Images(2)

T-Shirt

Object number2007.123.1

Manufacturer Screen Stars

Date1983

OriginUnited States of America

MediumCotton; Polyester

Credit LineGift of Tim Crowley

DescriptionCotton purple T-shirt. Screen printed team name, year, league name and graphic of profile of man wearing hard hat lifting tool: silver and orange outlined in white, which is glow-in-the-dark material. Dimensions28 x 25.5 in. (71.1 x 64.8 cm)
InscriptionsScreen printed, "PITTSBURGH / MAULERS [trademark symbol] / [copyright symbol] 1983 USFL": silver and orange outlined in white, which is Glow-in-the-dark material.
MarksRectangular white tag inside collar: "L / 50% COTTON / 50% POLYESTER / MADE IN U.S.A. / SCREEN STARS". Back: washing instructions.
Historical NotesA Pittsburgh Maulers t-shirt. As an expansion team of the United States Football League, the Maulers played for only one season (1984) in Pittsburgh, using Three Rivers Stadium as their home field. Youngstown, Ohio mall developer and Pittsburgh Penguins owner Edward J. DeBartolo, Sr., was about the last person the USFL expected to see apply for a franchise. But as soon as he did, the league's powers that be worked hard to see that it got quick approval. After a "Name the Team" contest resulted in the new Pittsburgh team being named the "Maulers," many would-be fans were put off, needing an explanation of just what a "Mauler" was in the steel industry. Fans were excited at the fact that the Maulers got the #1 overall draft pick, hoping the team would use it to pick up quarterback Steve Young... only to see them pick Nebraska Heisman Trophy winning running back Mike Rozier - a solid choice, just not who the knowledgeable Pittsburgh fans thought the team should take. The team sold out its home opener against the Birmingham Stallions, but as the losses mounted the fans stayed home. Attendance dwindled from 53,771 in the opener to 16,832 against the Bandits in the regular season finale; the Maulers posted a 3-15-0 record in what would prove to be their only season. Despite the losses, both financial and on the field, DeBartolo was prepared to retool and build a winner in Pittsburgh for 1985. Unfortunately, the USFL's ownership had voted to move to a fall schedule in 1986, and there was no way the Maulers could or would compete with the city's beloved Steelers. So DeBartolo, without hesitation and without so much as a press conference, shut down the Maulers for good.

Related institution Pittsburgh Maulers

Related institution United States Football League

Subjects

Terms