The Decatur Commodores, or Commies for short, were a historic and long-running team from Decatur, Illinois. The Commies played from 1900 through 1974, with most of that run in the Three-I League (the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League) and additional stints in the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League and the Class A circuit it became after the Three-I collapsed following the 1961 season. The Commies won four league titles: 1928, 1952, 1953, and 1957. Our Commodores shirt is based on the real logo of the team.
In the 1920s the Commodores played at Staley Field and shared it with the Decatur Staleys football team, which would eventually become the Chicago Bears.
While the Commies moniker may sound strange today, it was a reference to Stephen Decatur, the early-1800s U.S. Navy commodore for whom the city was named.
One of the most successful Commies alumni is Carl Hubbell, a Hall of Famer who won the 1933 World Series with the New York Giants.
The Three-I League (the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League) was a Class B circuit that ran from 1901 through 1961, with pauses for World War I, the Great Depression, and World War II. Though rooted primarily in Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, the league also drew clubs from Missouri, Wisconsin, Kansas, Nebraska, and Minnesota as its core membership contracted in later years.
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.
