Collector’s Description

Item: Vintage Novelty T-Shirt

Brand/Imprint: Grand Slam ©84

Tag: RN-41638, Made in U.S.A., 100% Cotton, XL

Era: 1984

Construction: Single-stitch hems, tubular body, woven size/RN tag

Color: Red with white screen-printed text

Graphic: “ROSES ARE RED / VIOLETS ARE BLUE / I’M SCHIZOPHRENIC / AND SO AM I.”

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Provenance & Cultural Context

This shirt represents an early documented appearance of the well-known novelty phrase “I’m schizophrenic and so am I.” The phrase is widely attributed to MLB pitcher Larry Andersen, who was photographed wearing a shirt with this slogan in Sports Illustrated (1989). However, this Grand Slam ©84 print predates that reference by five years, establishing it as one of the earliest known uses of the gag on apparel.

The tag (RN-41638) matches other vintage 1980s blanks used for cult shirts, including horror movie promo tees (Maniac), placing this piece firmly in the novelty/humor tee culture of the early to mid-1980s. Unlike reprints or modern reproductions, this example retains the original woven RN tag, period-correct single stitching, and Made in U.S.A. cotton construction.

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Rarity & Collectibility

• Era authenticity: 1984 copyright line, vintage RN tag, single-stitch.

• Cultural crossover: Bridges novelty humor, sports culture (Andersen’s later association), and cult graphic tee collecting.

• Scarcity: Few, if any, other confirmed Grand Slam ©84 shirts with this phrase are documented in collector archives.

This makes the piece both a curiosity of 1980s novelty culture and a rare survivor of early dark-humor T-shirt printing. Rare and authentic 1980s novelty slogan T-shirt with copyright line Grand Slam ©84, printed on a Made in USA 100% cotton blank (RN-41638).

• Tag/Size: XL (RN-41638 woven tag)

• Era: 1984

• Fabric: 100% Cotton, Made in U.S.A.

• Construction: Single-stitch hems, tubular body

• Color: Red

• Graphic/Text: “ROSES ARE RED / VIOLETS ARE BLUE / I’M SCHIZOPHRENIC / AND SO AM I.” in bold white print

• Condition: [Insert your notes: e.g. “Pre-owned vintage condition, fabric shows natural age fade, no major flaws, print remains strong and intact.”]

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🔑 Key Features

• Authentic 1980s single-stitch construction

• RN-41638 woven tag (documented vintage blank maker)

• XL size — desirable and harder to find in 80s shirts

• Early novelty slogan shirt, rare to find in this condition

• Strong cultural crossover: vintage fashion, humor tees, and sports history

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💡 A rare piece of 1980s novelty apparel — perfect for collectors of vintage T-shirts, pop culture humor, or unique early graphic prints.