The Topeka Hawks, based in Topeka, Kansas, played in the Class A Western League from 1956 to 1958 as a Milwaukee Braves affiliate, then joined the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League for the 1959 season as a Cincinnati Reds affiliate. They were one chapter in a franchise that had carried professional baseball in the Kansas state capital under more than a dozen different names since 1886, shifting leagues and affiliations roughly every decade.
The Western League years were modest. The 1956 Hawks went 70-68 and finished fourth. The 1958 club dropped to 65-82, seventh in the league, with attendance of just 43,686. Moving to the Three-I in 1959 placed the Hawks in Class B competition for a single season before the franchise rechristened itself the Topeka Reds for 1960. That Reds team had considerably more success: manager Dave Bristol led the 1961 Topeka Reds to the Three-I League pennant with a 79-50 record, 6.5 games ahead of Cedar Rapids. Tommy Harper won the league MVP that year and went on to a long major league career; Tommy Helms, Art Shamsky, and Vic Davalillo were also on that 1961 roster. Bristol himself managed over 1,900 games at the big-league level.
By the time the Hawks entered the Three-I, the league had expanded well beyond its original geography. With no Illinois or Indiana teams left after 1957, clubs from Kansas, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin filled the rosters. The Three-I League folded after the 1961 season, ending professional baseball in Topeka.
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 (non-premium) hoodies are classics that anyone is sure to recognize. They are thick, durable Gildan brand hoodies. They are a cotton/poly blend that stands the test of time and feature the 'kangaroo pouch' on the front with a draw string hood.
Size Guide: True to size, roomy
- Brand: Gildan | Product ID: G18500
- Made with a medium-heavy fabric (8.0 oz/yd² (271 g/m²)) that consists of 50% cotton and 50% polyester for that cozy feel and warmth you need in a hoodie.
- The classic fit along with the pouch pocket and the tear-away label make for a highly comfortable, scratch-free wearing experience.
- The color-matched drawcord and the double-lined hood add a stylish flair and durability that tie everything together.
- 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 tee's dyes are OEKO-TEX-certified dyes with low environmental impact.
- Tumble dry: medium; Iron, steam or dry: low heat; Do not dryclean; Machine wash: cold (max 30C or 90F); Non-chlorine: bleach as needed.
