They are shirts that have been seen all across Chicagoland and the country.
Their clever sayings have made them a favorite of the common fan and the big-time athletes – especially those who take to the professional diamond.
That’s what makes the story of how Joe Johnson started “Obvious Shirts” came to be even more interesting a decade ago.
Arriving to work a little late after a night Cubs game in 2015, he walked into his former employer and was asked why he was late. Joe simply responded, “Jake Arrieta Is Good At Baseball,” referring to the 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner for the Cubs.
At the encouraging of a co-worker, he put that phrase on a t-shirt. When someone notice it at Wrigley Field and asked for one, a business was born.
Started in the basement of his Lakeview house with his wife, Obvious Shirts has grown to a major clothing company. It serves fans all over Chicago and nationally, featuring the sayings that are created by Joe and put in t-shirts or sweaters.
Not only have they been sold to curious consumers but have also been used to raise money for organizations in Chicago and around the country.
Over the last few years, it’s caught the attention of Major League Baseball players, including several Cubs, who sport them at the park. That includes Cubs’ legend Ryne Sandberg, whom Joe worked with on several shirts until his death in July.
We’re featuring Joe in this edition of “Chicagoans You Should Know” from Ankin Law where we featured those in our area
