Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This very jersey was featured and evaluated by IMA CEO Alex Cranmer, antique firearms and military expert on the History Channel’s Pawn Stars, during an episode that aired in October 2026. A video of the segment can be viewed above.

This is an exceptionally scarce original early post WWII baseball jersey decorated for the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, famously known as the “Devils in Baggy Pants.” Its athletic construction, MacGregor GoldSmith label, 504th insignia, and bold unit lettering reflect the strong regimental identity maintained by the unit following its celebrated WWII combat service.

The jersey is constructed of period wool flannel with narrow vertical pinstripes. It has short sleeves and a functional TALON zipper closing the front. Applied black felt lettering across the chest reads:

AIR BORNE
504

A narrow line of decorative material, possibly bullion or metallic soutache, runs along both sides of the front opening and widens as it approaches the collar. The reverse bears an applied black felt number: 2

The most striking feature is the oversized 5-inch round felt 504th PIR insignia sewn to the left sleeve. It depicts the regiment’s red devil and parachute imagery, with the devil thumbing his nose at the enemy. This was not the standard 82nd Airborne Division shoulder sleeve insignia, but an unofficial regimental design expressing the identity and fighting reputation of the 504th. In that respect, it served much the same purpose as the colorful unofficial emblems associated with individual Army Air Forces squadrons and their aircraft nose art.

The red devil design originated from the regiment’s famous wartime nickname. During the fighting at Anzio, an entry reportedly recovered from the diary of a German officer described the American paratroopers as “devils in baggy pants.” The phrase was embraced by the regiment and the devil became a lasting symbol of its aggressive fighting spirit. Period explanations of the larger 504th insignia associated the devil with the regiment’s combat character, the parachute and wings with its airborne mission, and the shield with its defensive responsibility. Variations of the design appeared as cloth pocket patches, distinctive insignia, athletic insignia, and other unofficial unit decorations.

The jersey retains a heavily faded and tattered manufacturer’s label identified as:

MacGregor GoldSmith
Cincinnati, Ohio

The size marking is barely legible but appears to be 38. The MacGregor GoldSmith name came into use around 1944 and continued until approximately 1952, when “GoldSmith” was dropped and the company became known simply as MacGregor. This places the jersey securely within the early postwar period. Although its precise place and date of use cannot presently be confirmed, its construction and markings are consistent with the years immediately following WWII, when organized athletics remained an important part of military life at permanent installations such as occupation duty overseas.

Original military baseball uniforms from this period are considerably less frequently encountered than standard service and field uniforms. Athletic clothing was made to be worn, repeatedly laundered, repaired, and eventually discarded when no longer serviceable. Jerseys associated with a specific airborne regiment are particularly desirable, especially when they retain their original lettering, player number, manufacturer’s label, and unit insignia. The survival of the oversized 504th felt patch makes this example especially noteworthy.

Condition is excellent overall for an original wool athletic garment of this age. The pinstriped body, applied chest lettering, player number, decorative trim, sleeve insignia, and TALON zipper remain present. The maker’s label is heavily faded and tattered from age, but enough remains to identify the manufacturer and size.

The 504th PIR During WWII

The 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment was activated at Fort Benning, Georgia, on May 1, 1942, and later became one of the original parachute infantry regiments of the newly designated 82nd Airborne Division. Despite being a relatively young formation, it established one of the most distinguished combat records of any American airborne regiment.

The regiment entered combat during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943. Its nighttime airborne operations were marked by scattered landings, hard fighting, and the tragic loss of aircraft to Allied antiaircraft fire. The 504th subsequently fought during the Italian campaign, including the Salerno landings and the difficult mountain fighting that followed.

At Anzio, the regiment conducted aggressive patrols and raids while helping defend the vulnerable Allied beachhead. Its ability to appear unexpectedly along the front gave rise to the enduring “Devils in Baggy Pants” nickname. The regiment’s red devil insignia became the visual expression of that hard-earned reputation.

After refitting, the 504th returned to combat during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. Its most famous action came at Nijmegen on September 20, when paratroopers of the 504th crossed approximately 400 yards of the Waal River in canvas assault boats under intense German fire. The survivors attacked the far bank and helped secure the vital Nijmegen bridges. The Waal River crossing remains one of the most celebrated small-unit actions in American airborne history.

The 504th later fought during the Battle of the Bulge and the final advance into Germany. Following the German surrender, the regiment served with the 82nd Airborne Division during occupation duty in Berlin, where the division became known as “America’s Guard of Honor.” The 504th returned to the United States with the division in January 1946 and resumed operations at Fort Bragg.

The combination of the rare oversized 504th PIR felt insignia, AIR BORNE / 504 chest lettering, player number 2, MacGregor GoldSmith label, functional TALON zipper, period wool-flannel construction, and documented 2026 Pawn Stars appearance makes this a highly unusual example of American airborne material culture. It is more than a standard athletic jersey, representing the unit pride, camaraderie, and competitive life maintained by the “Devils in Baggy Pants” during the early postwar years.