The Alexandria Aces, based in Alexandria, Louisiana, were the only franchise to compete in every one of the Evangeline League's 21 seasons, playing home games at Bringhurst Field from 1934 through the circuit's final year in 1957. The most celebrated player to come through Alexandria was Hall of Fame pitcher Hal Newhouser, who began his professional career with the 1939 Aces as a 17-year-old, going 8-4 with a 2.34 ERA before a midseason promotion to Class A Beaumont and then a major league debut with the Detroit Tigers that same September. Newhouser would go on to win back-to-back American League MVP awards in 1944 and 1945, and no pitcher won more games in the 1940s than his 170. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Also on the 1939 Alexandria staff was Virgil Trucks, another future Detroit Tiger who would throw two no-hitters in a single 1952 season.
On the field, the Aces won Evangeline League championships in 1936, posting a dominant 96-42 record under manager Art Phelan, and again in 1940. In the circuit's final 1957 season, Aces pitcher Bob Riesener completed a 20-0 campaign before the league itself collapsed mid-season around him.
The Aces name resurfaced in 1972, when Alexandria hosted a Class AA Texas League club affiliated with the San Diego Padres. Future Hall of Famer Duke Snider managed that revival team in its first summer, and pitcher Randy Jones appeared in Alexandria in 1972 and 1973 before winning the 1976 NL Cy Young Award with San Diego.
The Evangeline League was a Class D minor league (Class C from 1949) that operated primarily in southern and central Louisiana from 1934 through 1957, with a wartime pause from 1943 through 1945. Named for the Acadian folk heroine of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's 1847 epic poem, the league was nicknamed the "Pepper Sauce League" or the "Tabasco Circuit" by fans and sportswriters, a nod to the Cajun country setting and the volatile brand of baseball played there.
Retro Baseball Revival celebrates historic baseball teams with unique apparel, honoring their legacy and bringing history to one-of-a-kind clothing with our old school retro baseball tees from defunct Minor League Baseball teams. All of our high quality apparel is designed, printed, and shipped within the USA. This collection features 100% original designs based on the history and nicknames of historic minor league teams.
Our premium lightweight shirts are the hugely popular Bella+Canvas brand 3001 tees. They are much lighter and thinner feeling than a traditional heavyweight tee. They also are more form fitting and feel more snug. These are generally 90% to 100% cotton, although please note that heather colors in this item are 52% cotton.
Size Guide: Fit is true to size or a little snug. Considering ordering one size up if you are normally between sizes.
Brand: Bella Canvas | Product ID: 3001
- Made with 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, a lightweight fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)) that is easy to layer, breathable. Perfect for active and leisure wear.
- The retail fit that is perfect for casual and semi-formal settings. The crew neckline adds a classic, neat style that's perfect for accessorizing.
- Bella+Canvas manufactures all its products in the US and internationally in humane, no-sweat-shop, sustainable way and is part of the Fair Labor Association as well as Platinum WRAP certified.
- The tear-away label minimizes skin irritations.
- Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% cotton, 1% polyester; Heather and Solid Blend colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester; Athletic Heather and Black Heather - 90% cotton, 10% polyester.
