The Ada Herefords, based in Ada, Oklahoma, were charter members of the Class D Sooner State League when the circuit launched in 1947, playing at the aptly named Hereford Park as an affiliate of the St. Louis Browns. The Hereford is a breed of cattle native to England and widely raised across Oklahoma's ranches, recognizable for its reddish-brown body and distinctive cream-colored face, the breed that gave the team its name and the ballpark its own. That first season was one of the franchise's best: the Herefords went 86-51 for second place, led by Paul Richardville's league-leading 11 home runs and 111 RBI and pitcher Forest Smith's 23 wins and 2.47 ERA. Ada captured the 1950 pennant with a 96-41 record, finishing 5.5 games ahead of McAlester, and returned to the playoffs in 1953 behind Ron Slawski and Bob Norden, who tied for the league home run lead with 31 apiece.
The franchise's final season unraveled quickly. When the Browns relocated to Baltimore in 1954, local cement company owner Charles Mayfield acquired the club, briefly renamed it the Ada Cementers, and severed ties with the new Orioles organization. The team missed payroll on July 31 and surrendered the franchise to the league. Ada has not hosted professional baseball since.
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 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.
