The city of Cairo, Illinois (pronounced Care-o or Kay-ro), is all but a ghost town now, but at one time it boasted a Kitty League baseball team known for most of its 18 seasons as the Egyptians, though it also sported the Giants and Champions names for a couple of seasons.
Cairo is so named because it sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, which reminded early settlers of the Nile delta. The town seemed well situated to become a major shipping and railroad hub, but over the years the railroad was routed across a bridge at nearby Thebes and other towns became more important to river shipping. Its location also made it very susceptible to flooding. Few visitors left Cairo impressed; Charles Dickens visited in 1842 and promptly modeled the fraudulent settlement of Eden in his novel Martin Chuzzlewit on the town. During the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant occupied the city and had a fort built at the confluence to protect the strategic point.
Professional baseball came to Cairo in 1897 in the form of a Class C Central League team named the Egyptians. This first try at minor league baseball lasted one season, disbanding in July with a 30-39 record.
The Egyptians came back as a Kitty League team in 1903 and lasted until 1906. Other Kitty League runs for the Egyptians were 1911-14, 1922-24, and finally 1946-50, playing the last two years as the Cairo Dodgers.
Today Cairo has a population of about 1,700, down from a peak of nearly 20,000 in the early part of the 20th century.
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.
