12 championships in 18 years = 12 championship t-shirts in 18 years. One of my favorite traditions after a Boston title is making the late night drive to my local sporting goods store (You know what store I’m talking about but no free ads) and buying the shirt the players wear in the locker room post-victory. With my latest adventure to acquire the Super Bowl 53 championship t-shirt, just 4 months after doing the same for the 2018 World Series shirt, I decided to take a trip down memory lane and rank my favorite of these shirts.

So here is my list from least favorite to favorite. The only criteria is it had to be the official locker room shirt, the one they received just moments after the final out or the clock stuck 00:00.

12. SuperBowl 38 Championship Shirt

So Super Bowl 38 wins the prize for my least favorite championship shirt. I’m sad to drag this Super Bowl through the mud as it was probably the most entertaining game of the first 3 Pat’s championships. The big yellow logo really hurts this shirt for me, as I’ve always thought these roman numerals never looked great. The decision for this shirt to be white is also not a plus in my book. White t-shirts do not age well and just like Jake Delhomme trying to beat Tom Brady this shirt has no chance.

11. Super Bowl 39 T-shirt

While the cool blue logo is a nice touch, again, the white t-shirt really hurts this shirt. This shirt does not have a lot going for it, it is pretty much just the team logo and the word “Champions”. Boring and white, just like my basketball game, lands this shirt on the bottom of my list.

10. 2011 Stanly Cup

I continue my war on whites shirts with the Bruin’s 2011 Stanely Cup Shirt. There seem to be many different varieties of these shirts but I had to stick with the official locker room eggshell color shirt. I think the huge cup is a fun addition to the shirt but as you know by now I am not a fan of the white shirt. On a different note, the 2011 bruins hat is arguably the best championship hat out of the 12.

9. 2013 World Series

The band of bearded brothers delivered an emotional world championship for all of Boston but their shirt is basically a copy of the 2007 world series shirt. As you can tell I am a fan of the grey color and I also love the world series trophy on the shirt. However, as I said this shirt is very similar to the 07 shirt, and the vertical letters seem to smoosh next to the trophy making it awkward to read.

8. Super Bowl 53

The newest addition to the Boston sports fan’s rotation. It is a fun eye-catching shirt but does not have any extra pazaz to make it really stand out. The Lombardi trophy collage is a fun addition but I would prefer it to be a bunch of goats in the background.

7. 2004 Red Sox

This is the point where the shirts start getting good! The 04 shirt is a legendary shirt in Boston sports history and does not look half bad either. It is a simple shirt that speaks for itself. The 04 sox did not need a fancy t-shirt but a simple and sleek design makes this shirt look really good. The 04 world series logo is awesome and adds to how legendary this shirt is. 15 years later you still see people rocking this shirt.

6. Super Bowl 51

Few people thought the Pats would be wearing this shirt when they were down 28-3 with 2:12 to go in the third quarter. This shirt is a cool charcoal grey with large blue letters that let everyone know New England racked up another championship. My one criticism is the small “we are all Patriots” in the corner of the shirt. This is such a cool intricacy it should be featured more prominently. Either go all out with it or do not add it at all.

5. 2007 World Series

As you can see the 07 shirt is very similar to the 2013 shirt. The world series trophy in the middle of the design is a great look, and unlike the 13 shirt, the writing is centered and easy to look at. The 2007 world series logo was well done and is a great addition to the shirt.

4. Super Bowl 36

Here we go the shirt that started it all. A simple design but what puts this shirt over the edge for me is the Super Bowl 36 logo. The Roman numerals over the nation represent the surge in patriotism seen in our country in the wake of 9/11. People forget the Patriots were a great story for a nation in healing back in 2001. Also, Brady is wearing this t-shirt is his most iconic photo.

3. 2008 NBA Finals

Anytime you pair the Celtics green with some gold I am all in. The green letters with the gold trim look great and the NBA Finals trophy looks awesome next to the Celtics shamrock. The 17 on the left shoulder is a reminder to the rest of the league that the NBA’s royalty is still the Celtics. If only KG was rocking this shirt during his “anything is possible” interview. But since we are talking about the KG and the 08 Celtics it is always worth bringing up how passionate the Big Ticket was. His raw emotion after winning the finals is just not seen in today’s NBA players. Garnett loved being a Celtic and even talks about the responsibility and tradition of wearing the Celtics green. And if this moment could not get any better Bill Russell embracing him has got to be one of the most iconic moments in Boston sports history. My favorite part is KG asks him where he should go out after winning. So shout out to KG and the entire 08 Celtics who sometimes do not get the praise as being one of the greatest “teams’ of this era.

2. Super Bowl 49

I love this team and I love this shirt. Super Bowl 49 represents the return of the dynasty. A prominent “We are all Patriots” links it back to the iconic Bob Kraft speech that started it all. A powerful shirt that catapulted the renaissance of Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

1. 2018 World Series

No explanation needed. This shirt is freaking cool.

So that’s my list. Agree? Disagree? Let me know your opinion.