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The prosaic sweat shirt has a lot of flash on the beaches this summer
The longest scrimmage field in the country this year is on the California coast, where jerseys bearing the numbers of National Football League stars are the latest craze among teen-agers. The jerseys are worn for warmth over swimsuits on the beach, or for protection against cuts and bruises while surfing. The fad started last year when high school and college athletes wore more basketball-and football-uniform shirts on the beach than ever before. California sportswear makers noted the trend and, before you could call signals in a huddle, came out with imitation football shirts for everyone. The short-sleeved jerseys are available this summer in a variety of styles and colors, but the most popular is one modeled after a New York Giants' practice shirt with Frank Gifford's No. 16 on it (above). Asked how he felt about thousands of surfers wearing his number, Gifford replied, "Anyone who can ride the big waves is entitled to wear any number he wants."
Jantzen makes the Gifford shirt as well as a Terry Baker No. 15 Los Angeles Rams' jersey and a Green Bay Packers' jersey with Paul Hornung's No. 5. Sizes range from small to large for children ($4) and from small to extra large for men ($5). They can be ordered from Prange's in Green Bay, Wis.
Sweat shirts with the sleeves hacked off also were popular with young surfers last summer. This year, Himalaya, another crafty sportswear maker, came out with a readymade sawed-off sweat shirt. The sleeves are cut short and the ribbing around the bottom
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