The Montgomery Billikens, based in Montgomery, Alabama, went 77-58 in the Southern Association in 1911 and finished second, a game and a half behind the New Orleans Pelicans. It was the best season Montgomery had in the Association's first decade.
The name came from a fad rather than from anything local. The Billiken was a squat, pointed-headed good luck figure designed by a Kansas City art teacher named Florence Pretz, who patented it in 1908, and it set off a national craze that ran for the next several years. Ballclubs picked it up all over the country. The Fort Wayne Billikens played in the Central League in 1909 and 1910, the McLeansboro Billikens in the KITTY League in 1910, and the Bay City Billikens in the Southern Michigan League in 1911 and 1912. Montgomery carried the name through the 1914 season.
Montgomery changed identities almost every few years in this period. The city fielded the Black Sox in 1903, the Senators from 1904 through 1908, and the Climbers in 1909 and 1910 before the Billikens arrived. Later clubs went by the Lions, who won league titles in 1928 and 1929, the Capitals, and the Bombers. The Rebels name that record books often attach to the 1912 through 1914 teams does not show up in the Montgomery papers until 1939.
The Southern Association ran from 1901 through 1961 and was the most stable minor league in the South, drawing its clubs from Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Arkansas across six decades.
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.
