Today's Tidbit... Disintegrating Football Pants

Early football players wore tight-fitting, all-purpose pants worn at the gym or for other athletic activities, but as the game became power-oriented in the 1890s, they added quilted pads to the front of their pants.

Spalding advertisement (1893 Spalding's Official Football Guide) - Click any image to enlarge -

The 1900s saw cane ribs integrated into the thigh pads to offer mechanical protection while the knees remained padded with felt or hair.

Spalding advertisement(1908 Spalding’s Official Foot ...