The Evansville River Rats, based in Evansville, Indiana, take their name from the city's location on the Ohio River. After a brief run in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa League, the club settled into the Class B Central League in 1903 and stayed through 1910, returning again from 1913 through 1915.
Evansville won the Central League championship twice, in 1908 and in 1915. The 1915 title came in the same season the city opened Bosse Field. A record Central League crowd of 8,082 turned out for the ballpark's debut on June 17, a 4-0 River Rats win. The team was sitting in third place when it moved into its new home, then went on to win the league. Bosse Field remains in use today, the third-oldest baseball park in the country behind Fenway Park and Wrigley Field. Later Evansville teams playing there under different names, the Evas, Hubs, and Bees among them, would go on to host five future Hall of Famers, including Hank Greenberg and Warren Spahn, though by then the River Rats name itself was long retired.
Evansville pitching produced its share of strange nights too. Bill Cristall threw an 11-inning no-hitter for the River Rats on May 10, 1910, and still lost the game, 1-0, to the Grand Rapids Raiders.
The Central League itself was a Class B circuit that ran, often sporadically, from 1903 into the 1930s (with a later 1948-51 revival), fielding teams mostly from Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
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.
