The Birmingham Babies, based in Birmingham, Alabama, played a single season in the Southern League in 1887, finishing 18-63. Modern record books usually list the club as the Ironmakers, but the name that shows up in period newspaper coverage of that season is the Babies.
Professional baseball had reached Birmingham two years earlier, in 1885, and the city cycled through names for the next decade and a half. The Maroons followed in 1888, the Grays in 1892, and the Bluebirds in 1896. None lasted more than a season or two, and Birmingham went several years at a stretch with no professional club at all.
The instability was not really about baseball. Birmingham had been founded only in 1871, on a rare convergence of iron ore, coal, and limestone deposits, and it was still building itself into the industrial center of the South while these clubs came and went. Stability arrived in 1901, when the city became a charter member of the Southern Association. Rickwood Field, built for that team in 1910, is still standing and is the oldest professional ballpark in the United States.
The Southern League of this period ran in fits and starts from 1885 through 1899, drawing teams from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Arkansas, collapsing and reforming several times along the way. In the 1800s and first half of the 1900s, teams existed in thousands of small towns across the United States, as Americans looked for recreational activities and entertainment in the era before TV.
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 standard tees are classic, heavyweight t-shirts that are durable and thick. They are looser fitting and run true to size.
Size Guide: True to size
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: 5000
- Made with medium fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²)) consisting of 100% cotton for year-round comfort that is sustainable and highly durable.
- The classic fit of this shirt ensures a comfy, relaxed wear while the crew neckline adds that neat, timeless look that can blend into any occasion, casual or semi-formal.
- The tear-away label means a scratch-free experience with no irritation or discomfort whatsoever.
- Made using 100% US cotton that is ethically grown and harvested. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. This blank tee is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and quality assurance.
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Do not iron; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Tumble dry: low heat.
