The Lincoln Antelopes of Lincoln, Nebraska are a team where the record books and the newspapers disagree, and we side with the newspapers. Most modern references list Lincoln's Western League club of 1910 to 1912 as the Railsplitters, a tidy tribute to the city's namesake. But the Lincoln papers of those seasons tell a different story: day after day, the team was the Antelopes, often shortened to the Lopes, named for the pronghorn that ran the Nebraska plains. Whatever a later record keeper preferred, the Antelopes is what Lincoln fans actually called their team, so that's the name we honor.
The 1910 team was the best of the era, going 95-71 for third place behind first baseman Jack Thomas, who led the league with 22 home runs. One of them, hit that May in Denver, was declared by Denver Post sports editor Otto Floto to be the longest home run ever seen in the Grizzlies' park. Thomas led the league in homers again in 1911. The 1912 club's star was pitcher Zerah Zequiel "Rip" Hagerman, a workhorse who went 23-18 while leading the league in games pitched, walks, and strikeouts with 315, before returning to the majors with Cleveland.
Lincoln's team names were a parade in those years, with the Ducklings, Treeplanters, Greenbackers, Tigers, and Links all taking turns before and after the Antelopes era. Sunday baseball was still a live political fight in Nebraska through it all: the legislature passed a bill legalizing Sunday games in 1911, only to see the governor veto it.
The Western League was a Class A circuit for most of its life, operating from 1900 through 1937 and again from 1947 through 1958, fielding teams across the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain states, including Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma, and later Texas and New Mexico. For its first decade it stood just one step below the major leagues. An earlier league of the same name, which ran from 1885 to 1899, renamed itself the American League in 1900 and lives on today as one half of Major League Baseball.
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 tees are classic, heavyweight t-shirts that are durable and thick. They are looser fitting and run true to size.
Size Guide: True to size
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: 5000
- Made with medium fabric (5.3 oz/yd² (180 g/m²)) consisting of 100% cotton for year-round comfort that is sustainable and highly durable.
- The classic fit of this shirt ensures a comfy, relaxed wear while the crew neckline adds that neat, timeless look that can blend into any occasion, casual or semi-formal.
- The tear-away label means a scratch-free experience with no irritation or discomfort whatsoever.
- Made using 100% US cotton that is ethically grown and harvested. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. This blank tee is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and quality assurance.
- Non-chlorine: bleach as needed; Do not iron; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Tumble dry: low heat.
