The Top 10 Best Sports Logos
Some sports teams have had logos that have lasted for what seems like an eternity; whether for more than half a century full of glory or a few struggling decades. But no matter what criticisms or financial issues a team has faced, the logo still stands on strong.
The following are 10 great logos that have solidified teams and major league sports.
Best Sports Logo #10. Falling Into History
Since their team’s roster is being built from the ground up, Toronto Maple Leafs fans can rejoice as their logo is actually one of the best out there. Once known as the Arenas and the St. Patrick’s, Toronto’s hockey team became known as the Maple Leafs after they were bought by a group of individuals 1927. Since then, the organization has gone through different variations of the logo, but has kept the original blue and white colours and leaf design.
Best Sports Logo #9. Unpacking Dominance
Despite the fact that the Green Bay Packers have used many other logos, the “G” logo was the only one to ever appear on the team’s helmet. The oval design was created by the team’s equipment manager George Braisher in 1961. Since then, its had a lasting impression on sports, influencing the University of Georgia and Grambling State University to create similar logos.
Best Sports Logo #8. All You Need Is One
The New York Mets logo may look simple, but there’s more than meets the eye. Created by sports cartoonist Ray Gatto, the only logo the organization has ever seen was first used in 1962. A unique fact is that each part of the skyline in the design has a special meaning. The featured buildings in the logo include a church spire (symbolic of Brooklyn), the Williamsburg Savings Bank, the Woolworth Building, the Empire State Building and the United Nations Building. The bridge symbolizes that the Mets represent the five boroughs of New York.
Best Sports Logo #7. Nothing Fishy About This Design
Except for a few changes over the years, the Miami Dolphins ’ logo has remained the same. The design consists of a dolphin wearing a helmet with the sun shining behind it. Dolphins are often considered gentle animals but as history has proved, the team is nothing but competitive.
Best Sports Logo #6. An Old Logo With Championship History
As the oldest current logo in the NBA, it has given the Chicago Bulls a reputation like none other. When most people think of the Bulls, they think of all the championships Michael Jordan and his supporting cast have won. With an intimidating look and gold reputation, it would be surprising if the team ever changed their logo.
Best Sports Logo #5. A Design That's Physical
Even though they adopted the popular wishbone “C”, the Chicago Bear’s logo is one that’s easily recognizable. Whether on a jersey, hat or helmet, the design marks the physical defence the team has always had. It also represents the unique group of Bears fans out there.
Best Sports Logo #4. A Piece Of Nostalgia That's Canadian
One of sports’ oldest and most recognizable logos, the “C” and “H” of the Montreal Canadiens was first used together in 1917. As a common misconception, the “H” does not stand for Habs, instead it means Hockey, as in “Club de Hockey Canadien”. According to NHL.com, the first individual to refer to the team as the “Habs” was Tex Rickard, owner of Madison Square Garden, in 1924. The owner supposedly told a reporter that the “H” on the team’s sweater stood for “Habitants”.
Best Sports Logo #3. Being Different Isn't So Bad
It might have to do with their logo, but the Los Angeles Lakers are the only team that doesn’t use home uniforms that are primarily white (instead, they’re yellow). Before moving to Los Angeles, the Lakers were based in Minneapolis. There, the team colours were blue, light blue and white. But after moving to the famous city, the team switched its colours to purple and gold in the late 1960s.
Best Sports Logo #2. The Reign Of A Sophisticated Team
As classy as George Steinbrenner’s team rules (players weren’t allowed to grow long hair or have facial hair below the lip), the New York Yankees logo is one of the most popular ones around. Despite using the “NY” version on hats and other gear, the primary team logo has been around since 1936.
Best Sports Logo #1. A Simple Design That Established A Team
Despite its prestige logo, the Detroit Red Wings were known as under other names, such as the Cougars and the Falcons. But in 1932, a millionaire named Jim Morris bought the team and decided to name it after another organization. Norris decided that the “winged logo” was perfect for Detroit as they are the Motor City.
The organization the turned around as the Detroit Red Wings made the playoffs for the first time a few years later and won the Stanley Cup in 1936.
Sources: Chris Creamer's Sports Logos
Which one do you think is the best sports logo? Are there any other sport logos you know of that should have been mentioned?
If you're interested in looking at other sports logos major league teams have seen over the years, then you might want to head over to Chris Creamer's website .
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Joshua Khan
Sports and Lifestyle Tech Writer
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Best Sports Logos
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by AnonymousSorry...you may have missed the actual "Best Sports Logo"...
The Chicago Black Hawks have the bets, most unique and intriging sports logo...EVER!
