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 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.
