The Kalamazoo Celery Pickers, based in Kalamazoo, Michigan, take their name from the city's history as "Celery City." Celery growing became a major local industry there starting in the 1850s. The nickname itself dates back to 1895, when an earlier Kalamazoo club first used it in the Michigan State League, but the team that joined the Class B Central League in 1920 was a new organization, formed after Kalamazoo had gone a year without professional baseball.
Local businessman E.M. Sergeant put the new club together and hired veteran baseball man Rube Vickers to manage it. After a slow start, Vickers was let go in June and first baseman George Tomer took over, guiding Kalamazoo to a 64-60 finish in its first Central League season.
Kalamazoo stayed in the Central League through 1922, then followed several Michigan clubs into the Michigan-Ontario League for 1923 and 1924. In 1926, the Celery Pickers were among the teams that merged the Michigan-Ontario League with the Central League to form a new Michigan State League. That debut, and final, Michigan State League season did not go well: Kalamazoo finished 39-59, in seventh place, 27 games behind the pennant-winning Bay City Wolves. The league folded after that one season, and Kalamazoo went without professional baseball for nearly 70 years.
The Central League itself was a Class B circuit that ran, often sporadically, from 1903 into the 1930s (with a later 1948-51 revival), fielding teams mostly from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
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.
