In 1904, Frank P. Mitchell, a former AAU tennis and wrestling champion who previously worked for Spalding, partners with a Scottish golfer named Charles M. Ness to form an eponymous sporting goods store. A modest storefront on Philadelphia’s Arch Street, Mitchell & Ness Sporting Goods specialized in handcrafted tennis racquets, golf clubs and other equipment. Their high quality and attention to detail quickly makes the “Mitchell & Ness” label synonymous with the best sporting goods in the Philadelphia area.
In 1917, a teenage boy named Sisto Capolino travels from Italy to Philadelphia, alone and in need of work. Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Ness give Sisto a chance, and at age 13, he begins working as a store clerk, sweeping floors, cleaning up and living above the store. Along the way, he learns English and becomes an apprentice, stringing tennis racquets and carving clubs. He is well-liked by the store’s regular customers, who come to know him by the nickname “Jimmy.” Living the American Dream, Sisto will eventually rise from his humble beginnings to one day own this Philadelphia landmark.
By 1925, Mitchell & Ness have moved beyond racquets and clubs and begin designing and manufacturing uniforms for high school, college and semi-pro sports teams in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas. Over the next five years, Mitchell & Ness could be seen on the fields at the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova University, and Philadelphia College of Textiles and Science (now Philadelphia University). Local high school teams from Lansdowne-Aldan, Darby, Yeadon, Interboro, Upper Merion, and Lower Merion districts all wear the Mitchell & Ness label. In 1933, the company goes pro when the newly formed Philadelphia Eagles NFL team employs Mitchell & Ness as their official on-field outfitter.
Mitchell & Ness’ success and reputation as a clothier to Philadelphia sports teams grows in the late ‘30s as the business with professional sports teams expands to include major league baseball. In 1938, the Philadelphia Athletics begin competing in their distinctive wool flannels and, eight years later, the Phillies follow suit, wearing Mitchell & Ness uniforms during some of their record-setting seasons. At the same time, the Eagles begin to sport Mitchell & Ness apparel both on-field and off-field in new sweaters and jackets.
The company remains focused solely on outfitting teams throughout most of the Twentieth century, and Sisto takes over ownership, bringing his son Peter in to learn the business. In 1983, a man walks into Mitchell & Ness with two heavily game-worn jerseys, which would completely change the company’s future. With the task of repairing the gentleman’s 1949 St. Louis Browns and 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates jerseys, Peter heads to a factory only to stumble upon thousands of (what were then useless) yards of wool flannel. This discovery inspires Peter to recreate vintage jerseys, featuring styles and patches that fans had not seen for years.
On July 6, 1987, Sports Illustrated features the article “Baseball Flannels are Hot;” marking the first time Mitchell & Ness would appear in the magazine. The article chronicles the growing popularity of sportswear as fashion. It also highlights Peter Capolino’s research methods. “He spent months chasing down a single emblem, the smiling Indian warrior on the sleeve of a 1957 Milwaukee Braves uniform, eventually finding it at a baseball card show,” writes author David Butwin. In 1988, as a result of the popularity of Mitchell & Ness’ authentic replica jerseys, Major League Baseball grants the Authentic Cooperstown Collection license to Mitchell & Ness. The Cooperstown Collection license gives exclusive permission for Mitchell & Ness to make player number jerseys.
After the widespread success of the Cooperstown Collection, in 1998, the NBA grants Mitchell & Ness licenses to make jerseys under the Hardwood Classic label.
The NFL follows suit soon after, granting Mitchell & Ness the Throwback NFL label license. In 2000, rapper Big Boi launches Mitchell & Ness into the mainstream by appearing in a MTV video wearing the 1980 Nolan Ryan #34 Houston Astros jersey. The jerseys become increasingly popular among entertainers and athletes, and make frequent appearances in movies, videos and magazines. In 2001, Mitchell & Ness adds hockey jerseys to the growing jersey roster, after being granted the NHL Vintage Hockey Label, to the delight of fans across the country.
Mitchell & Ness’ authentic jerseys soar to new heights of popularity as the jersey fashion craze grows. Soon, Mitchell & Ness introduces a line of athletic wear, featuring sweat suits, t-shirts and coats. While trends come and go, the Mitchell & Ness jerseys remain popular among sports’ greatest enthusiast: the true fan. In 2005, after numerous requests from collectors, Mitchell & Ness acquires its most recent license, the CLC College Vault label. Mitchell & Ness is creating wool sweaters and jackets for schools across the country, including Notre Dame, Michigan, Colorado and Miami. The collegiate license has been a great addition to the Mitchell & Ness collection.