In 1895, the men’s track team was the first Cal team to compete outside of the state. It carried blue silk banners emblazoned with the word “California” and the state emblem, a grizzly bear, in gold. When the team won beyond expectations, their banners were displayed at the jubilant homecoming — and Cal’s mythical guardian was born.
Over the years, depictions of the Golden Bear in The Blue and Gold Yearbook changed alongside the times and artistic styles. A 1928 bear ferociously rips through The Daily Cal. Bears in the 1942 book resemble a cheerful or mischievous Mickey Mouse. Many are humanized — studying, playing sports, even flirting — while others show the solitude and power of a real animal.
1906
1941
1928
1990
1952
