Northern Kentucky was blocked from getting a minor league team in the early 1900s because it fell within the territory of the Cincinnati Reds. In order to get around this, Covington's leading men had the audacity to join the outlaw Federal League and place a team in Covington for the 1913 season, named the Covington Blue Sox. They built a 6,000-seat ballpark named Federal Park at Second and Scott Streets, just across the river from downtown Cincinnati, and figured that if fans wanted to see baseball, they'd rather pay a nickel to cross the river than the fifty cents it cost to watch the Reds. (Federal League games were in fact fifty cents as well.) Covington was granted a Federal League franchise on March 8, 1913, and the Blue Sox were the shining hope of Covington's business elite, who wanted to establish the city as a heavyweight in its own right.
The park was thrown together in a matter of months but wasn't ready when the season opened, so the Blue Sox started on the road, playing in Indianapolis and St. Louis. On their return, Covington Mayor George Phillips declared a citywide holiday, and the Blue Sox took the field on May 9, 1913, in front of a huge crowd. The park was so packed that fans were turned away at the gate.
That didn't last long. Attendance slid to a couple hundred a game in short order, and by June the team's fate was sealed. The Blue Sox were sold and moved to Kansas City, where they became the Kansas City Packers. Covington's grand experiment lasted all of two months, and it hasn't seen professional baseball since.
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 crewneck sweatshirts are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand crews. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time.
Size Guide: True to size
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric blend of 50% cotton and 50% polyester (8.0 oz/yd² (271.25 g/m²)), this sweatshirt feels cozy and is the perfect choice for those colder months.
- The classic fit along with the crew neckline deliver a comfy wearing experience with a clean-cut style. Meanwhile, the double-needle stitching at the shoulder, armhole, neck, waistband, and cuff seams add top-tier durability.
- Say goodbye to itchiness thanks to the gray, pearlized tear-away label.
- Made using 100% ethically grown US cotton. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. The blank shirt's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Tumble dry: low heat; Do not iron; Do not dryclean.
