The McAlester Rockets, based in McAlester, Oklahoma, were the most successful franchise in Sooner State League history, winning five league championships in seven seasons as a New York Yankees affiliate, capturing the title in 1947 and then four consecutive years from 1950 through 1953. The Rockets played at Jeff Lee Stadium, drawing between 40,000 and 63,000 fans per season, strong attendance for a Class D market.
The franchise's most enduring piece of history came in 1949, when a 17-year-old outfielder from New Athens, Illinois named Dorrel Herzog arrived as one of the Yankees' top young prospects. Herzog hit .279 in his first season with the Rockets and .351 the following year, and it was during his time in McAlester that the local radio announcer gave him the nickname "Whitey" for his light blond hair. That nickname followed Herzog through a long career as a player and manager, including a 1982 World Series title managing the St. Louis Cardinals and a 2010 induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
The Sooner State League was a Class D circuit that operated from 1947 through 1957, fielding teams from across Oklahoma along with several northern Texas cities. In the years before television brought major league baseball into American homes, minor leagues like the Sooner State League were a central part of community life across small-town America. At the peak of the minor league era in the late 1940s, more than 50 leagues and nearly 500 clubs operated across the country, giving fans in hundreds of cities and towns their only connection to professional 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 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.
