The Sock Life
Vanessa Cromwell
Stirrup socks are knee-high team socks with an open heel and toe and a strap that loops under the arch of the foot. Baseball and softball players wear them over a white sanitary sock to show team colors and stripes on the lower leg. Custom Sock Shop makes custom stirrup socks for teams, with a free mockup on every order.
A traditional stirrup setup has two layers.
The stirrup is the colored outer sock. It has no heel or toe. A narrow loop of fabric runs under the arch, and the open sides show the sock underneath. This is the layer that carries team colors, stripes and logos.
The sanitary sock, often called a “sanitary” or “sani,” is a plain white sock with a full foot. It goes on first and sits against the skin.
Some teams now wear a two in one sock, a single sock knit to look like a stirrup over a sanitary. It gives the classic look with one layer.
Baseball players wear stirrups because of a problem with sock dye more than a century ago.
When teams switched from long pants to knickers in the late 1800s, colored socks became part of the uniform. The 1868 Cincinnati club is credited with the first knickers, which put their red stockings on display.
Sock dyes of that era were not colorfast. Spike wounds were common, and players and teams believed dye from a colored sock could get into a cut and cause infection. In 1905, Cleveland star Nap Lajoie suffered an infected spike wound that was blamed on his sock dye, and he nearly lost his leg.
The fix was a clean white sock underneath. Two full socks would not fit inside a spiked shoe, so the outer sock’s foot was cut away, leaving a strap under the arch. By the early 1900s, the stirrup was a standard part of the baseball uniform.
Dyes are safe today, so stirrups now serve one job: team identity. They put your colors and stripes on display in a way no other sport uses.
| Sock | What it is | Who wears it |
|---|---|---|
| Stirrup | Colored outer sock, open heel and toe, loop under the arch | Teams that want the traditional two layer look |
| Sanitary sock | White sock with a full foot, worn under the stirrup | Every player wearing real stirrups |
| Two in one sock | One sock knit to look like a stirrup over a sanitary | Teams that want the stirrup look with one layer |
Team tip: agree on one stirrup height before the first game. The Official Baseball Rules require all players on a team to wear uniforms identical in color, trim and style.
The height of the cutout sets the look.
Neither is wrong. Pick one and have the whole team wear it the same way.
Softball teams use the same two layer setup: a white sanitary sock under a colored stirrup. Before you order, check whether your league requires matching sock colors and styles, and confirm youth and adult sizes for every player on the roster.
Most Major League players moved to long pants starting in the mid 1990s, which hid their socks. Since then, a number of MLB players have brought real stirrups back, and youth and high school teams have shown a trend back to knickers and high socks. For many teams, stirrups are a way to look like baseball used to look.
Custom stirrup socks are knit with your team colors, stripes and logo built into the fabric.
| Custom stirrup socks | |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | 12 pairs |
| Starting price | $8.99/pair |
| Mockup | Free with every order |
| Production | 5 to 7 business days after design approval |
What are stirrup socks?
Stirrup socks are colored team socks with an open heel and toe and a strap that loops under the arch. They are worn over a white sanitary sock and show team colors and stripes on the lower leg. They are most common in baseball and softball.
Why do baseball players wear stirrup socks?
Stirrups started in the early 1900s, when sock dyes were believed to cause infections in spike wounds. Players added a white sanitary sock underneath and cut the foot out of the colored sock so both fit in their shoes. Today stirrups are worn for tradition and team identity.
What is the difference between stirrups and sanitary socks?
The stirrup is the colored outer sock with no heel or toe. The sanitary sock is the white sock with a full foot worn underneath. A two in one sock combines both looks in a single sock.
How do you wear baseball stirrups?
Put on the white sanitary sock first. Step into the stirrup with the loop under your arch, pull it up to just below the knee, set the cutout height your team agreed on, then put on cleats and pull your pants to just below the knee.
Can I order custom stirrup socks for my team?
Yes. Custom Sock Shop knits stirrup socks in your team colors with a free mockup on every order and production in 5 to 7 business days after you approve the design.
Send your colors and logo, and a designer will build a free mockup of your team’s stirrups.
Claim 10% off your first order, just for being new here. It’s our way of saying welcome.
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