clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Jerseys from the NASL-era San Jose Earthquakes

Same name, very different look.

New York Cosmos v San Jose Earthquakes

The original iteration of the San Jose Earthquakes began play in the first NASL in 1974, and as one of a handful of NASL clubs whose names are still in use in American soccer today, it’s worth looking back on this jersey week at some of the looks of the first Quakes.

While the MLS-era Quakes’ main color is blue, with black and white typically the accent colors on jerseys, the NASL-era Quakes were a red team, with red and white being the main colors.

This photo of George Best shows a white Adidas jersey with lots and lots of red stripes!

Another Best photo, this time in a red jersey.

View this post on Instagram

San Jose Quakes 1980 #nasl #vintagesoccer

A post shared by the_polyester_pitch_invader (@the_polyester_pitch_invader) on

Here’s a red jersey, I know it’s from 1975.

For a better look, you’ll see the sleeve has “SAN JOSE” written all the way down in this photo.

Another black and white photo, but these kits from 1974 shows “San Jose” across the front, in a look somewhat reminiscent of basketball teams of the era (this also could have been shot in a dark basketball court for all I know, photography has changed a lot!).

Here’s a red jersey from 1976.

The MLS-era Quakes did wear red and white jerseys from 2014-17 as an homage to the O.G. Earthquakes.

SOCCER: SEP 07 MLS - Earthquakes at Timbers Photo by Steve Conner/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Here’s another version of a red and white alternate, from 2017.

SOCCER: JUN 17 MLS - Sporting KC at San Jose Earthquakes Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

What do you think? Leave a comment below.