The Bradford Blue Wings played in Bradford, Pennsylvania, an oil-refining town in the northern tier near the New York line, and won the league championship in 1949. They were a Philadelphia Phillies affiliate for all six of their seasons, from 1944 through 1949.
Bradford's franchise was a charter member of its Class D circuit in 1939 and ran under five different names across eighteen seasons. It began as the Bradford Bees, affiliated with the Boston Bees, and took a league title under that name in 1941. The club sat out 1943, returned in 1944 as the Blue Wings under the new Phillies agreement, then became the Bradford Phillies in 1950, the Bradford Yankees in 1956, and finally the Bradford Beagles in 1957.
The most famous player to pass through Bradford came in the Bees years. Warren Spahn signed with the Boston organization out of high school in 1940 for eighty dollars a month, turning down a partial scholarship to Cornell because his family could not cover the expenses, and Bradford was his first professional assignment. He made his debut on July 6 in Batavia, came out of the bullpen, took the loss, walked two, and struck out nobody. He finished the year 5-4 with a 2.73 ERA. Spahn went on to win more games than any left-hander in major league history.
Home games were played at Community Park on Main Street, built in 1916 with seating for about 2,500. Bradford no longer hosts professional baseball, and unlike several other towns on its old circuit it has not picked up a summer collegiate club either.
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.
