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 premium lightweight shirts are the hugely popular Bella+Canvas brand 3001 tees. They are much lighter and thinner feeling than a traditional heavyweight tee. They also are more form fitting and feel more snug. These are generally 90% to 100% cotton, although please note that heather colors in this item are 52% cotton.
Size Guide: Fit is true to size or a little snug. Considering ordering one size up if you are normally between sizes.
Brand: Bella Canvas | Product ID: 3001
- Made with 100% Airlume combed and ring-spun cotton, a lightweight fabric (4.2 oz/yd² (142 g/m²)) that is easy to layer, breathable. Perfect for active and leisure wear.
- The retail fit that is perfect for casual and semi-formal settings. The crew neckline adds a classic, neat style that's perfect for accessorizing.
- Bella+Canvas manufactures all its products in the US and internationally in humane, no-sweat-shop, sustainable way and is part of the Fair Labor Association as well as Platinum WRAP certified.
- The tear-away label minimizes skin irritations.
- Fabric blends: Ash and Heather Prism colors - 99% cotton, 1% polyester; Heather and Solid Blend colors - 52% cotton, 48% polyester; Athletic Heather and Black Heather - 90% cotton, 10% polyester.
