The Lead City Grays, based in Lead, South Dakota, played the 1891 and 1892 seasons as charter members of the Black Hills League. The town, then commonly called Lead City, existed because of the Homestake Mine, which opened in 1876 and ran for more than 125 years as the largest and deepest gold mine in North America.
The league was an independent four-team affair pulling from the mining towns of the Black Hills plus Chadron, Nebraska. Baseball had been organized in the region since at least 1885, when the first Black Hills Base Ball League formed to bring the scattered town teams under one set of rules and to curb the violence and gambling that surrounded the games.
John Tierney managed the 1892 Grays. Alex Beam and Robert Pender both appeared for Lead in 1891, and both went on to the major leagues. Records and standings from the two Black Hills League seasons have not survived, which is not unusual for independent baseball of the period.
Chadron relocated to Fort Meade during the 1892 season, and the league folded once that year ended. Lead has not hosted professional baseball since. A semiprofessional league using the Black Hills name continued in the region into the 1950s.
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.
