rather clean, but menacing look. The all-black design with white numbers and trim, along with those black helmets featuring a neo-noir shark logo, is pretty sharp.  

The Eagles were best known for their coach, Hayden Fox (Craig T. Nelson), during this likable ABC sitcom, which ran from 1989-'97. He loved his school and was as loyal, especially to his assistants Michael "Dauber" Dybinski (Bill Fagerbakke) and Luther Van Dam (Jerry Van Dyke). The purple and gold school colors blended well, and the block M with an eagle on top added a look that became quite popular among fans of the show to wear.

The highly entertaining, yet underappreciated Brockmire , starring Hank Azaria as a baseball broadcaster trying to revive his career after a public meltdown, ran from 2017 to 2020 on IFC. Azaria's Jim Brockmire resurfaced to do play-by-play for the lowly Morristown Frackers minor league squad in Pennsylvania. The Frackers sport the same uniform color scheme as the classic San Diego Padres threads. For a terrible team, in a run-down town, the uniforms are the class of the community.

It's quite possible that the greatest fictional minor league baseball franchise of all time is the Myrtle Beach Mermen. Kenny Powers, played by comedian/writer Danny McBride in HBO's hilarious Eastbound & Down, which ran from 2009-'13, tries to resurrect his professional baseball career while wearing the light blue, black and teal of the Mermen, who sports one of the great mascot logos with the hulking, bearded merman.

The team that helped Roy Hobbs (Robert Redford) become a legend. As legendary as the movie and the fictional legacy of Hobbs, are the Knights' uniforms. It's the same orange and blue as the New York Mets, with home pinstripes with old-timey "Knights" across the stretch. And, a similar type of "New York" is etched across the road grays. Of course, Hobbs had the famed "Wonderboy" lightning bolt on his sleeve.

As off-color as the players that made up the most famous fictional little league team of all time from the 1976 original, the uniforms were spot on. The classic old-school rags, all white with the yellow trim in the shape of the letter Y down the front  -- since the best colors were already taken -- exude old-timey ball. Of course, the best part of the Bears' uniforms remains the sponsor on the back -- Chico's Bail Bonds, "Let Freedom Ring"

Another great gem from The Simpsons, Springfield's minor league baseball team is terrible. The franchise has little money, is poorly run, and loses quite often. That said, they do have some snappy uniforms, especially those red hats with the Isotopes logo. As legend has it, the minor league Albuquerque Isotopes, an affiliate of the Colorado Rockies, got their nickname from  The Simpsons' fictional club.

No slight to the Beverly Hills High Eagles or Golden Angeles Condors, but it was in the green and gold of South Crenshaw High where Spencer James (Ezra James) first made a name for himself on the football field -- and drew attention of coach Billy Baker (Taye Diggs), the man who changed his life. South Crenshaw's color scheme is solid and traditional. Plus, the first-season yellow lightning bolt on each side of the helmet is a nice touch.

Cecil "Stud" Cantrell (William Petersen) is the player-manager of the low-level Tampico Stogies minor league baseball team. Much like his 1987 cult classic "Long Gone," which never made it to the big screen (it was an HBO film), "Stud" never played major-league ball. But, the Stogies' uniforms were big league all the way. The blue and red script "Stogies" across the chest is only topped by the cigar-chomping head logo on the sleeve. A grand slam look.

Once a college football powerhouse, the Armadillos eventually became a disgrace following allegations that included illegal recruiting, shady deals from boosters, and academic cheating. After being slapped with some devastating sanctions, the green and white of Texas State (not to be confused with the real-life school formerly known as Southwest Texas State) was left barren, only to be rescued by aging walk-on quarterback Paul Blake (Scott Bakula) and a group of questionably athletic underachievers from this 1991 comedy. The color scheme of the uniforms is quality, but man, we really would have loved an armadillo image on the helmet.

Any boy who attends West Canaan and doesn't play football probably won't fit in. Then again, the last time we heard from the  Texas high school football powerhouse from the popular 1999 teen sports drama, legendary Coach Bud Kilmer (Jon Voight) was on the outs.  However, the Coyotes sport one of the great fictional uniforms of all time. The blue and white are cool, but the massive coyote on the sides of the helmet and the state of Texas patch on the sleeve is an underrated look.