The Norwich Navigators of Norwich, Connecticut, arrived in 1995 when the owners of the Albany-Colonie Yankees, most of them Long Islanders, moved the franchise to a mill city on the Thames River that had not hosted a professional club since the Norwich Bon Bons folded in July 1910. Dodd Stadium was built in five months, and attendance peaked that first season at 281,473.
The Yankees connection was what drew. Norwich made the playoffs four times in six years with rosters that featured big league names: Mike Lowell, Nick Johnson, Alfonso Soriano, and Marcus Thames. Johnson's 1999 season is the statistical marvel, a .345 average with a .525 on-base percentage, 123 walks and 37 hit-by-pitches. Two hours from the Bronx, the park also became the Yankees' rehab stop, with Roger Clemens, David Cone, Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry all making cameos.
The team would win the league title in 2002. The Navigators won a five-game series at home over Harrisburg under rookie manager Luis Sojo, in what turned out to be the Yankees' last season as parent club. The Giants took over in 2003, ticket sales fell 30 percent, and by 2004 Norwich had the worst attendance in the league. The team would be sold and re-brand in 2005, before leaving town completely in 2009.
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.
