The Mattoon-Charleston Canaries played the 1906 season in the Kitty League. The team was owned by the Mattoon City Railway Company, which ran an interurban service between the two cities. The railway had also built an amusement park between the cities, and that is where the Canaries' ballfield was located.
Though they lasted only one season (the original Kitty League folded at the end of 1906), the Canaries produced one prominent major league ballplayer. Larry Doyle made it to the majors with John McGraw's New York Giants the very next year. He went on to a long and distinguished career for a Giants team that was a powerhouse in the early 20th century. In 1912 Doyle hit .330 and won the Chalmers Award as the National League's best player for the pennant-winning Giants, and in 1915 he won the National League batting championship with a .320 average. Across a 14-year major league career Doyle batted .290, which at the time of his retirement placed him fourth all-time among second basemen with at least 1,000 at bats. He also played on four National League pennant winners.
Mattoon and Charleston continued to have a team during the 1907 and 1908 seasons, but it was not called the Canaries and it did not play in the Kitty League. The Charleston Broom Corn Cutters played in the Eastern Illinois League in 1907, followed by the Charleston Evangelists (yes, really) in 1908. After that 1908 season minor league baseball left the Mattoon-Charleston area and, to date, has not returned.
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 standard (non-premium) hoodies are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand hoodies. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time and feature the 'kangaroo pouch' on the front with a draw string hood.
Size Guide: True to size, roomy
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: G18500
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric (8.0 oz/yd² (271 g/m²)) that consists of 50% cotton and 50% polyester for that cozy feel and warmth you need in a hoodie.
- The classic fit along with the pouch pocket and the tear-away label make for a highly comfortable, scratch-free wearing experience.
- The color-matched drawcord and the double-lined hood add a stylish flair and durability that tie everything together.
- 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 tee's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Tumble dry: medium; Iron, steam or dry: low heat; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed.