Lakers - Very Weak
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by AnonymousThe LA Lakers' logo reminds me of a high school logo - it says absolutely nothing about what a "laker" is. All it is is words in front of a basketball - nothing - no imagination. That is what is known as weak design. It is not imaginative.
Face it, the only reason it is on a list of great logos is because the team has had success and is well-known. Having Jack Nicholas court-side does not mean the logo of the team is valuable or even interesting.
a controversial list
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by Steve LevensteinLoved this list and not surprised it's provoking controversy - there are a lot of great logos out there and narrowing them down to a Top Ten means more than a few are going to be left out. My fave? The Oakland Raiders logo; the one with the player wearing the eyepatch. The iconic image combined with no-nonsense black & silver colors did much to inspire the Raider Nation phenomenon.
Good work
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by AnonymousCanadiens have a fantastic logo, but I gotta admit, even as a Habs fan, Chi-town has the best logo bar none.
Still, glad you gave kudos to the NHL - the hockey jersey and its layout is the best in all sports.
badddddddddd
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by AnonymousThere is lot of great logos..For Ex...Indian Cricket team logo..
Excuse me?
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by AnonymousWhere is the logo of the Pittsburgh Steelers?
there is so many good logos,
Submitted on July 10th, 2008 by Anonymousthere is so many good logos, didn't even mention any of the CFL's logos. I do think Detroit does have the best logo and most intimidating jerseys.
WTF?
Submitted on July 11th, 2008 by AnonymousIn your attempt to pick out the best logos, you have failed. Instead, you have picked the logos that have provided their teams with the most success. Now in some peoples eyes a logo that produces a winner should be recognized as a top logo. But what would you say about the Bulls logo if they had never drafter Jordan? Not much I would assume. And to have the Bears logo in the top ten is a joke. How many other teams have used that logo over the years? And if you say the Packers logo is better than UGA's logo then I know for a fact that this ranking system is bias to team success alone. How about including such logos as the Milwaukee Brewers glove logo. You see, if you look close enough at that design you will see that the fingers of the glove are actually an M (for Milwaukee) and the B (for Brewers) is created by the baseball in the middle of the glove. Although that logo produced some horrid teams, it is one of the more unique logos in history. And if you go to a Brewers game today you will find that the fans support the old logo 9 to 1 versus the new. So have it your way with your logos of good teams. Personally I think creativity should have more of a weight on the matter.
How about chief wahoo!
Submitted on July 12th, 2008 by AnonymousHow about chief wahoo!
That's the best?
Submitted on July 13th, 2008 by AnonymousAs somebody who didn't grew in the US, and therefore doesn't give a flying fuck about the actual *teams* behind these logos... I have to say that most of these seem pretty boring and old-fashioned to me.
It's not clear to me what criteria you used to decide which where the "10 best sports logos", but I'm guessing it had little to do with the logos themselves...
What?!!?
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousNo mwention of the Boston Celtics logo? No mention of the leprechaun, shamrock, etc.? EASILY top 5.
You guys missed a doozie here...
Best logo
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousPittsburgh Steelers!!!!!!
What about the Notre Dame
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousWhat about the Notre Dame Fighting Irish? That one's pretty unique and recognizable, unless you're just focusing on professional teams' logos.
this list is obviously biased
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousI don't see the criteria for how this list was created, but clearly it was an individual's list. So everyone can stop complaining about missing logos or bad choices.
And yes, the Blackhawks do have the best logo in all of sports. Most intricate, yet recognizable by all.
The Steelers logo is horrid and dull. The colors are awful and the logo is not unique to the team(the steelmark industry logo?). Though, it isn't as bad as the Maple Leaf.
Brewers M/B glove logo FTW
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousIf logos were viewed in a vacuum and nothing more but the aesthetic/creative qualities of the logos themselves were judged, the Brewers' m/b glove logo is the best logo ever.
The day they changed their uniforms, I became a Cubs fan.
Now I can at least be a Brewers fan on Fridays...
and BTW...
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousPittburg's logo was suggested by a Cleveland-based company. Hahaha.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousWhere is the Pittsburgh Steelers Logo. It's simple, classic, and represents the city of Pittsburgh better than any of the logo's above.
It also has a pretty decent history associated with it.
Crap
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousThat about says it all
the Whalers!!!
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by Anonymousyou forgot the Hartford Whalers! Clearly the greatest logo of all time - with the "H" the "W" and the whale tail all embodied
winged wheel number 1?
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousWhy? Their logo is crap.
Dullfins?!?
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousWith the possible exception of the WNBA, team logos should NOT have teal and orange. Look what it did for the Bucs during their first decade or so.
