# Are Teams With Black Uniforms Discriminated Against?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [May 17, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244 "2005-05-17T14:46:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 7
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Surreal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surreal)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/1 "2005-05-17T14:46:17Z")
Is it true that professional sports teams that wear black uniforms are more likely to have calls made against them by the officials than teams that wear uniforms of other colors? What is the reason for this phenomenon??
If this is in fact the case, and this effect is widely known, why do black uniforms remain relatively common in professional sports today?
Thanks.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/2 "2005-05-17T15:20:23Z")
I think you’re refering to the “Oakland Raiders” phenomenon.
The Oakland Raiders wear black uniforms. The Oakland Raiders have historically been called for a lot of penalties.
However, coincidence is not causation. The Oakland Raiders have historically played a very tough, physical game. I’m sure at least a large number of penalties would still be called against them if they wore pink jerseys with puffy sleeves.
I notice you list your home town as Gobbler’s Knob, PA. Since the Pittsburgh Pirates also wear black jerseys, maybe you should ask around and see if they seem to have more than their share of bad calls.
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### Author:  [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/3 "2005-05-17T15:51:07Z")
> [@Surreal](#):
>
> Is it true that professional sports teams that wear black uniforms are more likely to have calls made against them by the officials than teams that wear uniforms of other colors? What is the reason for this phenomenon??
>
> If this is in fact the case, and this effect is widely known, why do black uniforms remain relatively common in professional sports today?
>
> Thanks.
The team and/or league’s marketing department controls sports team uniform design and black unis are extremely popular sellers (within reason.) For example, Duke’s baskeball team changed from its traditional blue and white unis to sometimes wearing black unis, just for merchandising purposes. This doesn’t always work though. Approximately 10 years ago the Cleveland Cavaliers pro basketball team changed its colors and uniforms from blue and orange to black, Columbia blue and orange, thereby creating a hideous uniform that didn’t sell much at all.
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### Author:  [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/4 "2005-05-17T15:57:46Z")
I think it must be true. They didn’t even let the Boston Bruins play this year! 😉
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/5 "2005-05-17T20:58:51Z")
> [@kunilou](#):
>
> Since the Pittsburgh Pirates also wear black jerseys, maybe you should ask around and see if they seem to have more than their share of bad calls.
Eh. The Pirates do not need help losing.
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### Author:  [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/6 "2005-05-17T21:35:01Z")
> [@vetbridge](#):
>
> Eh. The Pirates do not need help losing.
Exactly my point.
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### Author:  [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)
#### Post date: [May 17, 2005, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-teams-with-black-uniforms-discriminated-against/304244/7 "2005-05-17T21:38:51Z")
I been _whooshed_. 😉