George "Lefty" Tyler

In an age of flashy, streamlined uniforms that may one day be covered with advertisements to help counteract escalating player salaries, the bulky, understated outfits like the one George "Lefty" Tyler wore for the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series seem like ancient artifacts. From the early baseball uniforms of the mid-1800s and well into the 1940s, the fabric of choice was flannel, made from wool or a wool-cotton blend. This heavy fabric could not have made for comfort under a hot, summer sun, nor was it necessarily flattering to the physique, yet these uniforms hearken back to a more innocent time when men played for the love of the game. To this day, major league teams occasionally take the field wearing retro-styled uniforms to maintain the connection between the modern game and the sport's storied past.