How attractive are the dullfins colors? For a number of years Payne Stewart wore knickers with NFL team colors. The day after he wore the dullfins' orange and teal, ESPN commentators spent the morning yakking about how freaking ugly his outfit was. Most laughed, although I'm sure more than a few cried...
The Bears........
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousCalling the Bears logo as the 5th best is an embarrassment if you don't include the Cincinnati Reds in that discussion. The wishbone C has been a part of the Reds since before the Bears, so giving it to the bears is just lazy.
Ummmmm
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousRAIDERS?!
You forgot the 2 best..
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousNo Pittsburgh Steelers and no Notre Dame ruins this list. I don't even like the Steelers but know their logo is one of, if not THE, best.
I'm bias but...
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousI live in Minnesota so pretty much hate the Bears and the Packers but feel that neither logo is at all that good. They're letters, so basically the logos could've been made by 5 year olds and no one would know the difference. And you mentioned that Georgia and Grambling use slightly different versions of the Packers logo, but what about the Cincinnati Reds were using the "wishbone C" before the Bears and that same C type is used in the TC logo for the Minnesota Twins. What I'm saying is that the Packers' G is better used for college logos, not the pros, and the Bears' C is better used for baseball. How about more manly logos like the Vikings or Raiders or Blackhawks or something that at least is a little more creative. The only letter logo that belongs on this list is the Canadiens, so good call on that one.
Two words...Cleveland Browns
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousTwo words...Cleveland Browns
couldn't have said it better
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by Anonymouscouldn't have said it better myself
Steelers & Raiders
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousI would've thought that both the Steelers and Raiders would have made this list easily.
Cards and Blue Note
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousDefinately agree with alot of the Top Ten.
Love the Mets and Leafs Logos.
I agree with the Chicago Blackhawk Logo as being the Best of All Time. Possibly the best jersey of all time as well. Bulls should not be on the list.
I got to give some love to the St. Louis Cardinals Birds on the Bat. Probably the best looking jersey/logo besides the Yankee pinstripe. Also love the Blue Note. Pretty original and the Blues blow away the Jazz as far as musical themed teams are concerned.
Great list tho.
Birds on the Bat beats a letter on the helmet!
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousBears and Packers--you must be joking. A letter is NOT a great logo.
I'd keep Leafs, Mets, Yankees, Bulls, and Red Wings.
Add St. Louis Cardinals, Steelers, Blackhawks, Fighting Irish and Cowboys for a good list.
Crap
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousHow is the Celtics' fat leprachaun twirling a basketball while smoking a pipe not on this?
Wow....I agree. How in the
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousWow....I agree. How in the heck can you NOT have the Steelers logo??
Best
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousI would have to go with the Chicago Blackhawks logo as the best. Although, what really makes the hawks logo look so great is when it is on the home RED uniform. That shade of red is unique to the hawks
Boston
Submitted on July 14th, 2008 by AnonymousWhat about the Boston Bruins logo. It is a classic!!!
Well......
Submitted on July 16th, 2008 by Anonymousmaybe not boring.....but old-fashioned are what makes the logos the best.
My top 10:
10. Toronto Maple Leafs
9. New York Yankees
8. Milwaukee Brewers (old glove logo)
7. Boston Celtics
6. Montreal Canadiens
5. Pittsburgh Steelers
4. Detroit Tigers
3. Hartford Whalers
2. Detroit Red Wings
1. Chicago Blackhawks
Best Logos
Submitted on July 16th, 2008 by Anonymous4. Florida State spear on the helmet
3. Arkansas Razorback on the helmet
2. Dallas Cowboys star
1. Ferrari Prancing Horse
um wow
Submitted on September 18th, 2008 by Anonymousthat may be the dumbest way i've ever heard of how someone picked a team to root for
Montreal
Submitted on September 22nd, 2008 by Anonymous24 Stanley Cups in a 100 years of existence...
I just can't believe the Montreal Canadiens logo is not the number one hockey logo in your list.
And perhaps the Dallas Cowboys Star should have been there... Instead maybe of the Chicago Bulls which to me is there because of Michael Jordan nothing else...
My Top 10
Submitted on November 3rd, 2008 by Anonymous1. Chicago Blackhawks
2. Milwaukee Brewers (old glove logo)
3. New York Mets
4. Detroit Tigers
5. Chicago Bears
6. Washington Redskins
7. Kansas Jayhawks
8. Los Angeles Dodgers
9. Chicago White Sox (Old logo with SOX spelled out and batter on top)
10. New York Rangers
Logo
Submitted on December 22nd, 2008 by AnonymousWarriors "The City" logo.
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