Won't you be my neighbor and identify sneakers?

July 15, 2008 6:44 PM

What brand of sneakers did Mr. Rogers wear?

Does anyone know what brand of sneakers Mr. Rogers wore? You know, the ones he changed into thousands of times.

Or even better, do you know where one could buy said sneakers?

Here is a pic of an authentic set.

posted by Sprocket to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Best answer: I'm pretty sure those are the classic Keds champion sneakers. I had a pair when I was little.
posted by Chrischris at 6:50 PM on July 15, 2008

If you Google Mr. Rogers and Keds the internet sure seems to agree with Chrischris.
posted by nanojath at 7:29 PM on July 15, 2008

I also vote for Keds.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 7:34 PM on July 15, 2008

They're certainly not the Champion. They look more like that Triumph Good Life. Note the toe bumper and the thicker sole, as well as the padded back.

They could be Sperrys...
posted by Madamina at 7:53 PM on July 15, 2008

These are so close, but yet not right. When I was a kid (late 1960s-early 1970s), you could buy generic sneakers that looked like that at places like Safeway grocery stores - I'm wondering if Mr. Rogers' sneaks were even brand-name goods.
posted by chez shoes at 7:57 PM on July 15, 2008

Do you know where the photo of those original sneakers was taken? It looks like they're part of a museum exhibit. If you contact the exhibitor/museum, they'd probably be able to find out and tell you the exact brand (or if it's not a specific brand).
posted by belau at 8:18 PM on July 15, 2008

Here you can see the back of the sneakers. The little worn white patch is exactly what a well-worn and picked-at Keds label looks like. Nthing Keds.
posted by phunniemee at 8:27 PM on July 15, 2008

belau: "Do you know where the photo of those original sneakers was taken? It looks like they're part of a museum exhibit. If you contact the exhibitor/museum, they'd probably be able to find out and tell you the exact brand (or if it's not a specific brand)."

The picture is from a display at the Pittsburgh Airport.
posted by octothorpe at 9:01 PM on July 15, 2008

Best answer: Rollins College's 'Fred Rogers Collection' includes a pair of his shoes, and describes them as follows:

...Tennis Shoes, the navy blue canvas sneakers “Topsiders” carry the manufacturer's name “Spenco Foot Care Products” on the interior soles...

Apparently these are navy Topsiders, though the stripe doesn't seem to be on Rogers' shoes. Spenco seems to make insoles.
posted by sentient at 1:14 AM on July 16, 2008

Sperry makes Topsiders.
posted by SheIsMighty at 4:45 AM on July 16, 2008

FWIW, sneakers is the wrong search term. He wore tennis shoes.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:35 AM on July 16, 2008

Do you know where the photo of those original sneakers was taken? It looks like they're part of a museum exhibit. If you contact the exhibitor/museum, they'd probably be able to find out and tell you the exact brand (or if it's not a specific brand).

http://library.pghhistory.org/Contact_Us.asp - I'm fairly certain that the exhibit at the airport is part of Pittsburgh's Regional History Center. I've dealt with their librarians before, they're lovely people.
posted by librarianamy at 7:33 AM on July 16, 2008

Best answer: The picture link in phunniemee's post actually shows a different brand/type/model of shoe than the picture link I posted. You can see it does not have the rubber toe guard that wraps up over the canvas.

So perhaps Keds and Sperry Top-Siders it seems for the most part.

Now who can analyze the show and tell me which type he wore more? :)
posted by Sprocket at 8:50 AM on July 16, 2008