The Bakersfield Badgers, based in Bakersfield, California, were a charter member of the California League, founded in 1941 as a Class C circuit. The nickname came from a public naming contest run by general manager E. Lee Keyser, who received hundreds of suggestions from fans; Frank Stuart of Arvin Street was first to submit the winning name and collected a season's pass to all home games for it. The logic was pure Kern County: as one fan's letter put it, Tejon means badger, everyone associates Tejon with Kern County, and badgers are plenty tough and hard to whip.
The Badgers christened brand-new Sam Lynn Ballpark on the Kern County fairgrounds on April 22, 1941, beating the Fresno Cardinals 9-3 in the park's first game. The ballpark, named for a local Coca-Cola bottler and league co-founder, was built on the grounds of an old horse racing track and became famous for facing due west, leaving batters staring into the setting sun.
The first season was a genuine success on the field. Bakersfield finished third at 73-67 in a league reduced to six teams after Riverside and San Bernardino disbanded in June, then took on Santa Barbara in the playoffs, falling to the eventual league champion Saints. The Badgers were one of only four teams to soldier on when World War II shrank the league in 1942, after which the entire circuit suspended play for the duration.
When baseball returned to Bakersfield in 1946 it was under a new name, but Sam Lynn Ballpark hosted the city's teams for another seven decades, including future stars like Don Drysdale, Pedro Martinez, and Mike Piazza.
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.
