In 1943 the Cardinals kept the same uniforms, but their sleeve patch was now a shield that featured stars and stripes. This patch was worn recognizing America’s involvement in World War II.
While not shown in the uniform models below, a newspaper account describes the Cardinals wearing red undershirts in the 1943 World Series instead of the typical white undershirts. When combing through photographs and trying to find a trend, it appears players wore either red undershirts or white undershirts at random starting in 1943 and continuing through the late 1940s. We can not find a correlation.
Thanks to research from Heritage Auctions and Jeff Scott, we learned the Cardinals started the 1944 season with the same zippered uniforms worn in 1943. At some point midway through the season, likely for or right after the All Star Game, the team switched their jerseys to button down shirts. The uniform didn’t change any elements other than swapping the zipper for buttons. The button down jerseys were worn throughout the latter half of the season and World Series.
In 1945, the Cardinals continued to wear their button down jerseys.
Are the Cardinals wearing gray caps? Are they wearing reverse colored hats?
Newspaper Accounts
The Journal Times: September 30, 1943
CARDINALS TO WEAR BRIGHT NEW SUITS
The St. Louis Cardinals will make their debut at the opening game of the World Series with their best red-trimmed uniforms, including new red undershirts. The streamlined shirts are the latest acquisition of trainer Harrison (Doc) Weaver, who has had sleeves of all the shirts dyed holly-berry red to match the Redbirds uniforms. Weaver, the morale man behind the world champions and always an advocate of long underwear, explained the sweatshirts are made of two layers of cloth, cotton insides and wool outside.
Team Colors
Cardinals Red – PMS 200
Vintage Yellow – PMS 1225
Navy Blue – PMS 289
Black – CMYK: 50/50/0/100
Off-White Fabric – CMYK: 1/2/3/0
Gray Fabric – CMYK: 0/0/0/20
Cardinals Uniforms & Logos 