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 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.
