The History of Long Johns
The Year - 1879 The Place - A smoke-filled ring in Boston, MA
The bell sounded the third round. Two antagonists rose from opposing corners, evaluating
each other's strengths and weaknesses with calculations as precise as those of a
mathematician. Big John Sullivan made the first move; a lightning-quick feint to
the right, followed by a blazing upper-cut blow from the left. His deceived opponent
fell hard, eyelids fluttering, as he crumpled to the canvas.
Big John swaggered over his fallen victim, bragging, "I can lick anybody, anywhere,
anytime!"
Modesty may not have been Big John's forte, as John became known not only for his
hard-hitting, bare-knuckled style of fighting, but also for the mark he left upon
the world of fashion. Unlike other fighters of his time, John entered the ring wearing
only long underwear, otherwise known as the Union suit.
As his notoriety grew, John's wardrobe took on the identity of the man, himself.
The term "long johns" lives on, a tribute to a truly colorful character in American
history.