Why is there a gsh on the bears jerseys

With most regularly scheduled fall programming put on the back burner, many are tuning into professional sports even more. Since they are one of the original NFL teams, the Chicago Bears find importance in tradition and that includes their uniforms. So, what does it mean? Chicago Bears players wear the initials "GSH" prominently displayed in the orange stripes on the left sleeve of their jersey. George Stanley Halas played for, coached, and eventually owned the Chicago Bears.

He was involved with the team whether by playing or working in the front office from until his death in After his death in , the Chicago Bears honored his historic legacy with the GSH initials on their left sleeve, where they have remained since. Halas' Early Life. Halas was born on February 2, , in Chicago to Greek and Slavic immigrant parents. He played three sports at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a degree in civil engineering before enlisting in the United States Navy to fight in World War I.

After leaving the Navy, Halas played briefly for Major League Baseball's New York Yankees, but he sustained a hip injury and couldn't hit curveballs, which put a quick end to his baseball career. In , Halas received an offer from the Staley Starch Works, a company in Decatur, a city in central Illinois, to work for the company and coach the company football and baseball teams. During this era, many companies fielded their own sports teams, with employees playing various positions.

Shortly after becoming coach, Halas attended a meeting in Chicago of a new football league whose initial name was the American Professional Football Association. Halas joined the team, then known as the Decatur Staleys, to the association.

A Renaissance Man. In addition to coaching and owning the Decatur Staleys, which later became the Chicago Bears, Halas played various positions on the team until He handled the business decisions for the team and acted as what's known as a general manager these days, scouting and signing talent to play for the team.

He had an eye for players with potential and signed many stars to the Bears, including Harold "Red" Grange, one of the NFL's earliest superstars. Halas later served in World War II. Even though he was well into his 40s, he reenlisted into the Navy after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and organized leisure and relaxation activities for the men stationed in the South Pacific. He was also a man of contradictions. A devout man who was devoted to his faith and family, Halas refrained from smoking or indulging in alcohol, yet those associated with him knew him as one of the most foul-mouthed men they ever met.

S uccess in Chicago. Staley, a starch manufacturer in Decatur, Illinois. Only they weren't called the Bears at the time, they were the Decatur Staleys. Not only was Halas the owner and coach but he also was a wide receiver for the Staleys. Oddly enough, George also played baseball for the New York Yankees for one season earlier in his career. The league was seen as a haven for the less than stellar football players throughout the country. The Chicago Bears uniform has changed many times since they were the Decatur Staleys in the 's but have seen few adjustments since In , the "GSH" was added to the left sleeve of every player's jersey.